Are paid work placements the answer? - Social Research Association
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DECEMBER:2021
research matters
Are paid work placements
the answer?
By Jackie Carter, University of Manchester
Well, it depends what the question is. the research methods that will assist them to form and explore
research questions during their degree.
I’m often asked by my undergraduate
students what a career in social research It’s a great way to teach the skills and knowledge that underpin
involves. They are taking social science social research. But it’s not such a great way to show how
courses, often combining sociology, social research is undertaken in that mysterious place, ‘the real
criminology, politics, international relations, world’. The application of those skills and knowledge is missing
social anthropology and economics. They from the classroom, no matter how many real-world examples
are interested in the substantive nature of their we use. How can we bridge the gap between the classroom
subject, and at the University of Manchester we teach them and the workplace?
INSIDE: Why has the pandemic not pushed high quality surveys online? • Did deliberation actually go big in 2021?
• Ensuring everyone counts • Researcher hinterlands • Using novel data sources in emergency grant-making • Hello from
the Government Data Quality Hub • Are you a ‘structuralist’ or an ‘individualist’? • Plus news, reviews and listings
In 2013 we set up the Q-Step Centre at pipeline into social research careers is a placement had it not been paid (they
the University of Manchester, funded by something I am not only proud of but work for eight weeks and are paid
the Nuffield Foundation and the ESRC am now doggedly pursuing. minimum wage). Over half said no,
to provide quantitative skills training they could not and would not have
I was a first-gen university student, and
to social science undergraduates. We done this. The Sutton Trust proposes
my experiences in navigating my own
created opportunities to experience that work placements longer than four
career opened my eyes to the many
the workplace through paid internships weeks’ duration should be paid at least
invisible barriers. It amazes me how we
(now called data fellowships). We the minimum wage. The just-published
have focused so myopically on opening
have placed 300 students into public, ESRC Review of the PhD in the social
up access to education for those
private and third sector organisations sciences includes a call for more work
from non-traditional backgrounds,
to do applied social research. I turned experience.
but there is so little joined up thinking
their experiences into a book – Work
about how to open up similar routes Experiential learning is valuable and can
placements, internships and applied
to the workplace, especially in non- open up careers for those wishing to go
social research – for others to discover
vocational degrees like those in the into social research. But access needs
all about the applied work placement
social sciences. This siloed thinking to be open to all, if we are to create a
experience.
results in the widespread initiatives more diverse talent pipeline.
The programme opens doors to future in organisations that recruit social
Work placements provide much
careers that undergraduates might science graduates, where they try to
needed applied knowledge and insight
not be aware of. The book includes fix a leaky pipeline – by addressing
into social research careers, but they
vignettes from NatCen, Ipsos and The equality, diversity and inclusion in the
provide important transferable skills too.
Future Foundation based on interviews workplace. That’s too late. We need to
This combination of analytical, research
with early career researchers. Many be thinking about earlier interventions
and professional skills is powerful. As
former students now have social in the educational life course – and
one former intern so neatly put it, ‘No
research careers, and some feature in building more intelligent and purposeful
one in my family would have a clue
the ten case studies in the book. routes into social research careers to
what a career in social research is.
ensure diversity is designed in, and
Having ended up in an academic role Thanks to the work placement I am
resourced. And critically, we need to
through a very unconventional route, now in a job that none of my family
fast track people from non-traditional
I was also mindful that access to could ever have done’. Then again,
backgrounds and under-represented
opportunity can often be a reflection according to a postgraduate student
groups into positions where they can
of our backgrounds and upbringing, recently, ‘How on earth I could afford
influence recruitment practices.
and our connections and experiences. the cost of living in London to undertake
I’m thrilled that the data fellowship The programme I describe here could a research placement beats me’. Paid
programme has placed 25% of those be an answer. Take socioeconomic work placements need funding at a
300 from widening participation background for example. This year I level that makes them a realistic option
backgrounds or under-represented polled 60 of my data fellows asking for those who perhaps could benefit
groups. Creating a diverse talent whether they would have undertaken from them most.
SRA JOURNAL
‘Social Research Practice’
Issue 11, summer 2021, is free to download at:
https://the-sra.org.uk/SRA/Publications/SRA-Journal/SRA/Publications/SRA-Journal.aspx
The overall aim of the journal is to encourage and promote high standards of social research for public
benefit. It promotes openness and discussion of problems. We welcome offers of articles and research
notes for future issues. Read the guidelines for authors and download the article template at the link
above. If you have an idea for an article or research note but are not sure if it’s suitable, please email
Richard Bartholomew, the editor: rabartholomew@btinternet.com
2 : S O C I A L R E S E A R C H A S S O C I AT I O N
EDITORIAL
On inclusion, methods and data
Ailbhe McNabola, SRA co-chair, highlights some of the topics covered in this issue of Research Matters.
W elcome to
this quarter’s
Research Matters.
set up in 2020 in recognition of the
fact that some of the most vulnerable
groups in society distrust government
agreement that there’s an inequality
problem in society doesn’t mean we
necessarily have consensus about its
and government statistics, and as a causes or how to tackle it.
