SPRU Seminar Series 2012
Social Policy: Making an Impact
“Impact helps to demonstrate that social science is important – that it is worth investing in and worth using.” (ESRC)
In recent years there has been growing emphasis on the need for social policy research to have, and be able to demonstrate, an impact on practice. Research funders want proposals to set out clearly how project findings will influence the way practitioners work, or the way policy is designed and implemented. The government and research councils are requesting more evidence of the benefits of our research to the economy, society, culture and quality of life.
- How can we ensure that the research we do makes an impact?
- Who and what are we trying to influence, and why?
- What are the best ways of doing this?
This is the theme for the 2012 SPRU Seminar Series. Over the course of the series we will hear from academic colleagues with a track record of influencing policy and practice, as well as key practitioners and policy makers who have used research outputs to bring about real change.
When?
SPRU seminars are usually the first Tuesday of every month 1.15-2.15pm, starting Tuesday 7th February 2012. The exceptions are August, when there is no seminar, and November, when there will be an evening seminar open to the public (the Queen’s Anniversary Prize lecture).
Seminar programme
Changing social policy - an insider's account of individual and personal budgets
Simon Duffy from the Centre for Welfare Reform - link to further information
Tuesday 7 February 2012 - ARRC Auditorium, 1.15-2.15pm
Informal care, social research and social policy: real influence or wishful thinking?
Gillian Parker, Director, Social Policy Research Unit - link to further information
Tuesday 6 March 2012 - ARRC Auditorium, 1.15-2.15pm
PDF of Professor Parker's presentation (352 KB)
Influencing social policy and practice through research
Paul Manners, Director, National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement
Tuesday 3 April 2012 - ARRC Auditorium, 1.15-2.15pm
PDF of Paul Manners' presentation (1.13 MB)
Knowledge transfer in social policy research and how to make an impact on policy and practice
Fiona Armstrong and Margaret Macadam from the Economic and Social Research Council - link to further information
Tuesday 1 May 2012 - ARRC Auditorium, 1.15-2.15pm. This session will take the form of a Webinar, which will be transmitted live from the ARRC Auditorium.
PDF of presentation (316 KB)
Engaging people with complex needs in research: what is the impact?
Jill Aylott (and co-researchers), Centre for Professional and Organisation Development, Sheffield Hallam University
*Monday* 11 June 2012 - ARRC Auditorium, 1.15-2.15pm
Clinical mindlines: a new way of understanding how evidence is used in practice?
Andrée le May and John Gabbay - link to further information
Tuesday 3 July 2012 - ARRC Auditorium, 1.15-2.15pm
Research knowledge and health and social care policy: scoping the barriers to impact
Graham Martin, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester
Tuesday 4 September 2012 - ARRC Auditorium, 1.15-2.15pm
What’s the point of research? Promoting the use of evidence informed policy and practice in adult social care
George Julian, Director, research in practice for adults - link to further information
Tuesday 2 October 2012 - ARRC Auditorium, 1.15-2.15pm
********** Queen's Anniversary Prize Lecture **********
The impact of social research on government policy
Geoff Mulgan, Chief Executive, NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts)
Tuesday 6 November 2012 - ARRC Auditorium, 6.15-7.15pm (A5 on this map of the Heslington West campus)
Rethink: ensuring research findings reach key stakeholders
John Larsen, Head of Research and Evaluation, Rethink Mental Illness
Tuesday 4 December 2012 - ARRC Auditorium, 1.15-2.15pm
For further information please contact:
Kate Gridley kate.gridley@york.ac.uk
Social Policy Research Unit,
University of York
Telephone 01904 321950.
Alternatively, to receive a monthly email alert of each seminar, please email: teresa.frank@york.ac.uk
Link to SPRU seminar series 2011
Link to SPRU seminar series 2010
Link to SPRU seminar series 2009
Link to SPRU seminar series 2008
