The Impact of the Social Sciences: How Academics and their Research Make a Difference - Softcover

Simon Bastow; Patrick Dunleavy; Jane Tinkler

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1446275108 ISBN 13: 9781446275108

Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2014

Synopsis

The impact agenda is set to shape the way in which social scientists prioritise the work they choose to pursue, the research methods they use and how they publish their findings over the coming decade, but how much is currently known about how social science research has made a mark on society?

Based on a three year research project studying the impact of 360 UK-based academics on business, government and civil society sectors, this groundbreaking new book undertakes the most thorough analysis yet of how academic research in the social sciences achieves public policy impacts, contributes to economic prosperity, and informs public understanding of policy issues as well as economic and social changes. The Impact of the Social Sciences addresses and engages with key issues, including:

• identifying ways to conceptualise and model impact in the social sciences
• developing more sophisticated ways to measure academic and external impacts of social science research
• explaining how impacts from individual academics, research units and universities can be improved.

This book is essential reading for researchers, academics and anyone involved in discussions about how to improve the value and impact of funded research.

About this title

About the Authors

Simon Bastow is Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Government at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and LSE Public Policy Group. His research interests are in governance and executive politics, UK and comparative public policy, and impacts of social science.

Patrick Dunleavy is Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at the Department of Government at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Chair of the LSE Public Policy Group. He has published extensively across UK public policy including public sector productivity, electoral systems and digital era governance.

Jane Tinkler is the Head of Social Science for the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology. She is also Research Associate at the LSE Public Policy Group at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her research interests focus on the quality of public services in the UK, including citizen redress in UK public services and the use of design approaches in innovative change in the public sector.

From the Back Cover

This book provides a timely and expansive study on the subject of the impact that academic social science has across a broad societal canvas, including on government and public policy, commerce and business, and the third sector and public engagement.

Edition details

• Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1446275108
• ISBN 13: 9781446275108
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 344