Building Research Capacity in the Social Sciences

National Survey of Social Scientists 2006

In 2004 the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) funded an inter-University programme to stimulate the development of research capability in the social sciences. The network of academic social scientists formed as a result of the funding programme is called the BRCSS Network - an acronym for Building Research Capabilty in the Social Sciences. SHORE and Whariki researchers are affiliated with the network.

One of the key tasks TEC has contracted the BRCSS Network to undertake is national surveys of social science activity, outcomes and uptake. The National Survey of Social Scientists 2006 provides baseline data on the social science workforce and social science research activity and capacity in the New Zealand’s eight universities.
The specific objectives of the National Survey of Social Scientists were to describe:

• the people working as social scientists in New Zealand universities;
• the social science research activity undertaken in New Zealand universities, including disciplinary orientation, main research areas and funding sources;
• the extent of collaboration between social scientists in the University sector and between university, and other sectors nationally and internationally;
• interaction between social science researchers and the government and community sectors;
• the incentives and barriers to participation in investigator initiated social science research, involvement in the research / policy interface, and research for the business sector.

The online survey was completed by 808 social scientists between May and July 2006:

Witten K, Rose E, Sweetsur P, Huckle T, (2006) National Survey of Social Scientists, October,  Auckland, Centre for Social & Health Outcomes Research & Evaluation, Massey University

BRCSS Portfolio Programmes Survey

Witten K, Girling M, Neale J (2007) BRCSS Portfolio Survey 2007, June, Auckland, Centre for Social & Health Outcomes Research & Evaluation, Massey University

The BRCSS Network is based on a platform of 45 multi year externally funded research programme that are led by social scientists in New Zealand eight universities. Most of the programmes were investigator initiated and funded by public good funding agencies (Marsden Fund, the Foundation for Research Science and Technology and the Health Research Council). A few of the programmes were commissioned or contracted by government ministries and two programmes were associated with post doctoral fellowships.

The BRCSS Portfolio Programmes Survey, undertaken between November 2006 and February 2007, investigated the structure of the research programmes and the capacity building activities that had taken place within the programmes in the following areas:

• Training opportunities provided within the project/ programme
• Key dissemination practices and mentoring practices on dessimination
• Relationships with Maori, Pacific and New Settler communities
• Cross disciplinary practices
• Relationships with end users and other research groups
• International relationships as they relate to capability building
• Engagement with BRCCS activities

BRCSS The Social Sciences and Policy-Research Use

Carroll P, Blewden M, Witten K (2008) BRCSS - The Social Sciences and Policy-Research Use

This study seeks to understand the use of social science research in policy making in
Aotearoa/New Zealand. Three case studies of policy development were undertaken:
the 2004 Working for Families (WFF) legislation; the 2007/2008 budget allocations
for insulating homes; and immigration policy. The research builds on an extensive
international literature on the research-to-policy process as it attempts to understand,
from the perspectives of researcher, policy advisors and politicians, how social
science research informs, and could better inform policy development in New
Zealand. The study takes as starting points that research is one among many
competing forms of knowledge and influence, that policy making is a ‘messy’, non
linear process and that research ‘use’ in policy-making is not straightforward.

Thirty one semi-structured interviews were undertaken with policy advisors,
politicians and social science researchers involved in the development of policy in one
or other of the case study areas. The report provides a brief review of the research-topolicy
literature, participants’ observations on social science research use that cut
across policy areas and the case studies. Each case study comprises a brief summary
of relevant policy documents and an analysis and synthesis of interview data.

Researchers: Associate Professor Karen Witten, Paul Sweetsur, Taisia Huckle, Dr John Huakau, Melissa Girling