Government Social Research
Welcome to the first GSR bulletin after the Summer break.
Please use the links below to navigate to sections of interest to you.
We're still on the up. Here are some key usage statistics for August 2005 (figures in brackets for August 2004):
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Government Social Research Competency Framework News of the competency framework for government social researchers is now available on the GSR website. It defines, for the first time, the range of skills and expertise needed for the many roles in the Government Social Research Service (GSR).
Your department should start using the framework from April 2006. In preparation, you should familiarise yourself with the framework during mid-year discussions this September/October and use it as a means of identifying any training needs.
Professional Skills for Government (PSG) GSR news item tells you: what you need to do now; which PSG requirements apply; what if you're seeking promotion?; what if you have skills gaps?; what if you're at a grade below PRO?
MSc in Policy Analysis and Evaluation Good news from Government Social Research Unit (GSRU), Cabinet Office and Institute of Education, University of London is that demand for places has been high. The deadline for applications was 1st September and all applicants will receive a decision by 3rd October.
GSR Conference 2005 The major developmental event of the year for Government Social Researchers, 'Professional Skills for Government: competencies to deliver high quality social science research', takes place in London from the 3-5 October at the Tower Thistle Hotel.
New seminar series on policy analysis and evaluation Government Social Research Unit and the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods(NCRM) are pleased to announce a new seminar series, commencing in September 2005,on current and new trends in policy analysis and evaluation.
Assessing the quality and impact of research in Australia [DEST website] The Australian Department of Education, Science and Technology (DEST) published a report (Research quality framework: assessing the quality and impact of research in Australia: the preferred model) which outlines possible approaches to assessing the quality and impact of original research in Australia. The features of assessment described in the paper reflect a desire, according to the government, to identify high quality and high impact research in an international context, while also recognising the research priorities for Australia in the future.
This paper is part of the development of the the federal government’s new Research Quality Framework (RQF). The Expert Advisory Group for the RQF developed this paper after consultation with the higher education sector. The model is built on the responses to the RQF Issues and Advanced Approaches Papers and the outcomes of the National Stakeholder Forum held in June 2005.
MOLS 2006: Methodology of Longitudinal Surveys - Call for papers [ULSC website] Closing date for abstracts: 30 November 2005
Meeting DWP 's long-term information needs on disability - a feasibility report (DWP research report no. 267) - provides advice on research design options for addressing DWP's likely information and evidence needs in the area of disability.
Public attitudes to participation [Scottish Executive website] In conjunction with research into civic participation in Scotland, MORI was commissioned to undertake a survey on public attitudes. It highlighted three broad trends:
Taking Part in a Randomised Control Trial (pdf) [DWP website]: a participant's eye-view of the Job Retention and Rehabilitation Pilot - presents findings on the characteristics and experiences of participants in a randomised control trial, the Job Retention and Rehabilitation Pilot.
Towards evidence-inspired policymaking - Society Today The ESRC website, carries an article by Sue Duncan, Chief Government Social Researcher (Towards evidence-inspired policymaking) which argues that the term 'evidence-based policy making ' is widely misunderstood, and that the use of research evidence as a basis for policy making is alive and well, and set to play a more fundamental role than ever before.
Call for abstracts: International Conference on Child Cohort Studies The deadline for the submission of abstracts is Friday 14 October 2005.
Social acceptance of renewable energy innovation - Call for papers by the University of St. Gallen, Institute for Economy and the Environment. The deadline for submissions is 1 November 2005.
Global social justice and environmental sustainability - Call for session proposals The Urban Geography Research Group (UGRG) of the RGS-IBG seeks proposals for sponsored sessions at next year's RGS-IBG Annual International Conference, to be held 30th August - 1st September 2006 at the RGS-IBG, London . Deadline for submissions is 9 October 2005.
Semi-monthly update from Mathematica [Mathematica website] Contents include: Telemedicine development issues; Donated care: a strategy for dealing with the uninsured?; Turning research knowledge into practice: a look at IDSRN ; Improving quality of care: conference examines link to reporting; Childhood obesity: strategies for the home.
Interventions related to obesity: a state of the evidence review [Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada website] The report groups into three categories, the evidence on interventions related to obesity: Interventions that have been proven to be effective; Interventions that have some evidence of promise, but require more research to address evidence gaps; Interventions that have been proven not to be effective.
Impact of hate crime research programme - Victim Support have announced a £100,000 research programme with Co-operative Financial Services (CFS), to examine victims' needs, and help determine the extent of hate crime in England and Wales.
NHS Service Delivery and Organisation (SDO) Research and Development Programme - Call for proposals.
EconWPA This service is devoted to the free distribution of working papers in economics. There are 22 subject areas, along with a test posting area, a meetings area, an area for programs and an area for data. Other areas are added when demand dictates. Irregularly updated graphs of submissions and older 2002 graphs of number of submissions.
Papers include Do study grants help refugees find jobs? A case study of the effects of the voluntary sector grants on the education, training and employment of refugees in the United Kingdom a research paper on refugees and education written by Peter Ilmolelian on behalf of the Africa Educational Trust (AET), before he joined Home Office.
Visit the Bulletin Archive to view the contents of previous Bulletins.
The next bulletin will be published in October 2005.