a robust and flexible infrastructure to enable the analysis of this data. That means not just individuals with the skills to analyse the data, but agreed standards for the documentation and sharing of data and the computing capacity to store, retrieve and handle large scale datasets. However, large datasets and sophisticated
methodologies alone are not sufficient to address the major problems facing modern societies. It is vital that empirical research is underpinned by theory, and it is important that the ESRC provides support for a wide range of different types of projects, including what is sometime called ‘blue skies thinking’.
“ Large datasets and
sophisticated methodologies alone are not sufficient
In addition, probably all of the challenges that we face in society today will require interdisciplinary approaches. The ESRC has an important role to play in promoting and facilitating interdisciplinarity – not just between the different social science disciplines, but also across the whole range of science, arts and humanities. The close collaboration between the ESRC and the other six research councils within RCUK is an important part of this work which I look forward to building on.
”
What are the main priorities and challenges facing the ESRC? As we face continued austerity, a priority for the
ESRC is to fund excellent social science as cost- effectively as possible. We need to use our own administrative data to help us to improve internal processes and become as efficient as possible. The corollary of this is that we need to ensure
28 SOCIETY NOW AUTUMN 2014
Social science can help evaluate the long-term impact of divorce on children
that, with appropriate security safeguards, the routine administrative and health data generated by government departments, the education sector and the health service is made available to researchers. Analysis of this data, in tandem with the rich and detailed information that is being collected by the UK’s unique portfolio of longitudinal studies, can potentially shape practice and inform policy. In this way we can also help make sure that scarce resources are targeted towards those who need them most in our society. It will also be a priority to provide support and funding for each new cohort of PhD students to ensure that we not only have future academic researchers in disciplines across the social sciences, but also that we have highly educated social scientists to contribute to government, the third sector and business. And not least, we need to help researchers
engage with business, the third sector and the wider public, so that people gain a better understanding of the value of the social sciences. During my career, I have seen that people are fascinated by questions such as ‘What is the long-term impact of divorce on children?’, ‘Does it harm young children if both the mother and the father go out to work?’, ‘How do young people’s aspirations impact on their later careers?’. The media are often keen to provide coverage of such issues. However people do not always realise that it is social science research that provides evidence-based answers to such questions. It is important that we make the case for the value of the social sciences, and show the fundamental role they play in helping us do the best for our communities and families and how we can reach our own full potential. n
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