With the internet at our fingertips, it can be easy to think that we have all the answers. Yet one glance at the news is a reminder that when it comes to people, their behaviour, and how they interact with each other and their surroundings, there’s much left to be explained. That’s where social science comes in. Teaching and research in the School of Social Sciences is helping passionate sociologists understand not just how society works but whether the world can be made a better place, and is addressing some of the most challenging issues of the day, from tackling crime and drug addiction to bringing about a fairer society.
For Dr Marian Duggan, Reader in Criminology, her subject is an opportunity to tackle the issue of domestic violence.
‘Over the past decade, I have done a lot of work on Clare’s Law (the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme), including collaborating with the Home Office to update the most recent guidance informing this policy. In England and Wales, two women a week are killed by a current or former partner. Policies like Clare’s Law, which gives people the right to know if their current or ex-partner has any previous history of violence or abuse, aim to prevent domestic violence escalating to the point of domestic homicide by furnishing victims with vital information about their abusive partners. My research has provided important insights into the strengths and limitations of Clare’s Law as a violence reduction tool.
Dr Duggan is a Trustee for her local domestic violence charity where she routinely observes how frontline specialists use Clare’s Law to safeguard victims. ‘This learning benefits my research by allowing me to recommend improvements to Clare’s Law which can be implemented on a national scale. Both my research and my Trustee work inform my teaching at the University, and my ongoing efforts around recognising, responding to, and reducing gender-based violence.’
Dr Alexander Hensby, Senior Lecturer in Sociology and co-director of the Centre for the Study of Social and Political Movements, was attracted to sociology because it gave him a toolkit for making sense of the unfolding present.
‘The 9/11 attacks were the seismic event for me when I was 18, and sociology could help make sense of the history and impact of things that might otherwise feel utterly incomprehensible. I also liked that sociology was always changing and responding to the unfolding present – new problems, new priorities – and could be used to analyse local, national, and global phenomena.
‘Social science research is special as it enables us to better understand how and why there are certain problems in the world, as well as help us rethink the way we seek to address these problems. My work has focused on social movements and political participation, especially the social factors that might make political non-participation appear a normal disposition. This might be about political self-confidence, socialisation, and the social networks you belong to, and importantly adds nuance when non-participants can be easily dismissed as ‘apathetic’ or ignorant.’
Dr Hensby has also conducted research on differential academic attainment in higher education, particularly focusing on the factors that may explain a gap between white and minority ethnic students. ‘This is important for refocusing debates and policy – both nationally and institutionally – that has for many years taken a ‘deficit’ approach to this issue. In other words, my research has helped refocus policy and practice onto what education institutions can do to create authentic equality of opportunity, rather than load the responsibilities onto the students themselves – especially when this relates to categories of race which have experienced historical marginalisation and discrimination.’
The School of Social Sciences boasts a strong track record for research, having come third out of 76 in the Social Work and Social Policy Unit of Assessment of the Research Excellence Framework 2021. In particular, the 100% score for research environment reflects the inclusive and vibrant research culture within the School. As part of the South East Network for Social Sciences, the School also offers funded opportunities for students to take their passions to PhD level.