Social science emulates scientific method to escape retrenchment

Social scientists are hoping to emulate 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 science lobby by embarking on a major campaign to guard against future funding cuts and bolster student numbers.

The Academy of Social Sciences' Campaign for Social Science, launched at 바카라사이트 House of Lords this week, aims to raise awareness of 바카라사이트 benefits of social science to society and 바카라사이트 economy, as well as 바카라사이트 advantages of a social science education to individuals.

It comes amid fears over 바카라사이트 impact of higher tuition fees on future student enrolment in 바카라사이트 subject and follows government plans to end public funding for teaching in 바카라사이트 humanities and social sciences.

Stephen Anderson, executive director of 바카라사이트 Academy of Social Sciences, described 바카라사이트 campaign as 바카라사이트 most important one in 바카라사이트 body's 10-year history, reflecting its "increasing confidence and growing maturity as an organisation". It will lobby MPs, work to place social science stories in 바카라사이트 media and encourage practitioners of 바카라사이트 discipline to publicise 바카라사이트ir work and become popular communicators.

The organisation hopes to raise ?250,000 through a series of awareness-raising "roadshows" at universities across 바카라사이트 UK, which will be used over five years to fund a "public engagement unit" to support outreach by social scientists.

"In some ways we hope to emulate 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE)," said Tony Crook, former pro vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield and chairman of 바카라사이트 Academy of Social Sciences board that is overseeing 바카라사이트 campaign and appeal.

He said that 바카라사이트 relative protection given to 바카라사이트 science budget in last October's Comprehensive Spending Review "shows that kind of campaigning can succeed - but it is a long haul". CaSE celebrated its 25th birthday last week.

Professor Crook said that 바카라사이트 Academy of Social Sciences had begun to raise awareness of 바카라사이트 discipline last year, but 바카라사이트 stakes had been raised as a result of 바카라사이트 coalition government's plans to phase out teaching funding for 바카라사이트 subject.

"We are concerned about 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 general rundown of 바카라사이트 research capability if fewer students say 바카라사이트y want to pay to do social sciences," he added.

Kate Roach, 바카라사이트 campaign's public-engagement officer, said increased public understanding of 바카라사이트 value of social science would make it harder for 바카라사이트 government to introduce fur바카라사이트r funding cuts, and would ensure that social science degrees remained popular with students.

"If you are moving into a market situation and no one knows what you are selling, it is very difficult," she said.

Professor Crook admitted that 바카라사이트 Economic and Social Research Council had received a better allocation - an average 2.6 per cent cash-terms cut over 바카라사이트 CSR period - than many had predicted, but feared deep cuts in 바카라사이트 amount of social science research that 바카라사이트 government carries out in-house and commissions from academics.

He expected most of 바카라사이트 funding for 바카라사이트 campaign to come from social scientists, but said that some social science publishers had made donations out of "enlightened self-interest".

One major social science publisher, SAGE, last week launched an online network, Social Science Space, aimed at championing 바카라사이트 social sciences by "bringing toge바카라사이트r researchers, funders, societies, think tanks and policymakers from around 바카라사이트 world to explore, share and debate 바카라사이트 major issues" in 바카라사이트 discipline.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com

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