Policy Hub
The following sites have appeared in Policy Hub bulletin
Jan - Refblog - current awareness blog "maintained by staff at the Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees in the UK (ICAR) an independent information and research organisation based in the School of Social Sciences at City University in London. It provides timely comment analysis and links to relevant websites new full text prublications about all aspects of refugees in the UK. Specialist areas include the asylum process, asylum law, attitudes towards refugees by the media and society in general and UK asylum in a global context. Posts from 2006 onwards can be read online". (Intute)
Feb - The Economic and Social Data Service (ESDS) - is a national data source “providing access and support for an extensive range of key economic and social data, both quantitative and qualitative, spanning many disciplines and themes”.
Mar - The National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) - is a US government funded resource offering access to a wide range of information on criminal justice, victim assistance, public safety and drug policy. NCJRS hosts a database comprising more than 195,000 abstracts of publications, reports, articles and audiovisual products from the US and around the world.
Apr - Climate Ark - is a search tool designed to provide access to reviewed climate change, global warming and renewable energy conservation news as well as original analysis and action opportunities. It “promotes public policy that addresses global climate change through reductions in carbon dioxide and other emissions, renewable energy, energy conservation and ending deforestation”
May - The Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) - is a network of 600 research fellows based in Europe who collaborate through CEPR to conduct and disseminate research through publications and meetings. CEPR's research ranges from open economy macroeconomics to trade policy and from the economic transformation of Central and Eastern Europe to regionalism in the world economy.
Jun - The Academy for Sustainable Communities - works to raise awareness of sustainable communities in England; increase both the capacity and capability of the sector; improve professional practice through the development and promotion of learning and skills programmes; influence policy; and set the standard for best practice in the creation of sustainable communities, ensuring they balance and integrate the social, economic and environmental aspects of a particular locality to meet the needs of its residents today and in the future.
Jul - The Sciencewise Expert Resource Centre for Public Dialogue in Science and Innovation - offers a virtual knowledge hub and a range of offline support services designed to provide information, advice and guidance to policy makers. More specifically, the site “aims to help policy makers commission and use public dialogue to inform policy decisions in emerging areas of science and technology”.
Jan - Policy Research Watch (PRW) - Japanese database which collects and provides access to cumulative bibliographic information on periodicals and occasional papers published by selected worldwide public policy research institutes. PRW currently focuses on English language publications available on the Internet and lists institues by country.
PRW is a web-based project that has grown out of NIRA's World Directory of Think Tanks (NWDTT). One of NIRA's missions is to "fulfill a vital function as a "clearing house" for information on policy analysis and research conducted by think tanks worldwide" (website).
Feb - Longwave and Social Cycles Resource Centre - "For everyone interested in Kondratieff waves and social cycles. The long wave of Nikolai Kondratiev is about population dynamics, innovation, economics, social movements, investment, popular culture, generational and institutional change" (website)
Mar - Worldmapper - international resource - collection of 366 world maps, where territories are re-sized on each map according to the subject of interest. There are 366 maps, also available as PDF posters, covering health, education, crime, transport, immigration etc
Apr - Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN) - aims to create knowledge and lead public dialogue and debate on social and economic issues important to the well-being of all Canadians. Goal is to help make Canada a more just, prosperous and caring society (website).
May - World Database of Happiness - Netherlands-based ongoing register of scientific research on the subjective enjoyment of life. It brings together findings that are scattered throughout many studies and provides a basis for synthetic work.
June - Council for Employment, Income and Social Cohesion (CERC) - French Government site which aims to contribute to the knowledge on income, social inequalities and links between employment, income and social cohesion. Produces bi-monthly bulletin on poverty, employment, income, other social topics.
July - OECD Family Database - brings together information from different OECD databases to produce database of family outcomes and family policies with indicators for all OECD countries.
Aug/Sep - Civil Service Network - aims to provide civil servants with a range of information designed to help them work more effectively. This includes information on professional skills, efficiency and relocation, with information on MPs and Peers, careers advice and top news stories. It also aims to allow users to set the agenda, discuss what matters in "Civil Service Forums", and subscribe to email bulletins.
