Research Route

The Research route is available at Licentiate (LRPS) Associate (ARPS) and Fellowship (FRPS).

It recognises achievement in photographic research where the applicant's work demonstrates the standard expected at the Distinction level you are applying for.

What is the Research route?

The Research route is for applicants whose achievement is demonstrated principally through research concerned with photography. It recognises progressively greater research understanding, critical judgement, depth and contribution at LRPS, ARPS and FRPS.

Photography should be central to the subject or purpose of the research, but the submission does not need to take the form of a body of photographic practice.

Research might investigate photography's histories, practices, technologies, cultures, uses, meanings or impacts. It may also examine photographic collections, archives, institutions, publications, practitioners or other subjects through which knowledge and understanding of photography are developed.

The route is defined by the nature of the achievement being demonstrated, rather than by the applicant's professional or academic background.

Research submissions may include photographs and other visual material as sources, evidence, illustrations or figures. If the principal achievement is demonstrated through the making and presentation of photographic work, the Photographic Practice route is likely to be more appropriate.

Chris Burgess ARPS 1 — **CREDIT:** Chris Burgess ARPS

What kinds of research can I submit?

The RPS recognises that photographic research can take many forms.

Research might be concerned with, for example:

photographic history or histories;

photographers, photographic practices or movements;

photographic theory and criticism;

archives and collections;

photographic technologies and processes;

photography and society or culture;

photographic education;

curatorial or institutional histories and practices;

publishing and photographic books;

conservation and material histories;

photography's relationship to other disciplines, media or fields of knowledge.

This list is indicative rather than exhaustive.

What matters is that the approach is appropriate to the research and enables you to demonstrate the standard for the Distinction you are applying for.

Stuart Chalmers LRPS 2 — **CREDIT:** Stuart Chalmers LRPS

Licentiate LRPS

At LRPS, the Research route recognises a sound foundation in photographic research and the ability to investigate and communicate a clearly defined subject, question or purpose in a considered and coherent way.

Your submission should demonstrate a clear research intention and an appropriate approach to investigating it.

At Licentiate, you should be able to:

identify a clearly defined research subject, question or purpose;

engage with relevant existing knowledge and sources;

use appropriate sources and research methods to investigate the subject;

gather, consider and interpret relevant information or evidence;

develop a clear and coherent argument, interpretation or set of findings;

acknowledge sources appropriately;

communicate the research clearly and coherently.

Louise Sayers ARPS 1 — **CREDIT:** Louise Sayers ARPS

Associate (ARPS)

At ARPS, the Research route recognises coherent and sustained photographic research, demonstrating critical understanding and the ability to select, apply and justify appropriate research methods and decisions in developing and communicating knowledge or understanding.

At Associate, you should be able to:

identify and develop a meaningful research subject, question or purpose;

locate your research within relevant existing knowledge and context;

select, apply and justify appropriate research methods;

gather, critically evaluate and interpret relevant evidence or sources;

develop a coherent argument, interpretation or set of findings;

communicate the research clearly and appropriately;

make and explain considered decisions about the direction and development of the research.

The research should demonstrate sustained critical engagement and considered, justified research decision-making appropriate to Associate level.

Ray Grover FRPS 20 — **CREDIT:** Ray Grover FRPS

Fellowship (FRPS)

At FRPS, the Research route recognises authoritative and highly resolved photographic research, demonstrating independent critical enquiry and making a significant contribution to photographic knowledge or understanding.

In plainer terms, FRPS Research asks you to demonstrate research of substantial depth and authority that develops new knowledge or understanding of significance to photography.

Your submission should demonstrate:

a compelling and clearly articulated research purpose;

substantial depth of investigation;

sophisticated critical and contextual understanding;

rigorous, independently selected and critically justified research methods;

rigorous evaluation and interpretation of evidence;

authoritative and independent critical judgement throughout the research;

a significant and clearly articulated contribution to photographic knowledge, understanding or discourse;

highly effective communication of the research and its significance.

Originality at Fellowship does not necessarily mean researching a subject that has never previously been considered. It may lie in the questions asked, evidence uncovered, methods used, connections made, interpretation developed or new understanding produced.

Research intention and purpose The research has a clear focus, purpose or question appropriate to the level.
Knowledge and context The research demonstrates appropriate knowledge and understanding of its subject and relevant context.
Research approach and methods The approach and methods are appropriate to the research purpose and are applied effectively.
Evidence, analysis and interpretation Relevant sources or evidence are identified, considered and interpreted appropriately to support the research.
Findings and contribution to understanding The research develops findings, arguments or interpretations that contribute to understanding at the level expected.
Communication and research judgement The research is communicated clearly and coherently and demonstrates the level of independence expected.

You must submit a substantive piece of research relating to photography that provides sufficient evidence for assessment against the standard of the Distinction you are applying for.

The research may have been produced specifically for your RPS submission or may be existing work. It might include, for example:

a piece of journalism or critical writing;

an independently researched essay or article;

work produced as part of a course or programme of study;

a dissertation or thesis;

a published book, chapter or other publication;

curatorial, archival or conservation research;

a digital or multimedia research output.

There is no prescribed length for a Research submission because research outputs can take many different forms. As a guide, the submission should be substantial enough to demonstrate the relevant Distinction standard, while being appropriately focused and proportionate to its research purpose.

Research may be submitted in the form most appropriate to the work. This might include written research, a publication or book, a digital or online output, or another appropriate form.

Alongside your research output, you must submit a Research Context Statement of up to 500 words.

The statement should briefly explain:

the purpose, question or focus of your research;
how the research was undertaken, including the principal sources and methods used;
your own contribution to the research;
any relevant information about the research process that is not explicit in the submitted work.

The Research Context Statement is intended to help Examiners understand the context in which the research was undertaken. It is not a second research submission and should not be used to compensate for work that does not itself demonstrate the standard of the Distinction level you are applying for.

Matthew Gammon FRPS 1 — **CREDIT:** Matthew Gammon FRPS

Sources and referencing

Research submissions should appropriately acknowledge the ideas, words, images, research and other material of others. You should use a consistent system of referencing that enables Examiners to identify and, where appropriate, locate your sources.

Referencing should make clear:

what material or ideas have been drawn from other sources;

where those sources can be found;

how your research relates to existing knowledge and understanding.

The RPS does not prescribe a particular referencing system. You should use an approach appropriate to your research that identifies your sources clearly and is applied consistently throughout your submission.

A bibliography or reference list should normally be included as part of your Research submission.

Research Route

What is the Research route?

What kinds of research can I submit?

What does the research route recognise?

What will Distinctions Examiners consider?

Your Research submission

1. Research output

2. Research Context Statement

Sources and referencing