Academics are frequently subject to new types of evaluations. November marks the end of the submission process for the UK funding council’s evaluation, the Research Excellence Framework (REF). John Hudson discusses some of the shortcomings of the REF and the methods … Continue reading →
Category: Impact
The arts and humanities play a critical role in the development of vibrant communities.
Providing a historic look at how society has understood the value of the arts and humanities, Jason M. Kelly argues that today’s scholarship has largely framed itself around the context of the neoliberal commodified university. But there are other ways … Continue reading →
How to manage research papers on the go with PaperShip
Alex Hope is always on the lookout for new technology to assist with the day-to-day job of research and teaching. One of the most time-consuming tasks, he finds, is the management of his research library. PaperShip – a new IOS … Continue reading →
The Matthew effect and REF 2014: Funding disparities between UK universities may cause greater strains over time.
As the submission deadline for REF2014 draws nearer, there is a need to reflect on how the subsequent allocation of funding will affect the UK research environment. Dorothy Bishop argues that the rumoured funding formula would dramatically increase the gulf … Continue reading →
Five recommendations for maximising the relevance of social science research for policy-making in the big data era
The quantity and influence of generalisable data presents challenges and opportunities for public policy making. Helen Margetts discusses how social scientists can help policy-makers in this changed environment, ensuring that social science research remains relevant, and warns that social science … Continue reading →
What happens when you make a book open access? New business models are emerging, but challenges still remain.
Initial studies into the effect of open access monographs suggest little to no impact on sales, but an increase in discoverability and online usage. But there are still many hurdles to overcome before OA books become a routine option for … Continue reading →
Absent from the Academy: The lack of black academics in the UK limits the wider impact of universities.
A conversation within UK universities is in order to address the lack of representation of black professors. Nathan Richards discusses his new film which explores the intellectual deficit within academia and how the marginalization of certain groups negatively impacts the university’s … Continue reading →
A replicated study on nuclear proliferation shows the critical necessity of reviewing accepted scientific results.
In replicating a 2009 study on the role of asymmetric nuclear weapons possession, Mark Bell and Nicholas Miller found that a computational error led to the overestimation of the deterrent effect of nuclear weapons by a factor of several million. It is … Continue reading →
Impact-monitoring research leads to clear EU policy recommendations to improve services for children of prisoners.
In England and Wales there are an estimated 200,000 children with a parent in prison, and on any given day, an estimated 800,000 children have a parent in prison in the European Union. The COPING team argue that this area … Continue reading →
Book Review: Q-Squared: Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches in Poverty Analysis
This book aims to examine the underlying assumptions and implications of how we conceptualise and investigate poverty. Paul Shaffer’s book will no doubt be essential reading for poverty analysts but it could also prove a very useful guide to understanding the relationship … Continue reading →