Bulletin: January 2007

Welcome to the January GSR bulletin.

Please use the links below to navigate to sections of interest to you.

GSR News

Could double devolution impact social research? - Chief Government Social Researcher, Sue Duncan, considers the implications of devolution for social research in an article in the Winter 2006 edition of Transformation Journal.
ONS announce Economic & Labour Market Review to replace two current titles, 'Economic Trends' and 'Labour Market Trends'

Continuing Professional Development

Cabinet Office and the National School of Government launch Leaders UnLtd - for talented people in groups currently under-represented in the Senior Civil Service. The scheme is open to Grade 6/7 (or equivalent) UK civil servants who are either women, or who have a disability, or are from minority ethnic backgrounds.
Be sure to visit, for details of forthcoming courses, seminars etc:

GSRU courses (GSi only)
External events

GSR research outputs

ONS publish:

Welsh Assembly Government publish:

Housing and Community

Health and Social Care

Education and skills

Update on recent research activity from the Department of Education, Lifelong Learning and skills (DELLS)

Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) are conducting a review of the WAG approach to undertaking surveys to ensure cost effectiveness in the surveys commissioned, and minimising respondent burden amongst the general public and businesses in Wales. The review will also look to increase and maintain survey standards in order to improve data quality and consistency. Further information from Beverley Morgan (Tel: 029 2082 5294).

View the latest report from the Welsh Health Survey on 2003/05 Results for Assembly Constituencies

Department for Transport publish:

Using the legal system in reducing crime and anti social behaviour on public transport - findings of national research conducted in 2005
Delivering better local transport: key achievements and good practice from the first round of local transport plans (known as the Atkins report) - covers key achievements and good practice from the first round of local transport plans.

Home Office publish:

Statistical Bulletin 17/06 - Young people and crime - findings from the 2005 Offending, crime and justice survey
Gun crime: the market in and use of illegal firearms - presents evidence from qualitative in-depth interviews with 80 recently convicted and imprisoned male Firearms Act offenders aged 18 to 30 in England. The report also identifies potential interventions and deterrence strategies.

Council for Science and Technology (CST) publish:

Health impacts - a strategy across government - includes recommendation that improved training is needed for government policy-makers, across all departments, in the wider determinants of health and the use of evidence to assess them.

Forthcoming Research

Deadline: 25 January 2007

Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) is making new arrangements for the way it purchases external social research. The Department’s aim is to create a framework of suppliers who are able to provide high quality social and economic research services to the department.

contacts:
Requirement - Greg Braun - 0207 210 8962
Procurement - David Parry - 020 7340 6827
Helpdesk - BravoSolutions Helpdesk (external website)

Research methods

Scottish Executive research uses new and innovative methods
HM Treasury publish A review of UK health research funding - recommends specific actions which Government can take to ensure that publicly funded health research is carried out in the most effective and efficient way, and to facilitate rapid translation of research findings into health and economic benefits.
Article in The Scientist - Promoting integrity in science journals sets out standards for roles and responsibilities of editor, authors or contributors, reviewers, sponsors, publishers, sponsoring societies and journal owners, media coverage of published science, misconduct and literature correction.
Research Methods Programme publish Briefings on many of the projects it has funded, reporting their findings and indicating where further information about the research can be obtained.
ASSESS (SPSS Users) publish presentations from their meeting in York, 2006. Includes material by John Hall and Karen Blakey.
Social Policy Research Unit, University of York publish Using verbatim quotations in reporting qualitative social research: the views of research users

Other research outputs

Mathematica publish semimonthly update: 9 January

Contents include:

Children's emotional and behavioral disorders;
Longest- running Statewide marriage initiative in the U.S.;
TANF at 10: welfare reform choices in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania;
National hospital discharge survey: trends in lung surgery

Mathematica publish semimonthly update: 2 January

Contents include:

Child care: boosting quality in care provided by "kith and kin";
Mental Health screening in children: discrepancies;
UK evidence on employing people with disabilities;
Medical specialty centers and niche hospitals: how do they impact general hospitals?

ESRC publish Family dynamics after divorce: a meta-analysis’ - The research is based on a meta analysis of existing qualitative longitudinal data, gathered in three studies, beginning in 1994, on 28 post divorce families over an 8 year period.

Website of the Month

Intute Internet tutorials for the Social Sciences - teach Internet research skills. The tutorials are free to access on the Web and take around an hour each to complete. They are ideal for supporting research methods, information literacy or study skills courses.

Visit the Bulletin Archive to view the contents of previous Bulletins.

Copy deadline for next Bulletin is noon 12 February 2007

Government Social Research

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