A report said that social inclusion should be given greater prominence within research into sustainable development, and that there should also be greater recognition of the importance of environmental factors in research into social inclusion. The use of 'non-traditional' research methods such as participative research, which work with rather than on excluded communities, should receive greater support, and a transparent strategy for the long-term funding of sustainable development research should be developed.
Source: Malcolm Eames with Maria Adebowale (eds.), Sustainable Development and Social Inclusion: Towards an integrated approach to research, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 431213)
Links: Report (pdf) | PSI press release
Date: 2002-Dec
The relationship research organisation, One Plus One, launched a new membership scheme designed to widen access to evidence-based information and resources for everyone with an interest in couple relationships and the well-being of families.
Source: Press release 12.12.02, One Plus One (020 7841 3660)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
The British Academy expressed concerned that research assessment exercises have been too geared towards research in the natural sciences, where the needs can be very different from those of the humanities and social sciences. It said that any changes to the assessment of research should reflect the way in which research is conducted by all the disciplines. It said that it is also worried that the exercise has discouraged long-term speculative research.
Source: Review of Research Assessment, British Academy (020 7969 5200)
Links: Report
Date: 2002-Dec
The Royal Society said that the research assessment exercises force universities to play games in order to gain higher research ratings and greater research funds. It called for the system to be radically reformed.
Source: Roberts Review of the RAE: Submission from the Royal Society, Royal Society (020 7839 5561)
Links: Submission (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
The Social Policy Association listed a number of criticisms of the periodic 'research assessment exercise' conducted by higher education funding bodies. It said that 'the effect of the RAE is to undermine the very institutions and practices upon which it depends'.
Source: Joint Funding Bodies' Review of Research Assessment: Response of the Social Policy Association, Social Policy Association (c/o Alan Deacon 0113 233 4440)
Links: Response
Date: 2002-Nov
A study examined whether research synthesis can help in formulating policy on refugee integration. (Research synthesis aims to assemble evidence about the benefits and harms of a variety of medical and social interventions using explicit, scientifically defensible methods.)
Source: Yongmi Schibel, Mina Fazel, Reive Robb and Paul Garner, Refugee Integration: Can Research Synthesis Inform Policy?, On-line Report 13/02, Home Office (web publication only)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
A new researcher's guide to the National Statistics Socioeconomic Classification was published. NS-SEC replaced both previous government social classifications Social Class and Socio-economic Group in 2001.
Source: David Rose and David Pevalin (eds.), A Researcher's Guide to the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification, Sage Publications (020 7374 0645)
Links: ONS press release (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
A study looked at how local authorities use evidence-based research and what kind of changes it influences. Dissemination of research outputs was found to be often patchy, and the general impact of research on policy relatively small.
Source: Janie Percy-Smith with Tom Burden, Alison Darlow, Lynne Dawson, Murray Hawtin and Stella Ladi, Promoting Change through Research: The Impact of Research in Local Government, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 431213)
Links: JRF Findings 922
Date: 2002-Sep
A working paper discussed the role of longitudinal qualitative research in addressing the range of research questions that arise in developing and assessing policy.
Source: Donna Molloy and Kandy Woodfield with Jo Bacon, Longitudinal Qualitative Research Approaches in Evaluation Studies, Working Paper 7, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Sep
The first Government Chief Social Research Officer began work, overseeing career development and training for government social researchers, professional and ethical issues, and quality and standards.
Source: Press release 18.9.02, Cabinet Office (020 7261 8527)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
An official technical manual was published to support the work of researchers, and those who commission research, on longitudinal data from the British Household Panel Survey.
Source: Anthony Johnson, Researchers' Guide to Using the British Household Panel Survey and other International Longitudinal Datasets, Working Paper 5, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Working Paper (pdf)
Date: 2002-Aug
A study explored the reasons why people participate in the Family and Children Study (a large longitudinal study), or decide to withdraw their co-operation.
Source: Miranda Phillips, Catherine Woodward, Debbie Collins and William O'Connor, Encouraging and Maintaining Participation in the Families and Children Survey: Understanding why People Take Part, Working Paper 6, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Aug
The largest collection of information ever assembled on-line about research by universities and colleges in the United Kingdom was published on the internet.
Source: Press release 12.7.02, Higher Education Funding Council for England (0117 931 7035)
Links: 'HERO' website | Press release
Date: 2002-Jul
A directory was published of current research on families and parenting.
Source: Family Research Directory 2002, National Family and Parenting Institute (020 7424 3460)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-May