I’d like to start by
result, are generally under-represented
thanking Karen Kerr,
in statistics. This has implications for Methods and data
who for many years
making decisions and developing policy. In this issue we of course touch on
represented SRA
This under-representation in official methods and data, with Patten Smith
Scotland on our board,
statistics is not a new phenomenon, but reflecting on why high-quality surveys
and worked tirelessly organising
as in many other areas, the Covid-19 have not all migrated to online mode,
events and growing the SRA Scotland
pandemic highlighted inequality in the and looking at examples where this did
network. Karen has retired from work
UK in a new way and has mobilised happen and the implications for the
this year and also from her SRA role,
action to counteract it. The taskforce research. Much has changed in working
and so I’d also like to warmly welcome
has just made its recommendations life and working patterns over the last
Daniel Stunell who has stepped forward
for improving the inclusivity of the 18 months, but it seems that quite a
to take her place. Daniel will become a
data collected and used by national lot has stuck too. Ebony Armstrong
formal member of the board once voted
and local government to plan and from the Office for National Statistics
in at our AGM in January. And that’s
a good opportunity for me to remind introduces the UK Government Data
members of our AGM which will again …this issue has lots Quality Hub, a new function funded
last year to support and promote data
be online, making it easier for you to
participate. The AGM will be followed by of interesting and quality across the UK Government,
with a remit that covers all types of
a seminar with an interesting speaker, to
thank you for making the time. Details
varied articles… government data and open to helping
coming soon. We really do appreciate all government researchers. And
your contribution at the AGM. my colleague Stephen Miller shares
direct services. Dan writes about his his experience of using novel data
Inclusion in our profession involvement in research with members sources, not traditionally interrogated
of the public who are under-represented by third sector organisations, to quickly
As ever, this issue has lots of interesting
in UK statistics, and with civil society understand the impact of Covid-19 on
and varied articles, including a
organisations representing them, to try the small community-led businesses
number that touch on inclusion in our
to improve understanding of the issue. funded by charitable trust Power to
profession. This is a topic that’s very
And for a different take on inclusion, do Change. Lucy Farrow and Clare Palmer
important to the SRA, building on the
read the fascinating article by Bobby from BritainThinks revisit their prediction
research that we published this summer
Duffy and Rachel Hesketh from the (made in Spring 2021) that deliberative
with the Young Foundation and Kantar
Policy Institute at King’s College London research practice was going in ‘go big’
Public. Jackie Carter writes about a
about people’s attitudes to inequalities 2021. Did it? Read on to find out!
paid work placements scheme at the
– whether you’re more of a structuralist
University of Manchester, and how
or an individualist will make a difference Thank you
access to paid work experience can
to how you view inequality and your I hope you enjoy reading this issue.
help to level the playing field in access
views on how it should be tackled. Lots of volunteer work goes into collating
to our profession. One of our trustees,
Their work used latent class analysis and publishing it, so my final word has to
Dan Clay, writes about the UK Statistics
of online YouGov data and shows that be thanks to the editorial team.
Authority’s Inclusive Data Taskforce,
R E S E A R C H M AT T E R S : D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 : 3
METHODS CORNER
Why has the pandemic not pushed
high quality surveys online?
By Patten Smith, senior consultant at Ipsos MORI
G enPopWeb2 is an ESRC-funded
network of UK-based researchers
which was set up to share knowledge
The European Social Survey (ESS)3,
usually involving 60-minute interviews,
postponed fieldwork for nearly a year
One presentation described
how the Food Standards
Agency (FSA) had transitioned its
and stimulate research on online (meaning that is it still underway) and flagship Food and You Survey from face-
general population social surveys. It also allowed seven (of 31 in total) to-face to push-to-web data collection
ran an event in September – ‘Covid-19 countries to move from face-to-face to and, acknowledging that this may have
and transitioning to online data sequential online-postal data collection. large (perhaps unmeasurable) effects on
collection in social surveys’. The event In contrast to these three surveys, the trends, had made the prudent decision
was to address why the pandemic British Election Study 2019/20 (BES) to accept the discontinuity and simply
had generally not pushed ongoing did make a wholesale transition to restart the trends.
face-to-face surveys towards web- sequential mixed-mode web and paper To my mind, the FSA’s decision to
based data collection methods; what questionnaire data collection, and it did accept the discontinuity was the right
were the barriers preventing this from this mid-fieldwork. Furthermore, the one, and gives the clue as to why we
happening; and what was there to transition appeared to be successful have not witnessed a wholesale shift
learn from the experience for future (albeit after offering respondents to web data collection in ongoing
web-based surveys. generous incentives). Although the face-to-face surveys as a result of the
The event included five presentations mixed-mode response rate dropped pandemic: it is simply that such surveys
broadly relevant to these questions somewhat, the mixed-mode sample are commissioned to measure trends
and which, between them, covered the was comparable to the face-to-face and any change of data collection
immediate-term changes actually made one on both demographic and key mode is very likely to interrupt these.
