University research showcased at event celebrating social sciences in society

Case studies from Bangor University are featured in a new publication which celebrates research undertaken by social science researchers in Wales. ‘Making the Case for the Social Sciences 10: Wales’ is published by the Academy of Social Sciences as part of its Campaign for Social Science.

The publication comprises 14 case studies of research carried out by Welsh institutions which have influenced national and international governments, as well as highlighting the benefits of social science research on public policy.

Impact from Welsh research has been far reaching. The Food Dudes programme, developed at the School of Psychology, has been rolled out successfully in many places across the UK, increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables children are happy to eat and displacing other, less healthy foods from the diets of both children and their parents’ diets.

Other research topics from Bangor University include Prof Bob Woods’ work on Cognitive stimulation – improving quality of life and cognition in people with mild to moderate dementia at the DSDC and Professor Philip Molyneux of Bangor Business School’s work looking at the public-policy question of whether banks operate competitively or if they behave more like monopolists?

The publication also covers research areas including shifting attitudes in favour of Welsh devolution, public sector pay and reducing smoking uptake in teenagers through peer support, combating human trafficking; new approaches to fighting the ‘war on drugs’, and; protecting human rights for young people in Wales

Home to just nine of the UK’s 109 Higher Education Institutions, Welsh universities have pioneered innovative social science research on a global scale on a broad range of topics, from public health, to international financial markets and quality of life in the workplace.

The booklet was launched by the Minister for Health and Social Services, Mark Drakeford, AM, before an audience of policy makers, civil servants, AMs and social scientists.

The booklet is the tenth in the Making the Case for the Social Sciences series, and is a joint collaboration between the Academy of Social Sciences and its Campaign for Social Science, Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods (WISERD), and The Research Institute for Applied Social Sciences (RIASS). These booklets are produced by the Academy of Social Sciences and the Campaign for Social Science to demonstrate the power of social science research to improve lives.

Publication date: 27 November 2015