ESRC invites proposals for projects that will undertake cutting-edge methodological research development, within the context of substantive research problems. Projects must be focused in one or more of the following strategic areas:
- Digital devices and mobile technologies for data collection
- Participatory approaches
- Analysis of online digital and Big Data
- Bio-social data analysis
- Policy relevant research synthesis
- Small area estimation
The call is issued in partnership with the Department for International Development (DFID) which will co-fund in the Policy Relevant Research Synthesis area.
The aim of the call is to increase the quality and range of methodological skills and techniques used by the UK social science community, to enable new or existing social science research questions to be addressed more effectively.
The projects will be part of a programme of research co-ordinated by the National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) and will complement, enhance and extend NCRM's existing research and activities. Proposals will be expected to contribute to the Centre's training and capacity building activities, primarily though contributions to NCRM's programme of short courses and the production of online learning resources.
A total of £5 million (100 per cent fEC, ESRC contribution £4 million) is available. The maximum budget for an individual Research Project is £825,000 (100 per cent fEC, ESRC contribution £660,000) over a maximum of 36 months. Projects will need to commence on 1 January 2016.
Deadline for proposals is 4pm on 16 June 2015. For further details please see the original call on the ESRC website.