to some ongoing face-to-face surveys survey variables. Further information I believe that additional contributory
in response to the pandemic; and some about the 2019 BES study. factors were:
more general research on transitioning The more general presentations on
surveys to online-led data collection. ◗ It is harder to collect certain
transitioning to online indicated that, important types of data using web-
Changes to data collection in response although moving a survey from face- led mixed-mode methods – such as
to the pandemic were discussed for to-face to mixed-mode web-led data data requiring linkage consents or
four face-to-face surveys. collection is feasible, such a transition nurse visits
The Health Survey for England (HSE)1 is unlikely to be straightforward. For
example: ◗ It is very hard to field long, complex
usually involves a lengthy interview questionnaires in high response-rate
followed by a nurse visit in which ◗ In a pilot for the Childcare and Early
4
web-led mixed-mode surveys without
physical measurements are made. Years Survey response rates were using face-to-face interviewing
Fieldwork was abruptly halted in March considerably lower than for the main (disallowed during the pandemic)
2020 and then resumed in 2021 in a face-to-face survey, and some survey as a secondary mode – postal
modified form – involving both doorstep estimates changed substantially questionnaires cannot be made
and postal/web-portal recruitment, a ◗ A pilot designed to look at the complex enough and telephone
much-shortened interview, telephone feasibility of using online methods to methods do not (generally) generate
interviews and, initially, no nurse visit. collect crime victimisation5 by means high enough response rates
The Crime Survey for England and of push-to-web methods indicated The question to which the event was
Wales (CSEW)2 usually involving face- substantial problems collecting addressed was why the Covid-19
to-face interviews, moved to a design incident rate data pandemic had not pushed ongoing
whereby previous respondents were ◗ In the ESS sequential mixed-mode face-to-face surveys towards web-
re-interviewed, by telephone, every pilot, item non-response rates were based data collection methods. For the
three months (with fresh recruitment high for many labour market and reasons just given, I believe there has
via an online portal as a back-up). education questions (although in other never been a good reason for holding
respects the pilot was successful) this expectation in the first place.
1
https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/ 4
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/
health-survey-for-england uploads/attachment_data/file/853545/CEYSP_Mode_Trial_Report.pdf
2
https://www.crimesurvey.co.uk/en/index.html 5
Re-design of Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) core
3
https://www.europeansocialsurvey.org/ questions for online collection – Office for National Statistics
4 : S O C I A L R E S E A R C H A S S O C I AT I O N
METHODS
Did deliberation actually
go big in 2021?
By Lucy Farrow, associate partner, and Clare Palmer, research lead, BritainThinks
In the March 2021 issue of Research Matters, Lucy questioned where deliberative practice
(a subset of qualitative that explores complex topics by providing time, resources and facilitation
to participants) was going in 2021. At the time, she said that deliberation should go big. As the
year ends, she and Clare investigate whether it has.
Working at scale working to timescales that seem directly was based on global population
contrary to all the advice for good density (the map below shows
Earlier in the year we were
deliberative practice. And, just as we where participants were based).
thinking about ‘scale’ in terms of
imagined that working at scale would The assembly also produced a toolkit
participation. While we’ve seen some
open up new opportunities, so working in multiple languages for groups of
high-profile deliberation in 2021, and
at pace has engendered creativity. citizens to run their own version of the
run projects with as many as 200
It’s not without its challenges, but it process, broadening the process from
people ourselves, a quick review of the
has helped us to put more trust than a magnificent set piece to something
Involve Citizens’ Assembly tracker
ever in participants and dispense with closer to a movement.
shows that few go over 100 people.
the over-engineering that deliberative
The Engage Britain people’s panel
researchers can sometimes be guilty of. Technology positive
stuck at 100, although introduced
It may be time to rethink our earlier
much wider participation through its International participation optimism for integrating virtual and
community conversations model.
Arguably, the most ambitious augmented reality tools. We’ve tried a
However, at BritainThinks we’ve been deliberative project of 2021 (so far…) few platforms over the year but have
thinking less about scale and more has been the Global Assembly which struggled to find the right balance of
about pace. In our Net Zero Diaries sought consensus on climate action simplicity and innovation. Instead,
initiative (a deliberative panel to explore by bringing together 100 people we’re looking forward to more hybrid
climate policy as it’s made), we’ve been from across the world. The sample approaches where digital tools are used
R E S E A R C H M AT T E R S : D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 : 5
METHODS
for the things they do best – information In many respects, we did go big – but we’ve tried is that outputs may need
sharing (particularly multimedia); allowing there is plenty of room to innovate and to adapt, which only emphasises
people to consider issues in their own to grow, both in our ambition and in our the importance of knowing your
time; and collecting individual data; while approaches. audience and what it needs to see
face-to-face helps us build connections. or hear from the research. Do you
Principles need an initial exploration of an
Radically transparent We’d like to share some principles for issue, or do you want to engage
We haven’t gone quite as far as live- commissioning deliberative research participants in making choices,
streaming our deliberative sessions that we’ve learned the hard way over recommendations or co-designing
yet (although we would love to hear if the years. Regardless of whether your the way forward?
anyone else has because it’s on the project calls for a wildly innovative ◗ How are you involving
cards for January), but we have been or more traditional approach, four stakeholders? Especially if you are
delivering our Net Zero Diaries work questions you can ask yourselves innovating, having strong stakeholder
as openly as possible. We’ve been (and your teams) are: relationships are important – whether
sharing our insights in close-to-real time, it’s a ‘specialist group’ of independent
◗ Is deliberation the right tool for
publishing our findings online, presenting subject-matter experts who can advise
the job? Deliberation is best for
at open webinars, sharing video content, on the content, or a partnership with
tackling issues that are complex,
and centring the participant voice by key organisations from the start.
uncertain, complicated and/or
generating media coverage in which
novel for participants – in other ◗ Do you have the right resources
participants speak, not us.
words, when participants need to available? There are four
be engaged on topics beyond their
So, did deliberation actually fundamental resource requirements
current experience or understanding. for doing deliberative research well:
go big in 2021? It is also great for exploring trade-offs. enough time, sufficient budget,
The sector made progress in 2021 an understanding of the relevant
◗ What type of outputs do you
towards making deliberation more information and what is already out
need? Some of our learning from
responsive, inclusive and transparent. there, and stakeholder buy-in.
the more innovative processes
6 : S O C I A L R E S E A R C H A S S O C I AT I O N
DATA
Using novel data sources
in emergency grant-making
By Stephen Miller, director of impact and learning, Power to Change
C ommunity
businesses are
run by local people
due to the inconsistency in how
finances are reported to Companies
House, the Charity Commission and
way to better understand communities.
