Department of Social & Policy Sciences research

Our research brings together insights and approaches from social policy, sociology, international development and criminology studies.

Research themes

Our substantive interests fall under five broad themes.

Children, young people and families research

Our national and international research embraces the richness and complexity of contemporary childhood, youth, and family life.

Global transformations and insecurity research

Two people looking at business papers and using a tablet.

This research theme explores access to and regulation of global markets. We also model and measure global changes.

Governance and policy design research

Researching key relationships between society, politics and the state in an increasingly complex and uncertain world.

Lifelong health and wellbeing

An older man walking in some sunlit woods

Our research focuses on wellbeing, its importance to individuals and how it can influence policy outcomes and their impact on people.

Work, welfare and poverty research

Mother and child walking away from camera

Our group researches work, welfare and poverty, how this shapes policies and the impact on families.

Research Centres

Staff from our department contribute to University Research Centres.

Centre for Death & Society

Tree -half alive and vibrant green, half dead

CDAS is an internationally recognised research centre focusing on the interdisciplinary social aspects of death, dying and bereavement.

Centre for Development Studies

Two boys walking to/from school in a refugee camp

Our interdisciplinary and collaborative researchers engage with international development policy and practice.

Centre for the Analysis of Social Policy

A photo of a girl in a playground playing hopscotch

An interdisciplinary research centre critically engaged with the evidence, design and evaluation behind policy development across a range of major social issues

Research environment

We have a regular series of seminars that takes place in our department.

Department of Social & Policy Sciences lunchtime seminars

Discover more about our programme of research seminars taking place this year.

Department of Social & Policy Sciences research student community

Read about the Department of Social & Policy Sciences research student community.

Department of Social & Policy Sciences academic staff

We oversee and deliver the Department’s teaching and research activities.

Department of Social & Policy Sciences research strategy

View the research strategy for the Department of Social & Policy Sciences.

Research excellence

Showing our commitment to the quality of our work, our research was rated excellent by Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014.

Our research falls under the category of Social Work and Social Policy

Our research

We carry out high quality research that contributes to scientific understanding and policy and practice, with the aim of improving family well-being and alleviating poverty.

Our research has impact on a diverse range of people and communities, in both first world and developing countries. Research is interdisciplinary, bringing together academics from departments across the University, including Economics, Education, Psychology and Health.

Contact us

Professor Yvonne Jewkes, Director of Research