How ESRC can support and engage with the third sector The third sector perspective Karl Wilding | NCVO Research| March 2007 [email_address]

NCVO research Typical trade assn research Supports policy and practice 10 staff, £500k turnover Key part of the infrastructure

Typical trade assn research

Supports policy and practice

10 staff, £500k turnover

Key part of the infrastructure

Points of reference NCVO collaborates with ESRC The NCVO perspective is generic I am not talking about: ‘ Professional’ research bodies that happen to be charitable Medical research charities Large charities might not fit my argument

NCVO collaborates with ESRC

The NCVO perspective is generic

I am not talking about:

‘ Professional’ research bodies that happen to be charitable

Medical research charities

Large charities might not fit my argument

What is ‘distinctive’ about the third sector? Large number of small entities Multiple industries, interests Researches the social agenda, not just R&D Poor coverage in official statistics Research poorly resourced?

Large number of small entities

Multiple industries, interests

Researches the social agenda, not just R&D

Poor coverage in official statistics

Research poorly resourced?

Process and dynamics Research funder, user, consumer, abuser Fairly weak links with academia, professional institutes Dispersed sole-traders Dispersed evidence base

Research funder, user, consumer, abuser

Fairly weak links with academia, professional institutes

Dispersed sole-traders

Dispersed evidence base

Gaps: research Evidence reviews Large-scale, time-series data Theoretical development Thematic: Dynamics, characteristics, contribution/’value’ Public service delivery

Evidence reviews

Large-scale, time-series data

Theoretical development

Thematic:

Dynamics, characteristics, contribution/’value’

Public service delivery

Gaps: capacity/engagement Centralised knowledge-base Centre(s) of excellence Professional development Non-professional development Evidence>Policy>Campaigns Networks & brokerage Basic capacity/resources?

Centralised knowledge-base

Centre(s) of excellence

Professional development

Non-professional development

Evidence>Policy>Campaigns

Networks & brokerage

Basic capacity/resources?

Gaps: priorities Review existing public datasets Influence existing data collection strategies Centralised knowledge-base Networks & brokerage

Review existing public datasets

Influence existing data collection strategies

Centralised knowledge-base

Networks & brokerage

Priorities for ESRC? With social scientists: Address the inter-disciplinary problem Take communication of research seriously Use influence to promote the field Build critical mass (Does funding lead or follow?)

With social scientists:

Address the inter-disciplinary problem

Take communication of research seriously

Use influence to promote the field

Build critical mass

(Does funding lead or follow?)

Priorities for ESRC? With users (practice/policy): Help us find social science/scientists Commissioning/using social science Help us build an evidence culture Help us build a research community Use your influence to build resources and partnerships

With users (practice/policy):

Help us find social science/scientists

Commissioning/using social science

Help us build an evidence culture

Help us build a research community

Use your influence to build resources and partnerships

Can social science make a difference? Yes, of course, if: Engagement, not dissemination TSOs understand its value…and cost Policymakers value robust, properly resourced social science

Yes, of course, if:

Engagement, not dissemination

TSOs understand its value…and cost

Policymakers value robust, properly resourced social science

Final thoughts Stop reinventing the wheel It’s not just about funding (more) research Leadership, Leadership, Leadership

Stop reinventing the wheel

It’s not just about funding (more) research

Leadership, Leadership, Leadership