Coming of Age feedback sought
Recommendations made by the Social Sciences Reference Group in its Coming of Age report include new cross-disciplinary funding, increased investment in social sciences research, and a Social Sciences Research Academy.
The report, made public in May 2005, says social science researchers need to be fully involved in interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary research. It recommends a new cross-disciplinary research funding stream in which social science researchers would have a lead role.
“Many of the large challenges in research are ‘cross cutting’ and at the interfaces between the separate research disciplines. The social sciences can contribute significant knowledge to the physical and natural sciences and technology communities,” the report says.
It recommends strategic long-term planning and funding of social research within the government sector, and increased investment in research initiated by social scientists rather than by government or funding agencies.
It also recommends the establishment of an independent Academy of Social Sciences Research, which would complement the work of SPEaR, the BRCSS Network and the Social Sciences Committee of the Royal Society.
The report acknowledges SPEaR’s roles in fostering cross-departmental connections between policy and research, and in promoting the importance of research knowledge in underpinning policy and practice and in providing an evidential base for decisions.
SPEaR chair Professor Richard Bedford said there was scope for further investments in social sciences to build both the breadth and depth of the knowledge base, particularly considering the field receives less than three per cent of research, science and technology investment.
“Given the central importance of having a rich pool of social knowledge, if we are to have informed and democratic social development, this is a timely call from the research community. Despite positive governmental expenditure within the social Ministries, social research expenditure is still relatively underfunded,” Richard said.
Reference Group chair, Professor Sally Casswell, said she was looking forward to feedback on the report and its recommendations. “I hope people will jot a few points down on the website. I think there is a potential role for a Social Sciences Research Academy, which is intended to be complementary to the roles fulfilled by SPEaR, BRCSS and the Royal Society’s Social Sciences Committee. I’m really keen to hear from people if they think it would be useful and whether or not they are enthusiastic about this idea.”
The report and a feedback questionnaire are available at www.morst.govt.nz
