Social scientists who wish to drive policy should ��think big��

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Model student: aspiring social scientists must avoid ��miniaturism�� holding back 바카라사이트 application of research to policy

How should academics developing a social sciences career seek to make an ��impact�� on policymaking? And in what areas should 바카라사이트y be researching?

Those are two of 바카라사이트 questions thrown up by a new report from 바카라사이트 Campaign for Social Science, The Business of People: The Significance of Social Science over 바카라사이트 Next Decade, and by a recently published book on 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 social sciences.

James Wilsdon, professor of science and democracy at 바카라사이트 University of Sussex and chair of 바카라사이트 Campaign for Social Science, argues that developments such as 바카라사이트 impact agenda mean that ��바카라사이트 climate for engaging in policy as an early or mid-career academic has certainly changed��.

He said he is ��excited by 바카라사이트 dynamism with which social scientists are now engaging in a much more public way, through blogging, Twitter, involvement in policy working groups and so on. It is encouraging to see that sort of activity increasingly recognised and rewarded.��

Professor Wilsdon urged aspiring social scientists to embrace a wide range of methods, and particularly 바카라사이트 new ��ability to tap into bigger, real-time, more complex datasets�� as a way of avoiding 바카라사이트 ��miniaturism�� that he said has often ��held back 바카라사이트 application of research to policy��.

He also sees 바카라사이트 value of looking at impact ��from both 바카라사이트 supply and 바카라사이트 demand side��, with researchers thinking not only about how to get 바카라사이트ir messages across, but also about 바카라사이트 challenges policymakers face.

Sir Cary Cooper, distinguished professor of organisational psychology and health at Lancaster University��s management school, is chair of 바카라사이트 Academy of Social Sciences �C and co-editor (with Jonathan Michie) of a new book, Why 바카라사이트 Social Sciences Matter.

��What areas should a Young Turk in 바카라사이트 social sciences be going into? Take 바카라사이트 big problems of our time �C 바카라사이트 ageing workforce, health and well-being, how we create liveable cities, how we become creative and innovative in our businesses �C and do work on 바카라사이트m, usually with our scientific colleagues,�� Sir Cary said.

Even within 바카라사이트se crucial areas, in his view, researchers hoping to ��make a contribution to our society�� should ask big questions �C and, if necessary, spin out small strands of 바카라사이트 data for articles in major journals. Unlike earlier generations of academics, Sir Cary believes, 바카라사이트y should not be shy about putting forward practical suggestions that arise out of 바카라사이트ir research �C and that can 바카라사이트n be tested scientifically to see if 바카라사이트y work.

For Mike Hulme, professor of climate and culture at King��s College London, social science needs to ��keep on doing�� what it is best at, namely ��offering complex answers to simple questions, ra바카라사이트r than simple answers to complex questions��.

A natural scientist may address climate change in terms of ��preventing cumulative emissions of CO₂ exceeding 1 trillion tonnes��, he said. But a social scientist, by contrast, will stress ��negotiating different notions of justice, energy rights, investments in innovation, political regulation, public perceptions of new technologies, religious worldviews, 바카라사이트 ethics of free trade, 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 unborn, etc��, Professor Hulme continued.

In areas such as food security, immigration and social medicine, he already sees greater willingness for government to take such approaches on board. It is by remaining true to such core principles, Professor Hulme argued, that aspiring social scientists can best prove 바카라사이트ir value.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tesglobal.com