Resources for training, information and data
The ESRC fund a range of methods related resources which provide opportunities for training in research methods as well as the provision of information resources and data resources. They also fund various centres and programmes with an explicit focus on methods-related research.
Administrative Data Liaison Service (ADLS) is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to support administrative data based research in the UK. The main objectives of the service are to raise awareness of administrative data, support academic researchers to access and use administrative data in a safe, legal and ethical manner and work with data holding organisations to improve access and quality of their administrative data.
ARK is a joint resource between Queen's University and the University of Ulster and makes social science information on Northern Ireland available to the public. ARK runs a research methods training programme for voluntary sector organisations at the beginning of the year. The programme consists of five half-day sessions, with some sesions being held at Queen's University Belfast and others held at NICVA.
British Social Attitudes Information System provides Information on the British Social Attitudes survey, the primary social research survey in Britain. The site provides access to the questions and has a bibliography of work based on the BSA.
Cathie Marsh Centre for Census and Survey Research at the University of Manchester provide short courses from introductory to advanced covering all aspects of the research process, including research design, data collection and data analysis.
Centre for Microdata Methods and Practice (cemmap) is an ESRC Research Centre. Through research, teaching and national and international networks, cemmap provides a focus for development, understanding and application of methods for modelling individual behaviour, the influences on it and the impact of policy interventions.
Courses in Applied Social Surveys (CASS) provide a programme of short courses in applied social surveys and statistical analysis ranging from introductory courses (e.g. on questionnaire design and survey analysis) to advanced courses (e.g., on structural equation modelling). Since April 2009 CASS is part of the National Centre for Research Methods.
Day Courses in Social Research at University of Surrey focus particularly on CAQDAS (Computer assisted qualitative data analysis software) training in packages such as ATLAS.ti, MAXqda and NVivo 9 as well as more general courses on Qualitative Data Analysis
Economic and Social Data Service (ESDS) provides access to an extensive range of key economic and social data, both quantitative and qualitative, spanning many disciplines and themes. ESDS also provides support to users of social and economic datasets for secondary analysis for research and teaching, from the novice researcher to the experienced data analyst. These include: introductory workshops to demonstrate searching the ESDS site, registering for data, exploring data online, downloading and carrying out analyses; short courses on data handling and analysis in SPSS, Stata and MS Excel and workshops on secondary analysis of qualitative data sets.
ESRC Quantitative Methods Initiative aims to create a comprehensive and co-ordinated training framework in quantitative methods at each level of the educational lifecourse; integrate training to create a national training infrastructure which builds quantitative skills development at each stage of the educational lifecourse; and create a framework which is flexible enough to meet the particular skill requirements of individual researchers.
Essex Summer School runs annually in July and August and consists of three two-week sessions, each offering a variety of courses in quantitative and qualitative research methods, research design, techniques for data collection and measurement as well as mathematics.
GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences conducts its own continuing and inter-disciplinary research in survey methodology; social stucture, attitude and behaviour in modern societies; and applied computer and information science.
International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS) is an online searchable database for social science and interdisciplinary research. IBSS includes over 2.5 million bibliographic records relating to the four core social science subjects of anthropology, economics, politics and sociology. The IBSS database holds over 2 million references to journal articles and books, reviews and selected chapters.
JISC Research & Innovation offers expert advice on information and digital technologies to the education and research sectors. JISC Research & Innovation provides information on how JISC programmes are helping researchers, through the use of advanced software tools and hardware infrastructure as part of the research process.
Longitudinal Studies Centre (Scotland) (LSCS) is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the Scottish Longitudinal Study. These data are available to academics and support in its use is provided. LSCS also provide training in longitudinal data handling, analysis and modelling. It also hosts events designed to encourage the use of longitudinal data and to identify state-of-the-art research in the field.
National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) provides a programme of training events, seminars and discussion fora focussing on innovative quantitative and qualitative research methods. These are generally at an intermediate or advanced level.
