scholarly journals Users and Social Science Research: Policy, Problems and Possibilities

1997 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 69-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Rappert
Keyword(s):  
Research Policy ◽  
Social Research ◽  
Public Funding ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
User Involvement ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Research Process ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Policy Problems

Recent times have seen a significant reorientation in public funding for academic research across many countries. Public bodies in the UK have been at the forefront of such activities, typically justified in terms of a need to meet the challenges of international competitiveness and improve quality of life. One set of mechanisms advanced for further achieving these goals is the incorporation of users’ needs into various aspects of the research process. This paper examines some of the consequences of greater user involvement in the UK Economic and Social Research Council by drawing on both empirical evidence and more speculative argumentation. In doing so it poses some of the dilemmas for conceptualizing proper user involvement.

ESRC Review

2020 ◽  
pp. 657-698
Author(s):  
Simeon J. Yates ◽  
Jordana Blejmar
Keyword(s):  
Social Research ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Us ◽  
Levels Of Automation ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Technological World ◽  
Ways Of Being

Two workshops were part of the final steps in the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) commissioned Ways of Being in a Digital Age project that is the basis for this Handbook. The ESRC project team coordinated one with the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (ESRC-DSTL) Workshop, “The automation of future roles”; and one with the US National Science Foundation (ESRC-NSF) Workshop, “Changing work, changing lives in the new technological world.” Both workshops sought to explore the key future social science research questions arising for ever greater levels of automation, use of artificial intelligence, and the augmentation of human activity. Participants represented a wide range of disciplinary, professional, government, and nonprofit expertise. This chapter summarizes the separate and then integrated results. First, it summarizes the central social and economic context, the method and project context, and some basic definitional issues. It then identifies 11 priority areas needing further research work that emerged from the intense interactions, discussions, debates, clustering analyses, and integration activities during and after the two workshops. Throughout, it summarizes how subcategories of issues within each cluster relate to central issues (e.g., from users to global to methods) and levels of impacts (from wider social to community and organizational to individual experiences and understandings). Subsections briefly describe each of these 11 areas and their cross-cutting issues and levels. Finally, it provides a detailed Appendix of all the areas, subareas, and their specific questions.

RESEARCH STRATEGIES FOR INCREASING NEW KNOWLEDGE DISCOVERY

2000 ◽  
Vol 08 (01) ◽  
pp. 47-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
GUS M GEURSEN
Keyword(s):  
Social Science Research ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Knowledge Generation ◽  
Research Model ◽  
Research Strategies ◽  
New Knowledge

The purpose of this paper is to examine a traditional academic research model frequently used in scholarly papers and the implications of this model in restricting growth and quality of new knowledge generation. The paper contends a traditional academic research process (TARP) is evident in business and the other social science research. It identifies concerns about the process and how it restricts new theory development. The paper provides an alternative model, the higher academic research model (HARP) which is characterised by closer interaction between research processes and phenomena under investigation. The paper concludes by demonstrating the increased output achievement of the new model.

A Sociologist's Field Notes to the Mass Observation Archive: A Consideration of the Challenges of ‘re-Using’ Mass Observation Data in a Longitudinal Mixed-Methods Study

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-160
Author(s):  
Rose Lindsey ◽  
Sarah Bulloch
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Research Council ◽  
Social Research ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Observation Data

This paper explores the challenges arising from the ‘re-use’ of Mass Observation Project (MOP) writing (1981 to present day) encountered by the authors when setting up an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded, longitudinal, mixed-methods research project on civic engagement. The paper begins with a brief review of the present UK social science research environment, highlighting the evidence for an increasing Research Council focus on interdisciplinary research and secondary analysis/re-use of data. It argues that this shift in focus gives rise to unique methodological challenges such as those encountered by the authors in this project. After providing some background and context, the paper discusses different obstacles encountered in the course of setting up this project. These include difficulties in: communicating within and across disciplines; re-using data across disciplines; the use of metadata, and its role in choosing writers from a longitudinal secondary data source; choice of analytical tools and approaches; and the Mass Observation writer's role in the research process. By sharing these experiences, the paper seeks to enable potential users of the MOP to see the value of MOP as a source of longitudinal qualitative secondary data; appreciate its potential for use with other data sources and across different disciplines; and equip other researchers to meet some of the challenges that the longitudinal use of MOP writing throws up.

scholarly journals Challenges in Education Research in Taiwan: Research Institutes and Organizations, Research Policies, and Problems

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1&2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Li Huang
Keyword(s):  
Education Research ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Research Performance ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Academic Education ◽  
Research Institutes

Since the 1990s, many education researchers and policy makers worldwide have reviewed education research to attempt to provide strategies to improve the quality of such research in their countries. Taiwan’s government has launched policies and funded support to set the benchmark for Taiwan’s leading universities in international academic competition. The external environment of global competition based on research policy influences the ecosystem of social science research production. To assure the quality of education policy, peer review from within the education community is one approach to supplementing the government’s governance, including the establishment of research institutes, promotion, rewards, and research value. This study tracked the mode of academic research and provides an overview of the status of academic education research in Taiwan. Because education research is part of the humanities and social sciences fields, this study identified the challenges in educational research by examining the trend of social science research and by analyzing research organizations, policy, and the evaluation of research performance. Due to the environment of education research in Taiwan is not friendly to education researcher to accumulate papers in SSCI or international journal, additional concerns entail how education research communities can develop and agree on its quality.

