Contemporary research methods

The Centre for Social Research (CSR.Salford) brings methodological expertise and innovation to bear on each individual research problem. Understanding complex social issues is only possible if researchers develop the right objectives for each study and employ the correct methods to achieve those objectives, applied in a professional, rigorous and ethical way.

Our researchers not only bring methodological expertise to research projects, we also regularly provide training in research methods and publish in specialist methods journals. The experience of our researchers provides the Centre with particular expertise in five areas of research methods:

• Large-scale evaluations
• National quantitative surveys
• Cross-national comparisons
• Qualitative studies on sensitive topics
• Research involving children and young people

Large-scale evaluations

The Centre specialises in working closely with funders to produce robust evaluations that are constructive and useful for policy and practice development. Our researchers have a long history of producing evaluations that not only assess the impact of an intervention, but establish the key messages and lessons to help with rolling out further work.

We have developed a reputation for evaluating complex national and regional programmes, drawing out key similarities and differences between individual projects to ensure that we capture what elements really make a difference.

In order to build a complete picture of an intervention, we typically use a multi-method approach. We also follow a principle of 'minimal disruption' of practitioners in our evaluation work, and will always make the most of existing data where available.

Recent projects:

Find out more about our research projects.

National quantitative surveys

Centre members have designed analysed and published on major national quantitative surveys. Where necessary, we design new instruments and scales to capture and measure a situation.

Our members were involved in the first Britain-wide survey of parental discipline and a national survey of parenting in poverty. We have also produced detailed secondary analysis of existing national datasets, including the British Crime Survey.

Cross-national comparisons

We specialise in cross-national comparisons that both show alternative approaches to tackling problems and help us contextualise and understand our own situation better. This enables us to better understand the way cultures construct and deal with issues, and may often tells us something about those cultures themselves.

Our cross-national work is often tied to advising policymakers of different ways of doing things – often overlooked when so closely focused on internal pressures and implementation problems. This work has led to strong advisory partnerships with overseas agencies – particularly through Salford University Centre for Prison Studies.

Recent projects:                     

Find out more about our research projects.

Qualitative studies on sensitive topics

Our members specialise in a range of sensitive topics that require careful in-depth study. We regularly work with vulnerable groups in qualitative studies focusing on topics such as dementia care, child abuse and family violence, and a range of criminological issues.

In doing so, we develop tools that enable us to hear the voices of people who are often vulnerable or powerless. These tools will enable these hard-to-reach groups to provide rich data. Recent innovative qualitative methods developed or used by the Centre include "mediation research" and walking interviews.

Research involving children and young people

Centre members have a long history of research involving children and young people. This includes our work on family violence and parent-child-relationships. In recent years, this work has focused on issues including youth engagement, youth offending and justice, and young people living in urban environments.

In this work, it has been necessary to develop methods and techniques that allows us to bridge the generation gap, including innovative interview stimuli, interactive methods and peer research.

Recent projects:

Find out more about our research projects.