Social Research funding: sharing perspectives Paul McCafferty Head of the Local and Regional Government Research Unit, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Social Research funding: sharing perspectives

Paul McCafferty

Head of the Local and Regional Government Research Unit, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Paul McCafferty

Head of the Local and Regional Government Research Unit, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Social research funding: standard ODPM approaches

In-house - externally commissioned;

Wide range of research approaches;

Research programme planning;

Expressions of interest and competitive tendering;

Assessing research proposals;

Project/contract management;

Dissemination and on-going use.

In-house - externally commissioned;

Wide range of research approaches;

Research programme planning;

Expressions of interest and competitive tendering;

Assessing research proposals;

Project/contract management;

Dissemination and on-going use.

Social research funding: innovative ODPM approaches

ODPM/ESRC Fellowships and Studentships;

New Horizons programme;

Research Networks;

Framework agreements and call-off contracts;

Joint commissioning and working.

ODPM/ESRC Fellowships and Studentships;

New Horizons programme;

Research Networks;

Framework agreements and call-off contracts;

Joint commissioning and working.

ESRC / ODPM Sustainable Communities Studentship Scheme

Aims increase research capacity to support evidence-based policy provide evidence to support policy

Progress

2002 scheme awarded 10 PhDs, 9 Masters & 3 Fellowships

2003 scheme - a further 9 PhDs over a 3 year period

Programme Director (Prof. Ade Kearns) appointed

Aims increase research capacity to support evidence-based policy provide evidence to support policy

Progress

2002 scheme awarded 10 PhDs, 9 Masters & 3 Fellowships

2003 scheme - a further 9 PhDs over a 3 year period

Programme Director (Prof. Ade Kearns) appointed

ESRC / ODPM Studentships

New Horizons Programme

Assists ODPM's horizon-scanning capabilities by seeking proposals from outside researchers to explore issues beyond the scope of our main research programmes

Encourages novel and innovative approaches to issues and research, and probes the margins between orthodox and unconventional approaches

Identifies potential new challenges over the next decade

Assists ODPM's horizon-scanning capabilities by seeking proposals from outside researchers to explore issues beyond the scope of our main research programmes

Encourages novel and innovative approaches to issues and research, and probes the margins between orthodox and unconventional approaches

Identifies potential new challenges over the next decade

New Horizons Programme

ODPM Research Networks

ODPM is establishing four research networks: Urban and Neighbourhood studies Housing Planning Local and Regional GovernanceThey will: provide seminars to bring latest thinking to ODPM help develop our research programmes signpost research to ODPM develop research capacity

ODPM is establishing four research networks: Urban and Neighbourhood studies Housing Planning Local and Regional GovernanceThey will: provide seminars to bring latest thinking to ODPM help develop our research programmes signpost research to ODPM develop research capacity

ODPM Research Networks

Social research funding: innovative ODPM approaches

Framework agreements and call-off contracts:

5-10 year evaluation programme of the Local Government Modernisation Agenda;

International lessons on local government;

Surveys and data collection exercises.

Joint commissioning and working

Framework agreements and call-off contracts:

5-10 year evaluation programme of the Local Government Modernisation Agenda;

International lessons on local government;

Surveys and data collection exercises.

Joint commissioning and working

Social research funding: Examples of uses made of research

Long-term evaluation of local strategic partnerships;

Equality and Diversity in Local Government.

Long-term evaluation of local strategic partnerships;

Equality and Diversity in Local Government.

LSP Part 1: Formative evaluation & action research 2002-2005

Key Methods

2002 stakeholder workshops Literature review 2002, 2004 surveys 9 longitudinal case studies

(2003-05) 8 issue studies (2003-05) 8 action learning sets (2003-

04) 3 call-down studies (2003)

Key Reports

2002 scoping report 2002 & 2004 survey

reports 5 (2003) & 3 (2004)

action learning reports 2003 3 call-down reports 2003 Interim project

report 2004/5 8 issue papers 2004 case study report

(interim in 2003) 2005 final project report

Key Dissemination

9 regional disseminationsets (2004/5)

Central govt. formativeworkshops and policydiscussions (2003/3/5)

3 regional workshops(2004/5)

National conference(2005)

Key Methods

2002 stakeholder workshops Literature review 2002, 2004 surveys 9 longitudinal case studies

(2003-05) 8 issue studies (2003-05) 8 action learning sets (2003-

04) 3 call-down studies (2003)

Key Reports

2002 scoping report 2002 & 2004 survey

reports 5 (2003) & 3 (2004)

action learning reports 2003 3 call-down reports 2003 Interim project

report 2004/5 8 issue papers 2004 case study report

(interim in 2003) 2005 final project report

Key Dissemination

9 regional disseminationsets (2004/5)

Central govt. formativeworkshops and policydiscussions (2003/3/5)

3 regional workshops(2004/5)

National conference(2005)

Equality and Diversity in Local Government

Small scale: in-house & external, primary & secondary

Provides an overview

Alerted ODPM to perception that E&D not important

Dissemination strategy: change perception, offer support

Support for small districts

Small scale: in-house & external, primary & secondary

Provides an overview

Alerted ODPM to perception that E&D not important

Dissemination strategy: change perception, offer support

Support for small districts

Social research funding: ODPM strengths Rigour of tendering approaches;

Clarity of requirements;

Partnership working with other research funders;

Research management skills;

Scale of research;

Close links to research users;

Longevity of research support in policy areas.

Rigour of tendering approaches;

Clarity of requirements;

Partnership working with other research funders;

Research management skills;

Scale of research;

Close links to research users;

Longevity of research support in policy areas.

Social research funding: ODPM limitations

more forward-looking and flexible procurement;

over-prescription and allowance for innovation;

longer-term relationships with researchers;

strategic/horizons scanning research;

policy/research tempo;

systematic reviews of evidence;

cross-cutting issues - sustainable communities.

more forward-looking and flexible procurement;

over-prescription and allowance for innovation;

longer-term relationships with researchers;

strategic/horizons scanning research;

policy/research tempo;

systematic reviews of evidence;

cross-cutting issues - sustainable communities.

Science and Research Web Pages

http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_science/documents/sectionhomepage/odpm_science_page.hcsphttp://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_science/documents/sectionhomepage/odpm_science_page.hcsp

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