The spending data comes from 20m
UK residents via our partners at
for the benefit of local the Mutuals Register. The advantages Reward. Reward buys this data from
people. There are over of this approach are that it brings the Royal Bank of Scotland group,
11,000 in England together data from disparate sources and uses it alongside other data to
alone, providing and reduces the reporting burden on support retailers with their loyalty
services ranging from community businesses. However, the card schemes. The use of such data
community hubs, cafes, challenges are that the data is often has been standard practice for larger
shops and pubs through to libraries, submitted in different styles and forms, retailers for many years, exemplified by
lidos, community growing schemes, which introduces the potential for the Tesco Clubcard and Nectar card
renewable energy projects, community human error in the data-entry process. loyalty schemes. But this data has
housing and much more. But their rarely, if ever, been available to the third
Our analysis of this data in March 2020
emphasis on trading made them sector, due to its cost and the lack of
suggested that the average community
especially vulnerable to the pressures equivalent data processing capabilities.
business generates 57% of its turnover
of economic lockdown. Subsequently,
from trading. More specifically, 43% of While this data is anonymised and
many required emergency funding and
its income comes from venue-based aggregated to maintain confidentiality
support to help them coordinate the
activities (for example cafe, shop, hiring and the integrity of Reward’s business
frontline response.
out meeting spaces). By not being able model, Power to Change seed-funded
When lockdown restrictions were to open their venues due to lockdown the establishment of a third-party
introduced in March 2020, the Power restrictions, many community businesses social enterprise – Impact Information
to Change Trust – which funds and stood to lose an average of £81,254 a Company – to act as an intermediary
supports community businesses – year. We also estimated approximately and data processor.
mined its bank of primary and secondary 40% of community businesses were not
The advantages of this data are that
data sources to predict the likely impact contributing to their reserves in any given
it provides granular, real time, regularly
of these restrictions on community year. Thus, a considerable proportion is
refreshed and detailed information on
businesses and their neighbourhoods. vulnerable to economic shocks.
the local economy in each place, and
We wanted to ensure our support was
We used this insight to design our how it is performing, through analysis of
targeted and sufficient, rather than
response. Within weeks of lockdown the merchant IDs of all local businesses
a finger in the air estimate. We also
being announced, we launched a – including community businesses.
wanted to reduce the participative
£12m emergency support package
burden on community businesses, The challenge, however, is that it does
and made our first emergency grant.
which rightly had other priorities. Here not provide complete coverage, with
This was followed by an announcement
are just two of the more novel data cash transactions notably absent.
of an additional £9.4m funding via the
sources we used to inform the design When Covid-19 struck, we used this
National Lottery Community Fund in
of our emergency support and to data to improve our understanding of
July 2020, with grants ranging from
understand the impact of Covid-19. the impact of lockdown restrictions on
£4,400 to £100,000. All of this activity
community businesses, without having
meant we delivered more grants
Using financial accounts to to ask them for additional data.
between April and September 2020
estimate the economic impact than we had in the previous two years. The figure below illustrates this,
We have spent several years working showing where customers arrive
with the data agency MyCake building a Using commercial data from for a community-owned pub.
database of financial accounts for over for public purpose It shows both the impact of lockdown
750 community businesses, spanning on total income, as well as an increased
Since 2017 we have used credit and
every financial year since 2013. This localisation of customers.
debit card transaction data as another
has been a manually intensive process
R E S E A R C H M AT T E R S : D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 : 7
DATA
Figure 1: Percentage of customers for a community-owned pub by distance driven (miles)
Customer % by drive distance (miles)
A final thought
Caution is required when referring
to novel datasets. They provide a
% of customers by distance driven
snapshot only of what is happening
at any particular time. They are not
sufficient, on their own, to evaluate
the impact of a grant or a community
business. But, during the early days
of the first lockdown, they provided
an invaluable resource for estimating
the impact and shortfall organisations
faced more accurately. This enabled us
to adopt a more nuanced and targeted
approach, that we believe ultimately
prevented organisations from closing
unnecessarily while also freeing them
up to deliver urgent support in their
communities. We hope others draw
inspiration from this approach.
A new way to advertise – and win
– government research contracts
T he UK Government has set up a new web-based
system, the ‘Low Value Purchasing System’, which
deals with letting and awarding contracts worth less
The link to register is: https://supplierregistration.
cabinetoffice.gov.uk/organisation/register
There are three filters to complete: the service
than around £123,000. This is an opportunity for smaller heading for goods/service (you should choose
research providers, who find it impractical to compete ‘research’); the postcode radius in which you can
with large suppliers on the UK Government’s research supply the goods/services; and your SME/VCSE
marketplace system, to be considered for smaller status. For your chosen service heading of ‘research’
government contracts. you must provide a brief description of your offering
(in no more than 400 characters).