National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) is the pre-eminent independent social research institute in the UK, conducting studies that strongly influence UK social policy. NatCen offer an extensive training programme in social science research methodology.
Researcher Development Initiative (RDI) provides opportunities for the training and development of social science researchers at all stages of their career across a wide range of methodological approaches. Activities range from those aimed at research students to those aimed at mid-career researchers across diverse methodologies (qualitative and quantitative).
ReStore is a sustainable repository of online research methods resources which preserves, sustains and actively maintains web resources developed as part of ESRC funding mainly representing subjects of research methods in social sciences.
Royal Statistical Society - RSS Professional Development Centre offers a programme of open training courses at the Royal Statistical Society in London.
Social Research Association (SRA) is an organisation of social research practitioners and trainees from all sectors of social research, as well as others with an interest in social research. The SRA provides a forum for the exchange views and information, as well as an extensive training programme to support the professional development of social researchers.
Survey Resources Network provides training through the survey skills programme as well as access to resources such as the survey question bank, which gives access to questions form an extensive list of surveys. The Survey Design and Measurement (SDM) initiative funds six projects that also provides examples of good practice in survey research.
Survey Skills Programme is an exciting ESRC-funded opportunity for social researchers to gain a first-hand insight into the survey process in the 'real world' and to improve their skills in survey research methods. A prestigious collaboration of academic institutes and professional research organisations have joined together to offer a wide range of capacity-building and training opportunities covering all stages of the survey research process. The aim is to strengthen the relationships between those who organise, carry out and use surveys, as well as improve the quality of survey research.
The Department of Applied Social Sciences (DASS) at the London Metropolitan University runs a short courses and CPD programme with a veried mix of applied research and policy issues.
The Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre (EPPI-Centre) is part of the Social Science Research Unit at the Institute of Education, University of London. EPPI-Centre specialises in systematic reviews and developing review methods in social science and public policy. It offers training, an evidence library and a methods database.
The Institute of Work Psychology at the University of Sheffield runs one-day training courses in statistics using SPSS and Mplus.
The Postgraduate Statistics Centre at Lancaster University offer short courses in quantitative methods and statistics.
The School of Social and Community Medicine at University of Bristol provides short courses in a range of health services research and epidemiological methods, as well as generic research skills. Courses range in duration from one to five days.
The Statistical Advisory Service at Imperial College London offers hands-on computer based courses in SPSS, Stata, Matlab and R.
The Statistical Services and Consultancy Unit (SSCU) at the University of Hertfordshire provides consultancy services to business, industry, government and the academic environment as well as a range of short courses in statistics.
The Statistical Services Centre (SSC) at the University of Reading provides training courses in statistics and data management.
The Survey Question Bank provides access to the questionnaires, in PDF format, from a range of major UK and cross-national social surveys conducted, for the most part, since the mid-1990s. These questionnaires - which are fully searchable - are displayed in their original context, allowing users to better understand the context in which a particular question was asked.
Timescapes is a qualitative longitudinal study that has collected a large archive of qualitative material in the form of in-depth interviews, oral narratives, photographs and other visual documents.
UK Longitudinal Studies Centre (ULSC) is a national resource centre which promotes, manages and supports longitudinal research. It promotes the use of a range of longitudinal data sets in the UK and supports users of those data through the provision of advice, information, resources and training in longitudinal analysis. It also carries out methodological research.
Understanding Population Trends and Processes (UPTAP) initiative aimed to promote the use of large scale data sets (both quantitative and qualitative) and to build capacity in secondary data analysis amongst new and mid-career researchers. UPTAP programme finished in Autumn 2010, but the website contains a wide range of research findings papers.
Vitae is a national organisation championing the personal, professional and career development of doctoral researchers and research staff in higher education institutions and research institutes.
Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods (WISERD) is a research institute that seeks to both develop existing expertise and build capacity in research methods in Wales. It engages in a wide range of research projects and offers a variety of training in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, as well as producing publications and other resources. WISERD is a collaborative venture between the Universities of Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, Glamorgan and Swansea.