Research in the Department of Applied Social Sciences

The Department's research portfolio ranges from scholarly work undertaken by individual experts to professional consultancy and academic research. The work undertaken reflects our location and the communities we serve in a multicultural global city. A large number of academic staff are research active, undertaking work in a number of the core social sciences including health and social policy; cultural studies, mass communications and digital media; sociology and criminology. There is an interactive relationship between, scholarly activity, research and consultancy work and subject based teaching provision. The Department offers postgraduate research opportunities and staff research activity closely informs a range of taught Masters courses.

A core area of the Department's research and consultancy work is focussed on contemporary social issues and developments, charting their impacts on society and contributing to debates on policy making, governance and service delivery. Much of this applied research and consultancy takes place in the Department's dedicated Research Centres and in collaboration with the University's Research Institutes. These attract funding from the Research Councils (ESRC and EPSRC), Research Foundations (Kings Fund, Rowntree Foundation and Wellcome Trust), Government Departments (Home Office, DETR, ODPM), health authorities, regional and local government, charities and the voluntary sector.Research Centres & Institutes

The department's research centres and associated institutes are:

Subject-based research
A wide range of research is conducted within subject area groupings:

Cultural Studies, Mass Communications & Digital Media
Information Management
Health and Community Nursing
Social Work
Sociology and Criminology

Research Ethics

The study and practice of ethical research has become particular theme that cross cuts all research and consultancy undertaken in the Department. The Wellcome Foundation is currently funding a 2 year research project on ethical issues relating to human subjects and tissue samples. Such interest has led to the development and evaluation of mechanisms for gaining ethical approval and to the establishment of a Departmental Ethics Committee.

Research on Learning and Teaching
Many staff are active in developing research on learning and teaching strategies adopted across the social science disciplines. This research is proactive in developing new approaches to learning, particularly those that emphasis independent learning in response to a diverse and changing student body with different learning needs, pedogagical changes in Higher Education, and technical developments facilitating e-learning strategies.

Postgraduate Research Opportunities
Opportunities exist for research leading to MRes and PHd awards within the department. For details please see the University Research and Graduate School web page.