Resources for Community Researchers
JCAR exists to help community-based researchers produce work that meets academic standards. The research and writing process — choosing a question, reading deeply, drafting carefully, and using new tools responsibly — is much the same whether or not you sit inside a university. The resources below are curated to support that journey.
With thanks to Dr Andy Stapleton
These resources are shared with the kind permission of Dr Andy Stapleton, an enthusiastic researcher and PhD student educator who has allowed JCAR to re-use a small selection of his material. Dr Stapleton's work speaks primarily to PhD students, but the great majority of it applies equally to community-based researchers. We are grateful for his generosity. Explore much more on his channel, and consider his course, talks, and consultations:
- YouTube channelyoutube.com/@DrAndyStapleton
- Course — Become a Master Academic Writer with AI AppsView the course
- Book a talk for your organisationacademiainsider.com/dr-andy-stapleton
- Book a 1-hour consultationSchedule via Calendly
Browse by topic
Choose a topic to open its video library. Each video plays right on the page, or you can watch it on YouTube directly.
Research
Finding a question, reading efficiently, and building the habits and skills that strong research depends on.
Browse the videos →Writing Papers
Turning your research into a clear, well-structured, and submittable paper.
Browse the videos →AI Tools to Help Research
Using AI to speed up literature searches, drafting, and reference-finding — carefully and within the rules. Includes notes from our editor's own experience.
Browse the videos →Videos are hosted on YouTube and are the work of Dr Andy Stapleton, re-used here with permission. Links to third-party tools, courses, and services are provided for information only and do not constitute endorsement or any affiliation with JCAR. Editor's notes reflect the personal experience of JCAR's editor and are not formal recommendations. Always check your own institution's or community's rules on the use of AI before relying on any tool.