scholarly journals Sport and Social Inclusion: Evidence-Based Policy and Practice

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred Coalter
Keyword(s):  
Interest Groups ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Relevant Research ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
The Social ◽  
On Line

This commentary reflects on my experience of compiling the <em>Value of Sport Monitor</em>—an on-line resource of policy-relevant, research on the social impacts of sport—for eight years. The commentary critically evaluates the assumption of the <em>Value of Sport Monitor</em> that social science research in sport is cumulative and it explores sports interest groups’ varying attitudes to the nature of evidence. It illustrates that widespread conceptual and methodological inconsistencies and weaknesses in research greatly reduce the ability to identify best practice and ‘best buys’ as a basis for policy. The commentary concludes by proposing that a way forward for research to contribute to policy and practice is via theory-based evaluation.

Introduction: Themed Section on Evidence-Based Policy as a concept for Modernising Governance and Social Science Research

2002 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam E David
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Political Systems ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Evidence Based Policy ◽  
The Social ◽  
Technological Developments

The concept of evidence-based policy and practice has many origins but its relation to the growth of the social sciences is arguably the most important. The uses of the social sciences for both understanding and transforming social policies and political systems has come to be assumed – complex and problematic though these may be. The concept is also closely linked with the concepts of globalisation, technological developments, and the ‘knowledge economy’. Thus the notions of ‘evidence’ and social science research have often been elided with political movements for social and economic change. In other contexts, these notions have been contextualised, so that ‘evidence’ and research are not deemed to be the same. Indeed, it is possible to argue that the notion of legal ‘evidence’ illustrates just how ideological it can be, how it can be used to marshal particular arguments and sustain a specific case rather than present it in a dispassionate manner.

Social Experiences of Breastfeeding

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Child Health ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Social Experiences ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Cultural Contexts ◽  
The Social ◽  
Real Change

This book brings together international academics, policy makers, and practitioners to build bridges between the real world and scholarship on breastfeeding. It asks the question: How can the latest social science research into breastfeeding be used to improve support at both policy and practice level, in order to help women breastfeed and to breastfeed for longer? The book includes discussion about the social and cultural contexts of breastfeeding and looks at how policy and practice can apply this to women's experiences. This will be essential reading for academics, policy makers and practitioners in public health, midwifery, child health, sociology, women's studies, psychology, human geography, and anthropology, who want to make a real change for mothers.

scholarly journals Enhancing Rigor in Quantitative Entrepreneurship Research

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 1059-1090 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markku Maula ◽  
Wouter Stam
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Entrepreneurship Research ◽  
Practice Recommendations ◽  
The Social ◽  
Methodological Guidelines

Reflecting on common empirical concerns in quantitative entrepreneurship research, recent calls for improved rigor and reproducibility in social science research, and recent methodological developments, we discuss new opportunities for further enhancing rigor in quantitative entrepreneurship research. In addition to highlighting common key concerns of editors and reviewers, we review recent methodological guidelines in the social sciences that offer more in-depth discussions of particular empirical issues and approaches. We conclude by offering a set of best practice recommendations for further enhancing rigor in quantitative entrepreneurship research.

scholarly journals How can we capture the subject’s perspective? An evidence-based approach for the social scientist

2011 ◽  
Vol 50 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 607-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saadi Lahlou
Keyword(s):  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Social Scientist ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Psychological State ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
First Person ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
External Observer ◽  
The Social

This paper addresses the methodological gap that impedes the collection of empirical data on subjective experience. It describes a new family of methods for social science research (Subjective Evidence-Based Ethnography: SEBE). The methods are based on: first-person audio-visual recording with a miniature video-camera worn at eye-level (‘subcam’); confronting subjects with these first-person recordings to collect their subjective experience; formulating the findings and discussing the final interpretation with the subjects. These procedures enable subjects to reconstruct and describe their psychological state at the moment of action, especially their goals, by reviewing films of their own activity recorded from their own perspective with subcams. These films provide situated records of actual activity in natural environments, without the need of an external observer. This approach, by providing both detailed records of actual activity and evidence-based accounts of the subject’s own mental processes, supports grounded progress in ethnography, psychology, ergonomics, sociology and the social sciences in general. There are also applications for training and cross-cultural contacts. The techniques are described in sufficient detail for the reader to make use of them. Examples of applications are provided and limitations are discussed.

SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH IN NIGERIA: WHICH WAY FORWARD?

1995 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Olu Ajakaiye ◽  
F. O. Nyemutu Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Policy Implementation ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Relevant Research ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Social

The global crisis of social science manifests in Nigeria in remarkable ways. Beyond the fundamental issues of worldview and methodology, which are neither unique to the social sciences nor to Nigeria, are the apparent lethargic response of Nigeria policy makers to social science research and the complication and contamination of both this response and the research agenda itself by the preferences of external agencies using funding of policy implementation and research as a bait. However, to leave the matter at this is to “pass the buck”. This study uses the method of content survey of prominent social science journals in Nigeria to assess the structure of contemporary social science research in the country. The survey reveals that contemporary research emphasizes basic research over and above policy-relevant research, and hence, questions their relevance to the needs of policy makers. Some suggestions are made as to the way out of this situation. The authors gratefully acknowledge the useful comments of the anonymous reviewers of this article..