The system is available to two types of user:
There is no space to discuss pricing in detail, but you
◗ Buyers in government, who wish to advertise
can refer to it – price on application, or time/materials
suitable contracts in the system
and so on.
◗ Suppliers outside government, who wish to be
You cannot include website links nor any reference
considered for these contracts to your current clients.
Buyers are government departments, while suppliers Applicants must abide by the terms and conditions
can be SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and of the agreement (Crown Commercial Service (CCS)
VCSEs (voluntary, community and social enterprises). supplier contract and also buyer supplier contract).
It’s worth noting that some contracts awarded through There is a 1% levy on all invoiced work obtained
under the agreement.
this system may not be subject to competition –
customers may be able to instead make a direct award. Join a webinar on 15 December to find out more.
8 : S O C I A L R E S E A R C H A S S O C I AT I O N
DATA
Hello from the Government
Data Quality Hub
By Ebony Armstrong, senior data specialist, Government Data Quality Hub, Office for National Statistics
N ow, more
than ever, it is
essential that we have
more proactive and effective data
quality management. We aim to set
direction across government on quality,
What’s available
In December 2020 DQHub published
the Government Data Quality
confidence in our and to build capability on measuring,
Framework, in collaboration with
data, and this starts communicating and improving quality.
the Government Digital Service and
with understanding We also develop and improve guidance
wider government. It was approved
the quality of our data to support the implementation of data
by UK ministers and sets out the
and managing it well. quality practices and support those
principles and practices to enable
Knowing whether our data across government with their data
the UK Government to understand,
is fit for its intended purpose will quality management.
communicate and improve quality.
allow us to make good decisions.
The UK Government Data Quality Hub In September 2021 we ran a cross-
(DQHub) is a new function funded in
Our products and services government consultation to establish
the 2020 spring budget to support and can support you in what training and guidance people
promote data quality across the UK understanding and improving need on the topic of data collection.
Government. We received over 180 responses,
the quality of your data. and are beginning to plan what
We are based at the Office for National
Statistics (ONS) within the methodology
Whether you want to share products we develop. We will be
and quality directorate. However, a piece of our guidance sharing anything we create on the
Government Data Quality Hub –
we have a much wider remit than with your team or use it to keep an eye out for any updates.
statistics: we cover and support all
types of government data. We are a
challenge the way things are
multidisciplinary team, with the skills done in your organisation, our How you can work
and resources to provide support products are available to you with DQHub
across the data life cycle. This spans If you work in government, please get in
data collection activities and data touch if you’d like any free consultancy
analysis through to publication. Although we work directly with those advice or support with your work.
in government only, the products we
What we do publish (for example standards and
If you want to work with us on a
specific challenge you are facing, or
Our purpose is to establish and guidance) can be used and applied
have suggestions for areas of guidance,
maintain world-leading approaches by anyone working in data. Our
please email us at DQHub@ons.gov.uk
to data quality. We are building a products and services can support you
or tweet @DQHubUKGov.
collaborative community working in understanding and improving the
towards common quality objectives. quality of your data. Whether you want Anyone can make use of the products
Our team works with other UK to share a piece of our guidance with published on our website. Sign up to
Government departments and your team or use it to challenge the way our mailing list to stay up to date
organisations to bring together best things are done in your organisation, with our new products and services.
practice in data quality and to establish our products are available to you.
R E S E A R C H M AT T E R S : D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 : 9
FINDINGS
Are you a ‘structuralist’
or an ‘individualist’?
By Bobby Duffy, director, and Rachel Hesketh, research associate, the Policy Institute at King’s College London
Is how well people do in life mostly
down to their own efforts and talents,
or are people held down or helped up
unemployed than white people,
while only 33% of individualists agree.
This gap between agreement that
there’s an inequality problem and
support for action will be tied up in how
Structuralists are also much more
by their circumstances? we see its causes. If we see inequality
worried about the impact of the
as largely down to personal effort rather
Our analysis for our chapter on pandemic: 63% think the crisis will
than factors the individual can’t control,
attitudes to inequalities for the increase inequality, compared with
we’ll be much less likely to think it
Institute for Fiscal Studies’ Deaton 31% of individualists.
warrants government intervention.
Review suggests that how we answer
this question is key to understanding There is, then, no one attitude to
This difference in how we
how fair or unfair we consider societal inequality in Britain, which makes
inequalities – and how worried or angry see the world explains many consensus difficult, and explains why
we are about them. of the key divisions we see we so often seem to be talking past
each other.
