Government Social Research
27 January 2006 - Scottish Executive (SE) publish results of Stakeholder Survey 2005
27 January 2006 - Scottish Executive announce Starting points for research in school
26 January 2006 - Department for Education and Skills (DfES) publish A systematic review of the research literature on the use of phonics in the teaching of reading and spelling
26 January 2006 - Home Office announce a major cross-party review of how crime statistics are compiled and published to increase public understanding of crime trends
26 January 2006 - Social Exclusion Unit publish The social exclusion of older people
Evidence from the first wave of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing
26 January 2006 - Home Office announce publication of the following new research
25 January 2006 - Department of Health (DH) publish Best research for best health: a new national health research strategy
Sets out the goals for research and development over the next five years and demonstrates the commitment to creating a vibrant research environment that contributes to the health and wealth of England.
23 January 2006 - Scottish Executive publish Scottish Crime and Victimisation Survey: calibration exercise: a comparison of survey methodologies
Compares fieldwork outcomes, sample profiles and victimization rates from 3,000 face to face interviews and 9,000 telephone interviews conducted across Scotland between June and September 2004. The report also looks at weighting options and proposes a method for calculating response rates from telephone surveys.
19 January 2006 - Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) publish Newborns and new schools: critical times in women’s employment
Investigates how and when differences in work behaviour between men and women develop. It focuses on the evolution of gender gaps immediately after childbirth and during the initial years of family development. This study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies uses two data sources: the first thirteen waves of the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS), covering years 1991 to 2003 and five waves of the Families and Children Study (FACS) covering the years 1999 to 2003. Information on all adults from the BHPS was combined with data on families from the FACS to create a large sample of families and a comparison sample containing individuals over all stages of the lifetime, including before, throughout and after family formation.
19 January 2006 - Publication of semi-monthly Mathematica update
Contents include:
Easing Return to Work for People with Disabilities; Medicaid Managed Care Initiative Helps Build Strong Programs; Medicaid Managed Care Initiative Assessment of Quality Improvement Efforts; NCES Report Examines Regional Differences in Early Care; New publications covering kids and families; Report on "Hospital compare" assesses web-based tool to improve quality; presentation on consumer direction at AcademyHealth policy seminar.
18 January 2006 - Department for Constitutional Affairs publish Tribunals for diverse users
Presents a wide ranging study of access, experiences and outcomes of tribunal hearings from the perspective of tribunal users in three tribunals: the Appeals Service, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal. The study also included focus groups with the general public and interviews with tribunal judiciary. It was designed specifically to compare the experiences of white, black and minority ethnic users to establish how they perceive and are treated within tribunals and whether black and minority ethnic users experience any direct or indirect disadvantage in accessing and using tribunal services. The report was received with much interest. It was labelled an important resource for informing the direction of the new Tribunals Service as well as for the wider development of the administrative justice system.
18 January 2006 - Call for Papers for Evaluation in Society: Critical Connections - 4-6 October 2006, London
Joint UK Evaluation Society/European Evaluation Society Conference. Closing date: 3 April 2006
13 January 2006 - Department for Transport publishes Draft evidence and research strategy
This strategy sets out what the Department for Transport understands its evidence needs are for the next three years and beyond, as well as the areas and activities it plans to develop. Comments on the draft are welcomed by 22 February 2006.
13 January 2006 - The Legal Services Research Centre has started a new research project on debt outreach advice .
The first phase will be a survey of the incidence of debt problems, financial exclusion, and awareness, use of and attitudes to advice services. Interviews will be conducted in five outreach location types, ranging from community centres to credit unions. BMRB Social Research will be conducting the fieldwork.
10 January 2006 - ESRC Placement Fellows Scheme Opportunities within Defra.
A number of placement opportunities within Defra have been announced under the new ESRC Placement Fellows Scheme. The scheme, jointly funded by the ESRC and a host 'partner organisation' (e.g. Government Department, Devolved Administration) allows for social science researchers to spend time in that department to undertake policy-relevant research and to upgrade the research skills of 'partner organisation' employees. Closing date 13 February 2006
9 January 2006 - Market Research Society guideline consultations
MRS publish draft guidelines on conducting research with children and young people. Call for comments by 31 January. New draft guidelines on research with employees and internet research will be published during January, and the consultation will run until mid-February.
4 January 2006 - Publication of Mathematica semi-monthly update
Contents include:
Survey Methods - United Nations book Examines Household Sample Surveys; WISEWOMAN - best practices for implementing lifestyle interventions; challenges of making disability programs more work-focused; making sense of choices: how much do medicare beneficiaries know?; new NCES report explores time young children spend in child care.