Government Social Research
A deafening silence: hidden violence against women and children - analyses male violence against women and children, and the mechanisms society develops to push it out of sight.
Well-being: in search of a good life? - considers what makes us happy, using a new approach that directly addresses the circumstances under which high subjective well-being is experienced, often with surprising results.
The publication provides a snapshot of how young people in a large city and rural villages obtain cannabis. Finds that nearly all of the 182 young cannabis users interviewed were introduced to the drug by friends; used the drug with friends; and accessed the drug through friends. Only 6% had bought the drug from an unknown seller so most of them were insulated or distanced from overtly criminal drug markets.
Cannabis supply and young people: "it's a social thing"
Contents include:
Mathematica Semimonthly Update
finds that the Review sought to move beyond analysis based on the mean expected outcome to one that incorporates low probability, but potentially catastrophic, events at the tail of probability distributions. Also finds that value judgements and ethical perspectives in key parts of the Review's analysis, led to estimates of future economic damages being substantially higher, and abatement costs lower, than most previous studies. Notes that the Review could usefully have included more sensitivity analysis, to highlight to decision makers the consequences of alternative assumptions or judgements.
The Stern Review: an assessment of its methodology
a review of Common Purpose's piloted 'Local Links' programme that aimed to improve neighbourhood networking, support, skills development and information sharing for local decision-makers and active citizens in four Yorkshire areas.
Local Links: developing active networks in local communities
latest output from 10 year evaluation of the New Deal for Communities programme, provides an overview of new 2006-07 evaluation evidence on how NDC areas are changing. Reveals that NDC areas have made encouraging improvements on 'place-based' outcomes, such as satisfaction with the area, crime and fear of crime, as well as (but more slowly) on 'people-based' outcomes, such as worklessess, education and health. The report emphasises that the NDC partnerships are a recognised and valuable source of experience in community-led renewal and the programme provides good learning for others responsible for implementing neighbourhood regeneration.
New Deal for Communities: a synthesis of new programme wide evidence: 2006-07
Developing social research networks in Wales
The annual study finds more liberal views on relationships and parenting and widespread concern about the environment and inequality. However, pockets of selfishness and self-interest remain including 36% of those interviewed considering 'measures to promote equal opportunities for black and Asian people have gone too far' and the proportion of respondents who think that poverty is due to laziness or lack of willpower, has risen to 27%.
British Social Attitudes: the 24th report: press summary
Contents include:
Mathematica semimonthly update: 22 January 2008
To coincide with publication of research from his organisation, The Young Foundation, and the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (Transformers: how local areas innovate to address changing social needs) on innovation in local government and local areas across the UK and internationally, the article urges experiments in the criminal justice system and healthcare.
If it’s not working, experiment
The report describes the progress made in implementing the Government's Best Research for Best Health research strategy.
Transforming health research: the first two years
Is poverty in the UK a denial of people's human rights argues that failure to incorporate the principles of the UN Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights into UK law has compounded social attitudes that denigrate people who experience poverty and undermine popular support for eradicating poverty.
Is poverty in the UK a denial of people's human rights?
Contents include:
All papers are abstracted in the EBPP Bibliography.
The article reports an interview with Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Andy Burnham, which says that he has told public sector managers that policy change no longer needs to always be evidence-based, and that he has urged them to take more risks. He also suggests there could be better ways of measuring outcomes than targets, such as surveys of patients, parents and other users.
"More risk-taking in public services urged by minister"
Contents include:
Mathematica semimonthly update
"investigates the links between alcohol and where people drink it in two contrasting communities, one urban and one rural. Looking at a range of drinking practices, from abstinence to bingeing, the project explores how socio-economic processes shape place-specific cultures of alcohol consumption. The study evaluates the benefits and problems associated with alcohol use and examines how attitudes to, and use of, alcohol vary across social groupings. The study also explores the extent to which attitudes to, and use of, alcohol have changed between generations and the impact of local history on those attitudes. The fieldwork took place before the new licensing laws took effect in November 2005 and the report looks at a vital period in the history of the UK’s licensing policy, and identifies the policy implications of the local specificity of drinking cultures." [press release]
Drinking places: where people drink and why