1. Surveying the Social Science Workforce Karen Witten Martin Wall BRCSS Conference: Social Sciences Research: A Celebration Thursday 11th June, Wellington 2009

2. The studies 2006 and 2009 On line survey of university-based social scientists 2006/7 Portfolio Study – interviews with lead researchers and new and emerging researchers 2008 Research to Policy Case Studies –Working for Families –Housing Insulation –Immigration

3. Outline The 2009 survey The social science research workforce - a brief description How research was funded in 2008 Inter and trans disciplinary research How we collaborate and mentor Incentives and barriers to research participation

4. 2009 survey Online survey February/March 2009 Universities provided contact details of all PBRF eligible social scientists (N=1,918) Broad definition of social sciences 1,122 responded Response rate – 61%

5. The social science research workforce - a brief description

6. The respondents Gender: Similar numbers of women and men Ethnicity: 70% NZ European & Pakeha, 7.5% Maori Age –Two thirds between 40 and 60 years –Significant ageing of the workforce between 2006 and 2009 Highest qualification: 77% have doctorates (82% of men,72% women)

7. Disciplines Education 14% Psychology 9% Management 9% Economics 8% Sociology 6% Human geography 5% Maori knowledge & development 5% Between 3-5% - political science, public health, anthropology, marketing, history, communications/media/journalism, law

8. Position by gender

9. How our research is funded

10. How is our research funded? Research funding 2009% respondents No funding27 Internal university research grant44 Central Government Agency or Ministry20 FRST10 International Organisation/Agency9 HRC7 Community Organisation7 Marsden6 Private Sector Business6 BRCSS4 Regional or Local Government4

11. Funding by discipline Internal Univ MarsdenFRSTHRCCent. Govt Reg./ local govt Int.Bus. History61%18%4%0%7%0%7%0% Human Geography 48%10%25%15%27%10%6%8% Law55%0% 7%0%21%0% Maori Knowledge and Development 30%2%30%14%20%2%11%5%

12. Difficulty raising $1000 to complete research from University sources

13. inter and trans disciplinary research

14. Inter and trans disciplinary research Trans-disciplinary - research activity that works across disciplines to build up a new body of knowledge. Inter-disciplinary - research activity that draws from more than one discipline Research activity in 2008 29% single disciplinary research 65 % inter disciplinary research 27% trans disciplinary research 19% single discipline research only

15. Research with non social scientists Common clusters Ecology/environmental science/eg biological invasion/bio diversity Bio technology/neuroscience/bio engineering/ sports physiology Information and computer sciences/new technologies/human computer interaction Visual arts and architecture

16. Collaboration and mentoring

17. Capability building issues emerging researchers Better access to methodology training More mentoring from senior academics and researchers Opportunities for observing and learning by working alongside experienced researchers

18. Collaboration and mentoring: academic outputs Collaborated on:Professor or associate professor Senior Lecturer Senior researcher Lecturer/ researcher PhD/ Masters a paper35%31%16%22% a book chapter or book 24%16% 9%7% a research idea or proposal 37%32%17%18% peer review of article or proposal 17% 9%7% a paper/poster at NZ conference 13%157%9%15% a paper/poster at International conference 22%20%12%15%

19. Participation and mentoring: academic life Participated in:Professor or associate professor Senior Lecturer Senior researcher Lecturer/ researcher PhD/ Masters a discussion on research theory or methods 41%42%30%29% a discussion related to career path or career opportunities 30%22%16%17%

20. Incentives and barriers to research participation

21. Investigator initiated research: incentives –Allocated time to spend on research –Intrinsic appeal of research –Positive and encouraging research environment –Access to research funding –Other access to data opportunities for collaboration opportunities for knowledge transfer and participation in collegial networks

22. Incentives and barriers to research participation Investigator initiated research: barriers –Lack of time –Nature of academic work (teaching/admin detracting from sustained periods of concentrated research) –Lack of funding –Other overhead levels funder policies and practices and problems with ‘buying out’ teaching time

23. Incentives and barriers to research participation Contract research: incentives Access to research funding Intrinsic appeal of research Recognition that research undertaken is important Opportunity to contribute to public policy

24. Incentives and barriers to research participation Contract research: barriers Lack of time Lack of funding Short timeframes Other –unlikely to produce international refereed publications –lack of recognition in PBRF

25. http://www.brcss.nethttp://www.brcss.net - publications