Oct - SourceWatch - "a directory of the people, organizations and issues shaping the public agenda ... includes profiles on think tanks, industry-funded organizations and industry-friendly experts that work to influence public opinion and public policy on behalf of corporations, governments and special interests" [website]
Nov - The Million Women Study - "a national study of women's health, involving more than one million UK women aged 50 and over ... a collaborative project between Cancer Research UK and the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme, with additional funding from the Medical Research Council
Feb - The Caledon Institute of Social Policy - Canadian social policy think tank which does rigorous, high-quality research and analysis; seeks to inform and influence public opinion and to foster public discussion on poverty and social policy; and develops and promotes concrete, practicable proposals for the reform of social programs at all levels of government and of social benefits provided by employers and the voluntary sector.
Mar - badscience - UK website of Guardian columnist Ben Goldacre. Includes every Bad Science column published since 2003, including much on research evidence. Searchable and you can make comments, browse the articles by category, search by keyword.
Apr - Social Policy and Social Work Centre (SWAP) - UK website of organsiation which aims to enhance the student learning experience by promoting high quality learning, teaching and assessment and by supporting social work and social policy educators.
May - Centre for Social & Economic Inclusion - UK website. "Key areas of social policy expertise are welfare to work, learning and skills, regeneration, homelessness, criminal justice and social exclusion" (website).
June - The Joanna Briggs Institute - Australian site which promotes and supports best practice in health related areas.
Key areas include :
Hover over the buttons at the top of the pages to allow drop-down menus to appear.
July - EconPapers - US website provides access to RePEc, the world's largest collection of on-line Economics working papers, journal articles and software.
September - GCN Engage - UK government website which provides government communicators with a practical set of principles, tools, case studies and training materials to create engaging communication that puts the public at its heart.
October - World Criminal Justice Library Electronic Network - US website with catalogues, annotated links, bibliographies, periodicals, evenst etc in the field of criminal justice
Jan - Case Studies in Public Policy and Management - US website of the Case Program at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, which is "the world’s largest producer and repository of case studies designed for teaching about how government works, how public policy is made, and how nonprofit organizations operate". Website includes the case catalog with abstracts for nearly 2,000 cases, sequels/epilogues and notes, and full-text cases.
Feb - Mathematica Policy Research, Inc - US website of organisation "known for its high-quality, objective research to support decisions about our nation's most pressing social policy problems. The firm has conducted some of the most important studies of health care, welfare, education, employment, nutrition, and early childhood policies and programs in the United States" (website).
Mar - info4local.gov.uk - gateway for access to local government-related information published on the web sites of central government departments and agencies.
Apr - Australian Policy Online - Australian website with input on social, economic, cultural and political research from nearly 120 member centres and institutes. APO is maintained by the Institute for Social Research at Swinburne University of Technology, with support from the Centre for Cultural Research at the University of Western Sydney, the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law at the University of New South Wales, the Discipline of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney, the School of Political and Social Inquiry at Monash University and the National Library of Australia, together with over 160 centres and institutes around Australia.
May - OffPAT - UK website offering support to the Regional Development Agencies, the London Development Agency, English Partnerships, the Welsh Assembly Goverment and the Scottish Enterprise together with their sponsor and contributing Departments in their joint effort in identifying, developing and disseminating best practice in project appraisal, delivery and evaluation.
June - Social Science Research Network (SSRN) - co-hosted website devoted to the rapid worldwide dissemination of social science research and is composed of a number of specialized research networks in each of the social sciences.
July - Sustainable Energy Policy Network - UK website - "The then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (now BERR) formally launched SEPN on 4th June 2003. SEPN activity was wound up following publication of the Energy White Paper in May 2007".
Sep - RURU: Research Unit for Research Utilisation - conducts research on research use and provides "a research resource for all those interested in using research to improve public policy and services. In addition to its research activities, RURU also provides training in areas relating to the use of research in policy and practice" (website).
Oct - Tyndall Centre - "brings together scientists, economists, engineers and social scientists, who together are working to develop sustainable responses to climate change through trans-disciplinary research and dialogue on both a national and international level - not just within the research community, but also with business leaders, policy advisors, the media and the public in general" (website).
