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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: standard ODPM approaches. In-house - externally commissioned; Wide range of research approaches;
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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: 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.
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.
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 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 New Horizons Programme
ODPM Research Networks ODPM is establishing four research networks: • Urban and Neighbourhood studies • Housing • Planning • Local and Regional Governance They 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
Social research funding: Examples of uses made of research • Long-term evaluation of local strategic partnerships; • Equality and Diversity in Local Government.
LSP Part 1: Formative evaluation & action research 2002-2005
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 Equality and Diversity in Local Government
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.
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.
Science and Research Web Pages http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_science/ documents/sectionhomepage/odpm_science_page.hcsp ODPM Analytical Services