Consultation on Training Needs in Advanced Social Science Research Methods

One of the initial roles of the Training and Capacity Building (TCB) directorate of the National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) in its current funding period (2014-2019) is to consult and liaise with key stakeholders in the UK training landscape to identify current and future training needs in advanced social science research methods. Given the significant recent and forthcoming changes in the UK methods training landscape, the emergence of new data and methods and the NCRM starting a new round of a broad-ranging training programme this is an appropriate time to take stock and to conduct a training needs assessment including a strategic review of advanced methods training in the UK. The aim of this consultation has been to seek the views of the social science research community on current and future provision of advanced methods training in the social sciences. The focus has been on questions not only of where capacity may be lacking but also of how identified under-capacity should best be addressed and be strengthened. The report is intended to inform the content and delivery of the NCRM training programme as well as the Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) advanced training strategy.