Research in Sociology

Social Policy research at Glasgow is rooted in partnerships. We imagine, design and conduct much of our research in collaboration with both academic and non-academic partners, together analysing social problems and injustices, thus informing the development, delivery and reform of preventive and responsive social policy at local, national and international levels. 

Developing and sustaining diverse collaborations is an intrinsic element of our approach to developing innovative, engaged and impactful research that addresses social, economic, and political problems. It is central to bringing in fresh ideas and expertise and ensuring the significance and sustainability of our research.  

Much of our research is conceived and conducted in and through collaboration, and this is both a key strength of the Unit and a key source of sustainable impact. Evidencing this, we contributed to over 40 collaborative projects this cycle, and participated in 13 national and international networks or consortiums. 

For example, within Health and Wellbeing, the EU funded EuroFIT consortium focusing on physical activity for health collaborated with three other Scottish universities, six European universities and three SMEs to  delivere a physical activity programme in 14 professional football clubs, benefitting around 2,000 men, and led to UEFA supporting ‘Healthy Stadia’ to roll out the programme in Europe.  

An EC funded research and KE network on ‘Mass Supervision’ led from within Crime and Justice involved 70 researchers across 23 countries; a second EC funded programme on Frontline Responses to Domestic Abuse involved eight countries and 16 partners.  Social and Digital Transformation’s Norface-funded research with colleagues in Norway, Estonia and Denmark, focused on the digitalisation of public sector services. 

Successful partnerships rely on diverse forms of expertise. We have increased the scale and diversity of our partnerships with non-academic partners through outreach, engagement, and co-production of research and through using participatory methods to support communities of inquiry. We take a collaborative approach to the conception, design and delivery of research, and consider that we have particular strengths in this area, as evidenced by the range of mutually benefitting research relationships we have with non-academic organisations, from Government ministries to third sector organisations. For example: our disability research team are strategic delivery partners of the Scottish Government's learning disabilities policy team; our migration researchers’ work with the West of Scotland Regional Equality Council and ESOL/TESOL in the co-production of educational materials on LGBT and migrant equalities, and; GCRF-funded collaborative work with West Dunbartonshire Council on the experiences of young Syrian migrants in Scotland is being used by COSLA as a means of identifying best practice around Syrian resettlement.