Scoping the skills needs in the social sciences to support data-driven research skills across the academic career life course

Harold, Gordon, Lury, Celia, Goodwin, John, Lewthwaite, Sarah and Carter, Jackie (2023) Scoping the skills needs in the social sciences to support data-driven research skills across the academic career life course Economic & Social Research Council 42pp.

Abstract

The Economic and Social Science Research Council (UKRI-ESRC) has commissioned this scoping study to map out the challenges, opportunities and areas of necessary change to existing UK data-driven research skills (DDRS) training provision in order to maximise the capabilities of future social scientists to contribute to and compete at the highest levels of international standards. The commissioned study also seeks to promote a model of life course DDRS training that enhances the UK’s reputation as a global leader in the design, delivery, implementation and application of data-driven research skills that help address substantive questions of societal relevance and impact.

Data-driven research skills span qualitative and quantitative methodological applications and require a grounded knowledge of core principles in both domains as well as complementary mixed-methods approaches and applications. A DDRS training perspective that is future-proofed acknowledges that both quantitative and qualitative research methods accommodate data-driven research opportunities through which different data forms may be organised, analysed, interpreted and effectively communicated.

A life course model of DDRS training is proposed whereby it is acknowledged that DDRS training needs to move beyond a core focus on the postgraduate and very early postdoctoral career stages, to promotion and support of DDRS training across the academic life course, including during the mid- and later career stages.
The scoping study focused on addressing four primary question domains with the objective of informing recommendations specific to the design, implementation, support strategies, and future sustainability of a DDRS training framework that positions the UK at the international forefront of social science capability and capacity building in this area. These question domains are:

• What are social scientists’ specific capability building and skills needs for data-driven research across the career life course?
• What interventions are required to enable social scientists to maintain DDRS across the career life course?
• What are the barriers to implementing and supporting a life course model of DDRS training?
• What are the possible mechanisms and strategies to effectively design, deliver and sustainably support a life course model of DDRS training?

The scoping study employed a complementary two-step methodology and approach to examining these questions and to facilitate primary implementation recommendations. First, an expert advisory group (the “Steering Group”) was assembled, with expertise spanning multiple areas of social science and DDRS relevant knowledge and representing early to late career stage experience. Second, an independent research organisation (CFE Research) was commissioned to hold a series of sector-wide stakeholder workshops to understand how the vision for a life course model of DDRS training might be achieved and how challenges and obstacles to attaining this vision might be overcome.

A suite of recommendations is provided that spans three proposed implementation themes (1) Implementation Models and infrastructure, (2) Developing a culture/environment for DDRS development across the career life course, and (3) Support for researchers.

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Contributors

Author: Sarah Lewthwaite

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