A report said that there was a need for a research infrastructure capable of shifting the basis of social care towards evidence-based policy and practice.
Source: Peter Marsh and Mike Fisher, with Nigel Mathers and Sheila Fish, Developing the Evidence Base for Social Work and Social Care Practice, Social Care Institute for Excellence (020 7089 6840)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Dec
A paper sought to identify important gaps in knowledge of issues affecting the design and implementation of surveys involving longitudinal data collection, and the use of the data that they provided.
Source: Peter Lynn, Nick Buck, Jonathan Burton, Annette J ckle and Heather Laurie, A Review of Methodological Research Pertinent to Longitudinal Survey Design and Data Collection, Working Paper 2005-29, Institute for Social and Economic Research/University of Essex (01206 873087)
Links: Working paper
Date: 2005-Dec
A report provided a detailed account of the running of one of the first randomized controlled trials within a large-scale voluntary labour market programme. (The Job Retention and Rehabilitation Pilot is a four-way randomized controlled trial designed to test the relative and net impacts of a health, workplace-based, and combined intervention for people who were off work sick for 6-26 weeks and were screened as at risk of losing their job.)
Source: Nina Stratford et al., The Job Retention and Rehabilitation Pilot: Reflections on Running a Randomised Controlled Trial, Research Report 305, CDS/Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Report | Summary | DWP press release
Date: 2005-Dec
A new book examined the processes of interviewing, not just as a tool to be used within other frameworks but as an approach organizing a project as a whole.
Source: John Schostak, Interviewing and Representation in Qualitative Research, Open University Press (01280 823388)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Nov
A new book examined the dilemmas facing social researchers working in the field of healthcare.
Source: Simon Dyson and Brian Brown, Social Theory and Applied Health Research, Open University Press (01280 823388)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Nov
Two papers examined the impact of using verbatim quotations in reporting applied social research.
Source: Anne Corden and Roy Sainsbury, Research Participants Views on Use of Verbatim Quotations, Working Paper 23, Social Policy Research Unit/University of York (01904 433608) | Anne Corden and Roy Sainsbury, The Impact of Verbal Quotations on Research Users: Qualitative exploration, Working Paper 24, Social Policy Research Unit/University of York
Date: 2005-Nov
A new book outlined the rationale and methods of systematic reviews, giving worked examples from social science and other fields.
Source: Helen Roberts and Mark Petticrew, Systematic Reviews in the Social Sciences, Blackwell Publishing (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Oct
An article discussed the difficulties experienced by researchers in gaining access to research participants, in the light of new ethical guidelines.
Source: Emily Munro, Lisa Holmes and Harriet Ward, 'Researching vulnerable groups: ethical issues and the effective conduct of research in local authorities', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 35 Number 7
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Oct
Chapter 7 of the government's 'Magenta book' was published. It aimed to help policy-makers determine whether a policy or programme had caused change to occur in the outcomes it was designed to influence, and whether change had occurred in the desired direction.
Source: 'Why do social experiments? Experiments and quasi-experiments for evaluating government policies and programmes', The Magenta Book: Guidance notes for policy evaluation and analysis, Government Social Research Unit/Cabinet Office
Links: Chapter (pdf)
Date: 2005-Sep
A new book examined the principles of social research as applied to public health.
Source: Judith Green and John Browne, Principles of Social Research, Open University Press (01280 823388)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Aug
A guide provided detailed advice on how to evaluate a community project.
Source: Marilyn Taylor, Derrick Purdue, Mandy Wilson and Pete Wilde, Evaluating Community Projects: A practical guide, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Guide (pdf)
Date: 2005-Aug
A briefing paper described the various systems for ethical review of research involving humans, and outlined the key issues with the existing systems.
Source: Ethical Scrutiny of Research, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (020 7219 2840)
Links: Briefing Note (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jul
An article described cases in which social work research had come to emulate social work practice - in particular, participatory research into learning disabilities. It examined the practical and ethical issues raised, and the safeguards needed to clarify roles and foster openness in research relationships.
Source: Dorothy Atkinson, 'Research as social work: participatory research in learning disability', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 35 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Jun
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on the work of research councils.
Source: Government Response to a Report by the House of Commons Science & Technology Select Committee: The Work of Research Councils UK (RCUK), Cm 6598, Department for Trade and Industry, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response (pdf) | MPs report
Date: 2005-Jun
A paper identified the conditions under which dependent interviewing offered the largest scope for efficiency gains and burden reduction. (Dependent interviewing involves using information from previous interviews to formulate questions or prompt post-response edit checks.)
Source: Annette J?ckle, Does Dependent Interviewing Really Increase Efficiency and Reduce Respondent Burden?, Working Paper 2005-11, Institute for Social and Economic Research/University of Essex (01206 873087)
Links: Working paper (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jun
A paper explored different ways of approaching the problem of assessing the impact of social science research, outlining the core issues and choices involved.