Through latent class analysis of 2,226 in Britain today, from which
responses to a dedicated survey of political party we support, But there are a couple of areas of
attitudes towards inequalities via the common ground to build on. First,
YouGov GB online panel (summarised
to our views on ‘culture war’ the experience of the pandemic
in our earlier report Unequal Britain) issues such as the causes has opened a space for discussion
we found three roughly equally sized of racial inequality about how we support people in
groups in Britain. Membership of circumstances beyond their control.
these groups was determined based For example, even among Individualists,
on responses to seven questions on This is not to say that structuralists four in ten agree that the experience
inequalities and fairness. believe that individual effort is of Covid-19 strengthens the case for
unimportant. In fact, there is a very high government playing a more active role
‘Structuralists’ see factors beyond an
level of belief across all three groups in the economy in the future.
individual’s control as vital in whether
in Britain that hard work and ambition
they get ahead – for example, whether And, second, reducing the gap
should be rewarded – it’s just that
they come from a wealthy family or had between prosperous and struggling
structuralists think this is not sufficient
access to a good education. areas is a rare unifying aspect in our
to succeed.
attitudes to inequality. When we ask
‘Individualists’ strongly reject the idea
This difference in how we see the world which types of inequality are most
that coming from a wealthy family, or
explains many of the key divisions we serious in Britain, inequalities between
a particular race or religion, affects life
see in Britain today, from which political more and less deprived parts of the
chances, and generally do not consider
party we support, to our views on country come at or near the top for
factors beyond the individual’s control
‘culture war’ issues such as the causes all our groups.
to be that important.
of racial inequality.
The UK Government’s ‘levelling-up’
The third group is ‘in the middle’ in two
It also helps explain some apparent agenda, therefore, really chimes across
senses. They see outcomes as a mix
contradictions in our attitudes. For the spectrum, promising to tackle an
of individual and structural drivers, but
example, all the way back to the early issue people are concerned about,
also don’t have strong views on many
1980s, a large and stable majority of irrespective of their wider views about
aspects of inequality – nothing is ‘very’
around 80% of us have agreed that inequality and fairness. Our collective
fair or unfair.
income gaps between rich and poor are aversion to ‘postcode lotteries’ extends
These distinct world views shape too large in Britain. But, over that same well beyond health services and school
how we see many key issues. For period, only around 40% of us have catchment areas – whether we’re a
example, 65% of structuralists think agreed that the government should structuralist or an individualist, we’re in
that discrimination is one reason redistribute income from the better-off agreement that where you live shouldn’t
Black people are more likely to be to the less well-off. determine your life chances.
1 0 : S O C I A L R E S E A R C H A S S O C I AT I O NRESEARCH PROFESSION
Do social researchers emerge fully formed? Do they have any other life for that matter?
In this series, we check out the backstories of some of our social research colleagues.
What’s your hinterland? Do you have an interesting story to tell? Let us know!
Researcher hinterlands
Nick Gilby
Nick is research director in During what became regular Saturday By now I had enough
Ipsos MORI’s Probability Surveys visits I found documents suggesting a documents to write a
very senior Saudi (now deceased) had book about bribery in the UK arms
Unit. His book, Deception in high engaged in dubious deals decades trade, eventually published in 2014.
places: a history of bribery in ago. Many documents were censored, I never thought things would turn out
Britain’s arms trade is published and I asked to see them. I followed this way ten years earlier!
by Pluto Press. the process to an information tribunal,
I still occasionally visit Kew, and recently
naively not realising what I was letting
Current research role myself in for.
discovered documents showing
that a top-secret British propaganda
I have worked as a social researcher
operation helped incite massacres
for two decades, most of that time on In 2003 the Guardian in Indonesia in the mid-1960s that
surveys which use random probability
sampling. My motivation was not a
newspaper alleged that left hundreds of thousands dead.
I contacted two journalists about my
fascination with statistics (which I British Aerospace (BAE)
discoveries, and I was able to publish
don’t have) but a desire to be sure used corrupt methods to win with them a special feature in the
the results of my work are valid and
hopefully also useful.
huge deals in Saudi Arabia. Observer about these terrible events.
During the pandemic I have been the
I suspected that there was a Along the way I learned a huge amount
day-to-day director of the REACT-1 long backstory and decided useful to my real job, particularly
about preparing and arguing a case,
study: measuring the prevalence of to visit the National Archives dealing with daunting situations with
Covid-19, along with our partners
Imperial College, for the Department
at Kew in London to see what confidence, and summarising hugely
of Health and Social Care. It has been I could find. I soon found complex information in a readable way,
as well as how to get published.
a career highlight. there was a much bigger
Hinterland outside work story to be unearthed
I have always been interested in how
the world really works, and perhaps I was fortunate, with excellent legal
it’s unsurprising that I chose to study support, to prevail against the Foreign
history at university and then social and Commonwealth Office which
research as a career. I have always appointed senior barristers to oppose
enjoyed reading books presenting me and summoned the ambassador
hidden or secret histories. to Saudi Arabia to give evidence. The
documents revealed a tale far more
In 2003 the Guardian newspaper
sordid than I had imagined. BAE was
alleged that British Aerospace (BAE)
later heavily fined in the US for its
used corrupt methods to win huge
conduct in Saudi Arabia.
deals in Saudi Arabia. I suspected that
there was a long backstory and decided
to visit the National Archives at Kew in
London to see what I could find. I soon
found there was a much bigger story to
be unearthed.