Nov - Society Today - website of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) who fund "research and training in social and economic issues ... budget funds over 2,500 researchers in academic institutions and policy research institutes throughout the UK. We also support more than 2,000 postgraduate students" (website) .
Dec - Canadian Social Research Links - extensive private Canadian website of Gilles Seguin, focussing on welfare programs in Canada and elsewhere in the world.
Jan - The Campbell Collaboration [C2] - aims to help people make well-informed decisions by preparing, maintaining, and promoting access to systematic reviews of studies on the effects of social and educational policies and practices.
Feb - Institute for Volunteering Research - UK website aims to develop knowledge and understanding of volunteering in a way that is relevant to practitioners and policy makers. This site provides an overview of the work of the Institute as well as detailed summaries of research that it has undertaken.
Mar - SPEaR - website of cross-agency committee established by the New Zealand Government in 2001 to oversee the government's investment in social policy research and evaluation.
Apr - Scottish Centre for Regeneration - aims to help build skills and expertise and share knowledge among those working in community regeneration.
May - Risk Support Homepage - HM Treasury pages
Jun - The Council for Excellence in Government - US website works to improve the performance of government at all levels; and government's place in the lives and esteem of American citizens.
Aug/Sep - Disability Rights Commission - UK website offers news, guidance and resources to individuals, employers and service providers on rights and the law
Oct - Global Equity Gauge Alliance - South African website. Participates in and supports an active approach to monitoring health inequalities and promoting equity within and between societies. The Alliance currently includes 11 member-teams, called Equity Gauges, located in 10 countries in the Americas, Africa and Asia.
Nov - Policypointers - UK website on policy research from leading think tanks worldwide. Created to enable those involved in government, academe and the media to gain rapid access to the research and conclusions of think tanks around the world, in the belief that policymakers and those who influence the policymaking function, can frequently learn from the research done and the results achieved in countries other than their own.
Dec - Social, Economic and Political Change - US website of The Global Social Change Research Project. Presents reports on social, economic and political aspects of society, and trends over time in these characteristics.
Feb - Keeping Track: a guide to Longitudinal Resources - UK website covers data sets collected by governmental, academic, private social research, medical and private industrial sources. Includes household panel surveys, studies following the health of individuals, birth cohort studies, studies following the quality of a product design, and administrative records.
Mar - United Kingdom Data Archive (UKDA) - resource centre that acquires, disseminates, preserves, and promotes the largest collection of digital data in the social sciences and humanities in the United Kingdom.
Apr - Active Social Policies European Network - Netherlands website of group of social scientific researchers from various European countries. The network members are engaged in research projects related to the development of ‘active’ welfare states and the introduction of active social policies and activation programmes in Europe. These projects involve both national and international research.
May - Public Service Performance website - HM Treasury pages offering an overview of progress towards each department's Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets, in addition to the more detailed Departmental Reports and Autumn Performance Reports.
Jun - International Reform Monitor - German website from Bertelsmann Stiftung Foundation, which is "dedicated to serving the common good". Work is based on "the conviction that competition and civic engagement are essential for social progress" (website). Topics- social policy, labor market policy, industrial relations.
Jul - Renewal.Net - UK website guide to what works in neighbourhood renewal developed by the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit. Wherever possible, the material is based on evaluated evidence of what actually works - or what doesn't work.
Sep - The King's Fund - UK website of independent charitable foundation working for better health, especially in London. Goals are "to help develop: informed policy, by undertaking original research and providing objective analysis; effective services, by fostering innovation and helping put ideas into action; and skilled people, by building understanding, capacity and leadership" (website).
Nov - Research in Practice - UK website supports evidence-informed practice with children and families
Dec - ePolitix.com - UK website aims to encourage better communication between politicians and the public. Provides up-to-the-minute politics and parliamentary news, covering events in Westminster, the Scottish parliament, the assemblies in Wales and London and the European parliament, as well as developments in Northern Ireland. Each weekday, provides three politics news bulletins.