Source: Huw Davies, Sandra Nutley and Isabel Walter, Assessing the Impact of Social Science Research: Conceptual, methodological and practical issues, Research Unit for Research Utilisation/University of St Andrews (01334 462878)
Links: Paper (pdf)
Date: 2005-May
A new book examined why it often proved difficult for organizations to be improved by research findings about best practice, based on nearly 50 case studies of attempts to introduce evidence-based practice in the National Health Service.
Source: Sue Dopson and Louise Fitzgerald, Knowledge to Action? Evidence-based health care in context, Oxford University Press (01536 741727)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-May
A report sought to clarify different approaches to applied and practice-based research in education, with a view to developing appropriate quality criteria for the academic, policy, and user communities.
Source: John Furlong and Alis Oancea,Assessing Quality in Applied and Practice-based Educational Research: A Framework for Discussion, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2005-May
The Economic and Social Research Council set out its priorities and performance measures for the three years to 2007-08.
Source: Delivery Plan 2005, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: Plan (pdf) | ESRC press release
Date: 2005-May
A research report made recommendations designed to improve local authority research effectiveness.
Source: Janie Percy-Smith, Knowledge is Power: The need for effective research in local government, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000)
Links: Summary (pdf)
Date: 2005-May
A report summarized the outcome of a series of seminars on involving service users in the development of an evidence base for health and social care.
Source: Bec Hanley, Research as Empowerment? Report of a series of seminars organised by the Toronto Group, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report (pdf) | JRF Findings 0175
Date: 2005-Apr
An article examined generalization in qualitative research. It said that research design should plan for anticipated generalizations, and that generalization should be more explicitly formulated within a context of supporting evidence.
Source: Malcolm Williams, 'Generalization in qualitative research', Sociology, Volume 39 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Apr
An article explored the usefulness of comprehensive research reviews as the basis for evidence-based policy, using the example of mentoring programmes. It noted a propensity for unequivocal policy verdicts to be delivered on the basis of "ambiguous" evidence, and said that much closer attention needed to be paid to the explanatory scope of systematic reviews.
Source: Annette Boaz and Ray Pawson, 'The perilous road from evidence to policy: five journeys compared', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 34 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Apr
A paper examined the concept of research effectiveness in the local authority context.
Source: Janie Percy-Smith and Alison Darlow, Local Authority Research Effectiveness: A discussion paper, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000) and Local Authority Research and Intelligence Association
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Mar
An article highlighted some of the challenges to evidence-based practice experienced by those involved in its implementation. These could be characterized as cultural, infrastructural and practical. Despite these hurdles, creative, practical steps had been taken by social care staff to promote evidence-based practice within their workplaces.
Source: Alice Moseley and Stephanie Tierney, 'Evidence-based practice in the real world', Evidence & Policy, Volume 1 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Jan
An article described the development of a centre for supporting evidence-informed policy in the fields of education and health promotion. It explored the challenges that confronted research reviewers in the social sciences: these included technical and methodological issues affecting the quality and reporting of primary research, and the retrieval quality of bibliographic databases; and wider factors such as the culture of academia, and research funding practices that militated against the building of a cumulative evidence base.
Source: Ann Oakley, David Gough, Sandy Oliver and James Thomas, 'The politics of evidence and methodology: lessons from the EPPI-Centre', Evidence & Policy, Volume 1 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Jan
An article reported on a qualitative study of the research potential of mental health social work, based on the views of senior service managers. Social work research was found to suffer from a combination of structural, economic and academic constraints. The impact of social work on mental health policy and practice developments, particularly in the light of a growing emphasis on evidence-based practice, was likely to remain weak until this issue was addressed.
Source: Niall McCrae, 'The research potential of mental-health social workers: a qualitative study of the views of senior mental-health service managers', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 35 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Jan
A report reviewed the actual and potential coverage of social work and social care research within Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) programmes, and the implications for social work and social care research. There was open acceptance that social work was 'invisible' within the ESRC, due to its general lack of recognition. ESRC staff readily acknowledged that their response to the social work community had been 'entirely reactive'.
Source: Ian Shaw, Hilary Arksey and Audrey Mullender, ESRC Research, Social Work and Social Care, Social Care Institute for Excellence (020 7089 6840)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jan
The Economic and Social Research Council launched a five-year public services programme. The programme would focus on costly and complex services such as healthcare and education, with three inter-linked themes: quality - covering transparency, targets, trust and responsiveness; performance - including rewards, incentives, blame and liability; and delivery - including measurement of performance, management and innovation.
Source: Press release 14 January 2005, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: ESRC press release
Date: 2005-Jan
An article discussed where evidence was needed in the policy-making process, and the nature of the evidence base for strategy and policy. Working relationships between policy-makers and their advisers were key: as policy-makers come from a variety of backgrounds, developing a common language helped set discussions about the robustness of the evidence base on a sound footing. The article identified five components of robustness, proposed a series of questions that could be used to address them, and discussed the implications for the processes of policy-making.
Source: Louise Shaxson, 'Is your evidence robust enough? Questions for policy makers and practitioners', Evidence & Policy, Volume 1 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Jan