What we aim to do
We aim to work with local community and voluntary organisations to co-design small relevant research projects which will be conducted by final year Politics students as an alternative to a dissertation.
The research has a broad theme of Social Justice. The idea is that both the organisation and the students attached to it gain from the experience and that the research undertaken can be used by the organisation to further their work.
How it works
From October 2018 to May 2019, Politics students work in small groups under the supervision of Dr. Emily Clough. The organisation proposes a research question, which the students draw up into a research brief. The results of the research are presented at a public workshop in April. We are very keen to ensure that the projects address research questions that are genuinely important for policy makers and practitioners working the North East of England.
So far
In the past three years since the Social Justice North East initiative began, the student research teams have successfully conducted a wide range of research including:
- The spatial injustice faced by unpaid carers in Northumberland
- The contribution of surplus food redistribution to tackling food injustice in the North East
- Generational divides in community cohesion in South Tyneside
- Accessing Public Services for those experiencing homelessness
- Media Effects on perceptions of food poverty
- In-person advice services in a digital world
- Impact of neighbourhood characteristics on the elderly experiencing loneliness
Organisations have used the results of this research when presenting proposals to local councils and submitting grant applications.
What you can do
We are currently planning research projects for 2018-19 and would love to hear from you if you are keen to be involved.
The University provides the supervision but we would need a consistent point of contact for the students throughout the module and help with research design/ accessing data/organising potential focus groups.
If you have ideas for potential research projects related to social justice in the North East of England or you would like to discuss possibilities further, please contact:
Mary Hull (placement co-ordinator) mary.hull@newcastle.ac.uk or Emily Cough (module leader)– Emily.clough@newcastle.ac.uk