Seminar talk presented at City University 28 Nov 2022

1. Building Your Social Research
and Policy Career
Jackie Carter T: @JackieCarter E: j.carter@manchester.ac.uk LI: www.linkedin.com/in/drjackiecarter/
Professor of Statistical Literacy, National Teaching Fellow, One in Twenty Women in Data 2020
City University Seminar 28 Nov 2022
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

2. Recent research informing
this presentation
V. Higgins and J. Carter, (2022) Developing
data literacy: how data services and data
fellowships are creating data skilled social
researchers IASSIST Q. Print, vol. 46, no. 3
Carter J. (2021) Developing a future
pipeline of applied social researchers
through experiential learning: the case of a
data fellows programme. Statistical Journal
of the IAOS, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 935-950
Carter J., Méndez-Romero RA., Jones P,
Higgins V & Samartini,
ALS (2021) EmpoderaData: Sharing
a successful work-placement data skills
training model within Latin America, to
develop capacity to deliver the
SDGs. Statistical Journal of the IAOS, vol.
37, no. 3, pp. 1009-1021

3. Other
platforms

4. Wondrous Woman of the Week

5. Social
science
graduates

6. Social
Science
Graduates

7. External evaluation of Q-Step (Nuffield, 2022)
https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/publications/q-step-evaluation

8. - Research
- Teaching
- Social Responsibility

9. Work
placements
&
internships
Graduate employers value work experience (Shury et al,
2017), and experiential learning literature acknowledges
the importance of internships and work placements (Carter
(2021), Roberts (2018), Aliix (2011)).
However, participation in work placements differs by
socioeconomic background with a 7% difference in
undergraduate students from working-class backgrounds
(36%) undertaking work placements compared to their
middle-class peers (43%) (Montacute et. al, 2021)
Some researchers call for the banning of unpaid and
unadvertised internships (Friedman and Laurison, 2019).
Others recommend that internships longer than 4-weeks
duration should be paid at least the minimum wage
(Cullinane and Montacute 2018).

10. The
University
of
Manchester
Data
Fellows
model
Living wage paid 8-week long
data-driven research projects
in host organisations
330 data fellows
since 2014
70+% female
25% from
historically
under-
represented
backgrounds

11. Example host
organisations
Public,
private and
not-for-profit
sectors
Prestigious
organisations

12. 21st
Century
Skills

13. Research skills Analytical skills
R: Designing research and collecting
evidence
A: Undertaking the analysis
R1: Formulating a research question A1: Ability to manipulate, analyse and
filter information
R2: Deciding what evidence is needed to
answer the question
A2: Ability to interpret and synthesise
information using qualitative and
quantitative research methods and
appropriate technology
R3: Determining how evidence can be
collected
A3: Detecting partial or ambiguous
information
R4: Understanding the ethics of undertaking
the research
A4: Understanding the consequences of
using unreliable data and information
sources
R5: Organising the information, selecting
relevant information and identifying gaps in
the evidence
A5: Drawing conclusions based on
critically assessing the evidence and
findings
A6: Appreciating the need to be open-
minded and reflect on the evidence-
base and conclusions drawn
Top seven professional skills (PS)
sought by employers LinkedIn (2018),
McKinsey (2019)
PS1 Communication
PS2 Collaboration and teamwork
PS3 Time management
PS4 Creativity
PS5 Persuasion
PS6 Adaptability
PS7 Networking
Table 7.2 Carter (2021) p. 167

14. My Analytical and Research Skills
Personal Development Plan
(MARS PDP)

15. My Professional Skills Personal
Development Plan (MPS PDP)

16. Developing
reflection
as a
practice
Beginning, middle and end
of the Data Fellowship
Scaffold the reflection using
the framework discussed

17. Reflection 1

18. Reflection 2

19. Reflection 3

20. Data Fellows posters all
available at
www.manchester.ac.uk/
q-step/student-stories/

21. Ana
• ..I wanted to learn more about
programming. But I've never really
considered a long-term career in technology
and data analytics. And now I feel like I have
the confidence to consider jobs in tech or
data analytics, jobs in research, and maybe
jobs in programming. … the data fellowship
has been overall very positive because I had
the opportunity to meet people my age with
the same worries and aspirations, who were
doing very interesting projects as well.

22. Giorgia
I can confidently say that being a Data Fellow matched my initial
expectations – which were mainly improving confidence and
skills in a STEM sector and getting work experience in a positive
and inspiring environment – and greatly exceeded them
I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of pursuing a career as
data analyst, but I have always felt a bit intimidated by the fact
of being a foreign-speaking young girl … my fellowship
experience has hugely helped me to break this confidence barrier
and motivated me even more to pursue this kind of career, given
how much I’ve enjoyed my job

24. Imagine a career in
policy ….

25. Adriana

26. Three things
you can do
next

28. To create a diverse talent into social research
and policy careers
We need to ….
• …. look on both sides of the bridge (the structure), challenge the
‘deficit narrative’ (the skills), develop opportunities prior to on-
boarding (workplace training), look for capability not just
competency (talent), share the costs (toll)
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC

29. …. Think creatively