Trajectories for Future Cybersecurity Research

2018 ◽  
pp. 530-546
Author(s):  
Ronald Deibert
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Software Development ◽  
Computer Science ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
The Core ◽  
Engineering Data ◽  
The Social

Cybersecurity is one of the most highly contested and yet important topics. How global cyberspace is secured, by whom, and for what purpose touches upon some of the most basic of political questions. This chapter provides a survey of some of the major topics around cybersecurity and highlights some of the outstanding questions or areas for further research. The survey is not meant to be exhaustive, but rather illustrative of some of the core international political questions where evidence-based and theoretically informed social science research will be sorely needed. Cybersecurity researchers will need to explore methods that are not typically within the social science toolkit: techniques drawn from computer science, engineering, data analysis, and software development. Doing so will require bridging disciplinary divides that are not easily overcome—a challenge that may, in reality, take generations to overcome.

scholarly journals Mainstreaming the social sciences in conservation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Bennett ◽  
Robin Roth ◽  
Sarah C. Klain ◽  
Kai M. A. Chan ◽  
Douglas A. Clark ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Conservation Policy ◽  
Conservation Science ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
The Social

Despite broad recognition of the value of social sciences and increasingly vocal calls for better engagement with the human element of conservation, the conservation social sciences remain misunderstood and underutilized in practice. The conservation social sciences can provide unique and important contributions to society's understanding of the relationships between humans and nature and to improving conservation practice and outcomes. There are 4 barriers—ideological, institutional, knowledge, and capacity—to meaningful integration of the social sciences into conservation. We provide practical guidance on overcoming these barriers to mainstream the social sciences in conservation science, practice, and policy. Broadly, we recommend fostering knowledge on the scope and contributions of the social sciences to conservation, including social scientists from the inception of interdisciplinary research projects, incorporating social science research and insights during all stages of conservation planning and implementation, building social science capacity at all scales in conservation organizations and agencies, and promoting engagement with the social sciences in and through global conservation policy‐influencing organizations. Conservation social scientists, too, need to be willing to engage with natural science knowledge and to communicate insights and recommendations clearly. We urge the conservation community to move beyond superficial engagement with the conservation social sciences. A more inclusive and integrative conservation science—one that includes the natural and social sciences—will enable more ecologically effective and socially just conservation. Better collaboration among social scientists, natural scientists, practitioners, and policy makers will facilitate a renewed and more robust conservation. Mainstreaming the conservation social sciences will facilitate the uptake of the full range of insights and contributions from these fields into conservation policy and practice.

A Tale of Two Cultures

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Goertz ◽  
James Mahoney
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Quantitative Research Methods ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
The Social ◽  
Scientific Worldview ◽  
Different Cultures

Some in the social sciences argue that the same logic applies to both qualitative and quantitative research methods. This book demonstrates that these two paradigms constitute different cultures, each internally coherent yet marked by contrasting norms, practices, and toolkits. The book identifies and discusses major differences between these two traditions that touch nearly every aspect of social science research, including design, goals, causal effects and models, concepts and measurement, data analysis, and case selection. Although focused on the differences between qualitative and quantitative research, the book also seeks to promote toleration, exchange, and learning by enabling scholars to think beyond their own culture and see an alternative scientific worldview. The book is written in an easily accessible style and features a host of real-world examples to illustrate methodological points.

Designing and Evaluating Survey Instruments for Research in Human Issues in Horticulture

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 554c-554
Author(s):  
Sonja M. Skelly ◽  
Jennifer Campbell Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Survey Research ◽  
Survey Methodology ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Survey Instrument ◽  
Measurement Tool ◽  
The Social ◽  
Survey Instruments

Survey research has a long precedence of use in the social sciences. With a growing interest in the area of social science research in horticulture, survey methodology needs to be explored. In order to conduct proper and accurate survey research, a valid and reliable instrument must be used. In many cases, however, an existing measurement tool that is designed for specific research variables is unavailable thus, an understanding of how to design and evaluate a survey instrument is necessary. Currently, there are no guidelines in horticulture research for developing survey instruments for use with human subjects. This presents a problem when attempting to compare and reference similar research. This workshop will explore the methodology involved in preparing a survey instrument; topics covered will include defining objectives for the survey, constructing questions, pilot testing the survey, and obtaining reliability and validity information. In addition to these topics some examples will be provided which will illustrate how to complete these steps. At the conclusion of this session a discussion will be initiated for others to share information and experiences dealing with creating survey instruments.

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