Quantitative social science
The Government designated quantitative social sciences as a strategically important and vulnerable subject when it identified a skills deficit in quantitative methods. The UK funding bodies are now working in partnership with the Economic and Social Research Council to address this deficit.
Strategy for advanced quantitative methods
The partnership of funding bodies has been working on a strategy to support the development of advanced quantitative methods in social science.
In this context we will contribute up to £4 million towards a range of initiatives over a five-year period from 2008. These initiatives aim to enhance quantitative skills at each level of the educational lifecourse.
This work will include:
- a network of research groups to support high-quality research and methods training throughout the UK
- developing strategies that encourage interest at school level
- focus on undergraduate curricula development
- support for quantitative social science masters programmes.
As part of this programme the ESRC in partnership with HEFCE and the British Academy have recently announced 20 new projects which aim to improve social science undergraduates' skills and interest in quantitative methods.
Last updated 12 January 2011