On Social Change and Social Science Research in Africa

1969 ◽  
Vol 12 (02) ◽  
pp. 227-235
Author(s):  
Robert L. West
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Social Research ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
The United States ◽  
African Studies ◽  
Research Centers ◽  
Liaison Committee ◽  
Research Institutes

Since its establishment in 1966, the Research Liaison Committee has been charged by the members of the African Studies Association with the responsibility of finding ways to strengthen collaboration among African scholars and scholars from North America engaged in African research. The R.L.C, has been the principal instrument of the African Studies Association for informing and advising its members about research projects conducted in Africa by African, American, and other scholars; about the programs and facilities of research centers and institutes located in Africa; about the policies and procedures of governments and universities in Africa with respect to research and the activities of foreign research workers; and about the special needs and priority concerns of the governmental and academic research communities in Africa. The obverse of these responsibilities has been the effort by the R.L.C, to improve the means of communication with African research centers and to increase their familiarity with the capabilities and interests of American scholars concerned with Africa, particularly in the social sciences, the humanities, and in the broad field of development research. The R.L.C. has found two principal means of carrying out these responsibilities. First, it has entered into cooperation with groups of research centers in Africa, and with councils of scholars and directors of research institutes, to enlarge the exchange of information between the scholarly communities of Africa and North America; a notable example is the collaboration with the Council of Directors of Economic and Social Research Institutes in Africa (CODESRIA), whose chairman, Dr. H. M. A. Onitiri of the University of Ibadan, visited major centers of African studies in the United States in the spring of 1969 as a guest of the African Studies Association.

The e-Social Science research agenda

2010 ◽  
Vol 368 (1925) ◽  
pp. 3761-3778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Halfpenny ◽  
Rob Procter
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Future Development ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Social Research ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
National Centre ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Uk

In this paper, we use the experience of the first 5 years of the UK Economic and Social Research Council’s National Centre for e-Social Science as a basis for reflecting upon the future development of the e-Social Science research agenda.

Beeldmateriaal in kwalitatief sociaalwetenschappelijk onderzoek

KWALON ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-41
Author(s):  
Gabry Vanderveen
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Social Research ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Visual Methods ◽  
Collection Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Making Choices

Abstract Visuals in qualitative social science research The visual is omnipresent in daily life. Though research is still mainly verbal by nature, visual studies and visual methods have become part of academic social research. This contribution intends to introduce visual methods to students and researchers who are not familiar with the possibilities. First, the reasons why researchers work with visuals are described. Next, following , ) we distinguish between visuals as data, as part of the data collection method and as output of research. Just like in any other research, autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and justice are the guiding principles when making choices during the research process.

The Politics of Social Research: Institutionalizing Public Funding Regimes in the United States and Britain

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 415-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
DESMOND KING
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Science ◽  
National Science Foundation ◽  
Social Research ◽  
Public Funding ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Social ◽  
National Science

In the twenty years after 1945 both the United States and Britain created public funding regimes for social science, through the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) respectively. The historical and political contexts in which these institutions were founded differed, but the assumptions about social science concurred. This article uses archival sources to explain this comparative pattern. It is argued that the political context in both countries played a key role in the development of the two research agencies. In each country the need politically to stress the neutrality of social research – though for different reasons in each case – produced a bias towards positivist scientific methodology, untempered by ideology. This propensity created the trajectory upon which each country's public funding regime rests.

scholarly journals The importance of gaining the public’s confidence to use administrative data for public benefit in social science research

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilse Verwulgen ◽  
Judith Knight
Keyword(s):  
Administrative Data ◽  
Public Engagement ◽  
Research Council ◽  
Social Research ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Public Consultation ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Public Confidence ◽  
The Uk

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe Administrative Data Research Network (ADRN) is a UK-wide initiative, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). The Network facilitates safe access to linked de-identified administrative data for research which is aimed at providing a benefit to our society. Administrative data research can provide wide ranging and longitudinal evidence for policy makers which therefore has the potential to improve our society. MethodRecognising the importance of public confidence and trust to the success of the ADRN, the ESRC commissioned a public consultation to gauge understanding of social research and the reactions to the use of administrative data in research. A comprehensive UK-wide communications and public engagement strategy has been developed. From this a number of initiatives been introduced over the past two years to address public concerns and these have been reviewed, revised and extended as the Network has evolved. Now to extend the Network’s reach, the Administrative Data Research Network is developing a UK National Citizens Panel (CP). The panel will provide a representation of public views on potential changes to Network policy, procedures, governance and service provision issues. The CP will also assist with testing our public facing communications such as events, website and promotional materials. ConclusionThis paper presents the previous and current public engagement initiatives that the Administrative Data Research Network has incorporated within its policies and service that enables better knowledge for a better society  Funded by the Economic & Social Research Council, the ADRN, set up as part of the UK Government’s Big Data initiative, is a UK-wide partnership between universities, government bodies, national statistics authorities and the wider research community. www.adrn.ac.uk.

Return to Meaning

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mats Alvesson ◽  
Yiannis Gabriel ◽  
Roland Paulsen
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
No Value ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Cluttered Environment ◽  
Student Fees ◽  
Social Uses

This book argues that we are currently witnessing not merely a decline in the quality of social science research, but a proliferation of meaningless research of no value to society and modest value to its authors—apart from securing employment and promotion. The explosion of published outputs, at least in social science, creates a noisy, cluttered environment which makes meaningful research difficult, as different voices compete to capture the limelight even briefly. Older, but more impressive contributions are easily neglected as the premium is to write and publish, not read and learn. The result is a widespread cynicism among academics on the value of academic research, sometimes including their own. Publishing comes to be seen as a game of hits and misses, devoid of intrinsic meaning and value and of no wider social uses whatsoever. This is what the book views as the rise of nonsense in academic research, which represents a serious social problem. It undermines the very point of social science. This problem is far from ‘academic’. It affects many areas of social and political life entailing extensive waste of resources and inflated student fees as well as costs to taxpayers. The book’s second part offers a range of proposals aimed at restoring meaning at the heart of social science research, and drawing social science back, address the major problems and issues that face our societies.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document