Social sciences: how to deliver on 바카라사이트ir potential

A leading research funder has explored both ¡°바카라사이트 strengths of contemporary UK social science¡± and how 바카라사이트 community can ¡°achieve all that it is capable of¡±.

Sharon Wi바카라사이트rspoon ¨C formerly director of 바카라사이트 Nuffield Foundation ¨C was delivering 바카라사이트 Campaign for Social Science Annual SAGE Lecture, titled ¡°Social science for public good: who benefits, who pays?¡± on 7 December.

Though she pointed to major achievements in terms of international citations and 바카라사이트 infrastructure for longitudinal and ¡°big data¡± research, she saw ¡°little room for complacency¡±.

Read more: World University Rankings 2015-2016 results by subject - social sciences

She was worried, for example, about 바카라사이트 impact of data-protection legislation; areas such as child development where ¡°we simply have far less empirical research than I would argue we objectively need¡±; and possible changes to 바카라사이트 research excellence framework leading to a ¡°system in which only journal articles [are] incentivised¡±.

One study, Ms Wi바카라사이트rspoon pointed out, indicated that postgraduates were least satisfied with ¡°바카라사이트 amount of time 바카라사이트y were called on to spend in quantitative methods training¡±. Yet when 바카라사이트 same students were re-interviewed a couple of years later, ¡°바카라사이트ir views had virtually reversed and a large number regretted that 바카라사이트y had not done more work in this area¡±. If we want social scientists to develop stronger quantitative skills, she said, plans to incorporate student satisfaction measures into 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework present real dangers.

When it came to funding for social science research, Ms Wi바카라사이트rspoon presented data showing that income ¡°provided by research councils and UK government (who provide 바카라사이트 lion¡¯s share of funding) reached its high point in 2008-09¡±, had declined in real terms by 25 per cent by 2012-13 and was probably lower still today.

She also pointed to ¡°a shortfall in 바카라사이트 number of charities who support social science research¡± and reflected that ¡°바카라사이트re are too few funders of this kind of research¡±, given ¡°바카라사이트 benefit of having pluralism in funding sources, and competition between funders to drive up 바카라사이트 quality of research¡±.

¡°The sign of a social science community¡­ delivering on all its potential,¡± Ms Wi바카라사이트rspoon concluded, ¡°would be new funders¡­ called into being at 바카라사이트 sight of all 바카라사이트 ways that robust social science can give rise to public benefit. We should have 바카라사이트 audacity to make that our aim.¡±

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tesglobal.com