What Do Social Scientists Do? Psychology
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) resource looks at psychology as a career option. It begins by defining psychology as the study of the human mind, brain and behaviour. The resource then gives information about career possibilities and gives examples of sectors where psychology graduates are welcomed. Psychology provides…
Case Study: the Family, Continuity and Change
This resource presents a case study showing how one project used qualitative and quantitative methods of research to discover how much families have changed over the decades since the 1960s. The case study shows how ethnographic research, studying people in their own environment, is conducted. Data gathered highlights changes…
Ethics: Participants' Interests, Confidentiality and Consent
This resource looks at research ethics and the importance of confidentiality in research projects. Researchers must be aware of ethical issues and the effects that their research can have on research participants. The information sheet raises questions that can be debated in classroom lessons and encourages young people to give…
What Do Social Scientists Do? Geography
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) resource gives information about career options for people who study geography. It starts by defining the subject, including its component parts of human and physical geography. Human geography includes studies of cultures, population, economies, health and medicine, rural and urban…
Social Research: How Does It Work? What Is Research For?
This resource looks at what social researchers do and why they do it. Research is recognised as vital for expanding our knowledge, providing vital information for government and other agencies, as well as helping us to understand our own society and those societies which are beyond our own experience. This information sheet concentrates…
What Makes Good Research?
This resource explains how important it is that social research is conducted in a scientific way, following definite rules that have been developed over time with the aim of ensuring that the results are not just the product of the researcher’s own beliefs. The paper stresses the importance of research being valid, reliable…
The Power of Positive Thinking
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) school briefing discusses how people who think positively are more likely to have good forward-planning skills, have more friends and earn more. Research has found that positive future-thinking leads to wellbeing but is greatly affected by psychological factors and mental health.…
Where Would Social Science Be Without Maths?
A poster for teachers to use within the classroom, produced by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). On the front is a timeline featuring prominent figures who developed the use of statistics, with accompanying teachers’ notes on the back. The timeline looks at landmark events in social science from 1662, when John…
Society Now: UK by Numbers
The 'UK by numbers' series focuses on key areas, such as population, energy and health, and provide important and up-to-date statistics about the UK. The documents are taken from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) magazine, Society Now. Population This issue gives statistics for the composition of the UK's…
What Do Social Scientists Do? Sociology
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) resource gives information about careers related to sociology. It starts with a definition, explaining the ways in which sociologists study the effects of social issues and the way society is organised. The resource then lists career possibilities for sociologists using their analytical…
Why Volunteering is Good For You - and Questions to Think About
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) school briefing looks at the effects of volunteering on the community and also on the volunteer. Research has shown that people who volunteer enjoy a better quality of life and better health as well as improving conditions in their communities. The briefing includes a set of questions…
Britain at a Glance
These two Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) pages give statistics and key facts about the British population in 2007 and 2008. These statistics give a picture of the UK's population growth rates and age distribution, percentages of ethnic minorities, where we live and work, our income and spending habits, health, education…
Carbon Emissions
This opinion piece addresses the question "China and India are right to resist binding emissions targets" and was written to provoke debate and discussion about the issue of carbon emissions. It was written by an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded researcher, for the Debating Matters competition. The…
The Science of Social Interaction
The Science of Social Interaction document is a one-page summary of some recent Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) research into the area of human interaction. As our society becomes ever more interconnected, with each person experiencing hundreds of social encounters every day, the way we communicate is very important.…
What Do Social Scientists Do? Economics
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) resource gives information about economics as a career. It gives a definition of economics as a quantitative approach to the study of society which looks at how decisions about supply and demand are made at individual, organisational and governmental levels. Economics makes considerable…
Fat is Not a Four-letter Word
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) school briefing looks at how obesity is viewed by the general public and how the war on obesity could lead to discrimination on the grounds of a person's size and intolerance towards the over-weight. The briefing examines the possibly doubtful science that can colour opinions…
Do Models Need to Be Thin to Sell Moisturiser?
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) school briefing looks at the effectiveness of advertising and whether it really is necessary for advertisers to use very thin models to sell their products. Counter to this view, research shows that women are just as likely to buy a product if the model is of average size. The…
Why Girls Can't Say No to Cigarettes
This briefing, produced by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), looks at a study which shows that girls are twice as likely as boys to smoke. Researchers looked into the peer pressure put upon young people to smoke, comparing the pressures on girls and boys. They give recommendations for anti-smoking campaigns that would…
5/5- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Information sheet
The Chemical Brothers and Sisters Come of Age
This briefing, from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), looks at the widespread use of recreational drugs by young people and the implications for law policies and enforcement. Researchers gathered some frightening statistics concerning the numbers of young people who have tried and are using drugs, often at the same…
This Sporting Life - and Questions to Think About
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) school briefing looks at how middle class people take the need to exercise more personally than others. Although the need for exercise is generally recognised, research shows that more highly educated people are more likely to participate in regular exercise. The briefing explains…
What Is Healthy? What Is Beautiful?
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) school briefing discusses fat as a class issue, as well as a feminist issue. Research shows that middle class families are more likely to be health-conscious eaters, and chances are the shops in their neighbourhoods offer a wider range of healthy food. The resource looks at the facts…
Ageing
This opinion piece was written by an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded researcher to provoke debate and discussion about the issue of ageing. The piece was written for the Debating Matters competition, which the ESRC sponsors, and discusses vital questions about whether extending the human lifespan should be welcomed…
Addiction: Teenage Kicks - the Debate Rages on
This school briefing, from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), gives the facts about drink, drugs and alcohol addiction amongst teenagers and young people. Despite, media stories about famous people struggling with their addictions, drug use, smoking and drinking is increasing and death rates are rising. The briefing…
Happiness: The Greatest Gift We Possess?
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) school briefing looks at whether we have a right to be happy, alongside the rights to life and liberty. The briefing discusses definitions of happiness and how religions and young people seek to attain it. The briefing then looks at how different governments across the world are measuring…
The Economics of Happiness
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) school briefing looks at the effects happiness and wellbeing have on the economy. A study by Professor Andrew Oswald looked at the human impact of economic downturns and demonstrated that the true cost of a recession is much wider than just financial. This leads to findings that strong…
Alcohol: the Spirit of Friendship
This resource, from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), looks at worrying studies into young people's drinking habits. Studies have looked at how and why excessive drinking has become a normal part of life for many young people and the psychological pressures put upon people to drink alcohol, especially on young…
Genomics
From the Economic and Social Research Council (ERSC), this briefing explores how understanding genomics may offer potential benefits to society, but also looks at how we might use and regulate that knowledge. The resource describes the possible applications of synthetic biology. The emerging personal genomics industry is discussed…
Population Growth
From the Economic and Social Research Council (ERSC), this briefing provides figures on global population growth and highlights the key issues in population management and the factors that influence fertility rates. Case studies illustrating a number of different approaches to population control around the world are described, including…
Performing Under Pressure
This resource looks at how people create strategies to help them cope with pressure and stressful situations such as performing in front of others or taking examinations. Psychologists have looked at how sportsmen and women cope with pressure to see if the strategies they use would also work for ordinary people. As an experiment,…