R E S E A R C H M AT T E R S : D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 : 1 1DATA
Ensuring everyone counts
By Dan Clay, managing partner, Basis Social
Radical. Ambitious. A call to action are implications for
recruitment processes,
Sustainable. Inclusive Some of the most vulnerable groups
research methodologies, participant
in society – those most in need of
These are the four key principles communications, organisational
support – distrust government and
that will underpin the work of the UK partnerships and more broadly for how
government statistics. This leads to
Statistics Authority over the next four we – as a sector – encourage diversity
a lack of engagement in research,
years, the last of which led to the in our own organisations.
resulting in under-representation in
creation of an Inclusive Data Taskforce
statistics, mis-informed decision- How can we possibly expect research
in 2020. The taskforce has just made
making and a cycle of distrust. data, and the evidence and insights
its recommendations for improving the
that are generated from this data, to
inclusivity of the data that is collected We should be proud of the quality of
reflect the diversity of our weird and
and used by national and local the data infrastructure within the UK,
wonderful society if those involved in
government to plan and direct services. and how data is used and shared to
shaping, collecting and interpreting
In support of this work, Basis Social inform policy and service provision.
that data are themselves not
was commissioned by the Office for But we can and must do better. We
representative of this society?
National Statistics to carry out research1 all have a role to play in this. I would
with members of the public who are urge SRA members to read the There is much to do in ensuring
under-represented in UK statistics, taskforce recommendations2 and to that everyone is counted. This is
and with civil society organisations think about what they mean for your a challenge which we all have a
representing them. practice as social researchers. There responsibility to address.
1
https://www.basisresearch.com/social-news-hub/inclusive-data-taskforce-launches-report
2
https://uksa.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/publication/inclusive-data-taskforce-recommendations-report-leaving-no-one-behind-how-can-we-be-more-
inclusive-in-our-data/
SRA REPORTS
SRA Cymru SRA North
By Rachel Hughes By Jenni Brooks
We’ve got some more events planned over SRA North members have been busy
the forthcoming months, so please keep an working on a variety of projects, and we
eye out for those on the events tab on the are planning two events for the next few
SRA website. We’re keen to re-establish the months. One will be a response to the SRA’s
SRA Cymru committee to support the SRA’s diversity and inclusion research report, which
work in Wales. If you’re interested in helping out or identified that researchers from marginalised groups
indeed have any ideas, please do get in touch – either often do not feel supported in their workplace. The event
at Cymru@the-sra.org.uk or Direct Message us on will focus on routes into the sector, and support within it. We
Twitter @sracymru. Diolch. are also planning a second event on using archives in social
research. If you would like to be involved in planning either
SRA Scotland of these, or with the SRA North committee more generally,
Check latest news from SRA Scotland online or email please do get in touch. Email: north@the-sra.org.uk
Scotland@the-sra.org.uk and keep in touch @SRA_Scotland. Twitter: @SRANorth
1 2 : S O C I A L R E S E A R C H A S S O C I AT I O NREVIEWS
Creative writing for social research: a practical guide
Richard Phillips and Helen Kara
Policy Press, 2021
Reviewed by Ruthi Margulis, independent researcher
This book is aimed at all social overlap and enhance each other. As jump into the topic
researchers who are interested in both a social researcher and creative immediately. While
learning how to use creative writing to writer, I was delighted to come across this is a long book
collect, analyse and disseminate data this book, as storytelling is an element I comprising only four
and findings, but who do not have try to use in my research to engage the chapters, these are
creative writing skills or training. A wide reader and elicit an emotional response, divided into sub-sections so that the
variety of methods are discussed, in with the aim of facilitating social or reader does not lose their way.
a way that makes them accessible policy change. This is comprehensively
I would recommend this book to
and relevant to social researchers at discussed in chapter three, and backed
all qualitative social researchers,
all levels. It also provides advice about up with contributions from researchers,
particularly those working in areas
reading other people’s work, diary- making the processes and perspectives
such as disability, equality, inclusion,
keeping and editing, which are crucial presented in the book real and
diversity and marginalisation. These
elements of the creative writing process. accessible.
topics require a deeper understanding
The authors believe that social research The text is well written and engaging. by policymakers and the public, and
should have an element of creativity, The introduction is broad and inclusive, stories help to contextualise statistical
and point out that creativity itself is and provides plenty of references and data by illustrating the experiences of
a social practice and relational. They examples to show how creative writing individuals and communities.
show how these two disciplines can has been used, so that the reader can
Titles for review
We are always looking for reviewers (SRA members only). Write a short review for us and you get to keep the
book. All books up for review are listed below. If you are interested, please email admin@the-sra.org.uk and
we’ll send you guidelines. Please note that most publications are available as e-books only. Book reviews
need to be submitted within 10 weeks of you receiving the book. Here are a few of the titles on offer:
Bias interrupted: creating inclusion for real and for good Researching in the age of COVID-19 –
Joan C Williams Volume I: response & reassessment
Harvard Business Review, 2021 Helen Kara and Su-Ming Khoo
Creative research methods in education: principles and Policy Press, 2020
practices Researching in the age of COVID-19 –
Helen Kara, Narelle Lemon, Dawn Mannay and Megan McPherson Volume II: care & resilience
Policy Press, 2021 Helen Kara and Su-Ming Khoo
Critical realism for health and illness research: Policy Press, 2020
a practical introduction Work placements, internships & applied social research
Priscilla Alderson Jackie Carter
Policy Press, 2021 SAGE Publications Ltd, 2021
Material methods. Researching and thinking with things
Sophie Woodward
SAGE Publications Ltd, 2019
R E S E A R C H M AT T E R S : D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 : 1 3SRA TRAINING
Training courses in research methods
Currently all courses run online, in live sessions, with small groups of attendees (between nine and 16).
