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Advocacy Research in the Age of Austerity: Competitive claims making and the implications for social policy and social work. Ken McLaughlin Manchester Metropolitan University United Kingdom. What is ‘Advocacy Research’?.
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Advocacy Research in the Age of Austerity: Competitive claims making and the implications for social policy and social work Ken McLaughlin Manchester Metropolitan University United Kingdom
What is ‘Advocacy Research’? • Research commissioned and published by organisations with an interest in the findings. • Generally such organisations have great commitment to highlighting and alleviating particular social problems. • Often highlight previously hidden (or pre-political) issues (e.g various forms of abuse, mental health issues etc.)
Some Criticisms • Can use questionable methodology and definitions to inflate figures. • Situation likely to worsen in the age of austerity as groups fight for scarcer resources • Health become a key battleground – a new morality.
Platform 51 • 60% of women suffer from mental health problems requiring psychological intervention. • Until December 2010 Platform 51 was known (since 1855) as: • The Young Women’s Christian Association • Same concerns but different articulation
Implications • Moral cowardice / New morality • Promotion of vulnerability and risk • Emphasis on internal psyche downplays more structural concerns • True extent of identified problems obscured leading to misallocation of resources