We intend to put on some face-to-face courses from April half day: £110; one day or two part-days: £220; two days
2022. The majority of courses will continue to be run online. or three part-days: £440.
Please keep an eye on our website for future courses. Standard courses run over one day or two half days, and
Our courses are designed to help you learn the practical extended courses over two full days or three part-days.
application of research methods, and are led by experts in If you have any queries, please contact Lindsay:
their field. lindsay.adams@the-sra.org.uk
COSTS: SRA members: half day: £82.50; one day or two part- Full details of all courses are at www.the-sra.org.uk/training
days: £165; two days or three part-days: £330. Non-members:
All of the courses are still being run online using Zoom.
Evaluation 3 & 4 February: Introduction to 28 January: Understanding statistical
qualitative research, with NatCen concepts and essential tests, with
(All with Professor David Parsons) Dr Valerija Kolbas
4 February: Interpreting and writing
20 January: Foundations up your qualitative findings, with 1 to 3 February (3 afternoons):
of evaluation FULL Professor Karen O’Reilly Advanced questionnaire design,
9 February: Impact evaluation with Dr Pamela Campanelli
8 February: Smartphones in
(advanced) FULL qualitative research, with 4 February: Introduction to R,
11 February: Research and Dr Karen Lumsden with Dr Alexandru Cernat
evaluation project management 9 February: Qualitative interviewing, 22 & 23 February (2 mornings):
15 & 16 February: Theory-based with Professor Karen O’Reilly Introduction to evidence reviews,
evaluation: options and choices with NatCen
10 February: Conducting online
8 March: Foundations of evaluation focus groups, with Dr Karen Lumsden 25 February: Data management
and visualisation with R, with
10 March: Impact evaluation 10 & 11 February: Creative data
Dr Alexandru Cernat
(advanced) analysis, with Dr Nicole Brown
22 to 24 March (3 afternoons):
17 & 18 February: Depth
Qualitative interviewing skills, with NatCen
Regression analysis using R,
with Dr Pamela Campanelli
18 January: Digital qualitative
interviewing, with Dr Karen Lumsden 24 & 25 February: Positionality
29 & 30 March (2 afternoons):
and reflexivity in qualitative research,
21 ways to test your survey
18 & 19 January: Creative methods with Dr Nicole Brown
questions, with Dr Pamela Campanelli
in qualitative data collection, with
Dr Nicole Brown 2 March: Qualitative data analysis,
with Professor Karen O’Reilly Other research skills
20 January: Narratives and 19 January: Data visualisation and
storytelling in qualitative research, 4 March: Interpreting and writing
up your qualitative findings, with infographic design, with Nigel Hawtin
with Dr Karen Lumsden FULL FULL
Professor Karen O’Reilly
25 to 27 January (3 part-days): 23 & 24 February: Research with
Analysis of qualitative data, with 15 March: Narratives and storytelling
in qualitative research, with Dr Karen children and young people, with
NatCen FULL Berni Graham
Lumsden
26 January: Ethnographic methods, 1 & 2 March: Managing challenging
with Professor Karen O’Reilly 25 March: Narrative analysis,
with Dr Karen Lumsden interviews, with NatCen
27 January: Reporting qualitative 15 March: Data visualisation and
data, with NatCen Quantitative infographic design, with Nigel Hawtin
28 January: Grounded theory, 21 January: Introduction to sampling
30 March: Introduction to
with Professor Karen O’Reilly for social surveys, with Dr Alexandru
participatory action research,
Cernat
2 February: Qualitative data analysis, with Dr Karen Lumsden
with Professor Karen O’Reilly FULL 27 & 28 January (2 mornings):
Questionnaire design, with NatCen
3 February: Narrative analysis,
with Dr Karen Lumsden
1 4 : S O C I A L R E S E A R C H A S S O C I AT I O NSPOTLIGHT
Spotlight on SRA activity
Edited by Shirley Henderson www.shirleyhenderson.co.uk Designed by www.graphics.coop
Training
www.the-sra.org.uk/training Resources
Many qual, quant and evaluation courses are online. www.the-sra.org.uk/resources
Good practice guides and more.
Events
www.the-sra.org.uk/events Ethics
https://the-sra.org.uk/Ethics
Blog An expert forum for members’ queries, good practice
www.the-sra.org.uk/blog guides and more.
Topical posts on researching.
Member resources
Journal Log in, go to www.the-sra.org.uk then see ‘members’
www.the-sra.org.uk/journal section.
Read back issues and find out how Free access to 5,500+ social science journals,
to write an article for our free journal. data science training at a third off, and more.
research matters
Views expressed by individual contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the SRA.
Publication dates 2022
We publish four times a year. Next issue: March 2022. The Social Research Association (SRA)
Copy deadlines for 2022: 4 February (March issue); 29 April (June issue); Email: admin@the-sra.org.uk
15 July (September issue); 7 October (December issue).
www.the-sra.org.uk
Editorial team
Andrew Phelps, ONS (commissioning editor) • Imogen Birch, Citizens Advice
• Emma Carragher, Home Office • Andy Curtis, Paul Hamlyn Foundation
• Jess Harris, Kings College London • Fiona Hutchison, Diffley Partnership
• Eileen Irvin, Ipsos MORI • Patten Smith, Ipsos MORIYou can also read
