A new NCRM report showcases the centre’s wide-ranging impact since 2020, including the training of more than 14,000 researchers.
The Impact Assessment Report 2020-2025 shows how NCRM has improved researchers’ skills and knowledge, enabling them to conduct research that benefits society.
Using surveys, case studies and other forms of user feedback, the report highlights the ways in which NCRM has supported people at different career stages in a variety of disciplines and sectors.
This feedback includes the finding that, after taking part in NCRM training, 94 per cent of responding participants said they had applied their learning to their work.
Providing high-quality, affordable and impactful training
The report also describes NCRM’s key role in the UK research community: the centre is a leading provider of high-quality, affordable and impactful training, a major contributor to methodological innovation and, as a recipient of funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) since 2004, a strategic leader in its field.
“NCRM has served as a central, cohesive force within the UK’s social science research methods ecosystem for the last 20 years, fostering an interconnected community of researchers and training providers that enriches the UK’s methods landscape and enables ongoing interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration and innovation,” the report states.
"Aligned with the ESRC’s Strategic Delivery Plan 2022-2025 and UKRI’s Strategy 2022-2027, NCRM’s work continues to support the ambition to build world-class research capability through the provision of high-quality, accessible, and low-cost research methods training.”
Building the UK’s research capability
Since NCRM’s current funding phase began in 2020, the centre has helped to build the UK’s research capability by reaching a huge number of researchers through a range of initiatives.
More than 6,500 researchers have attended NCRM short courses and more than 7,500 have taken part in the centre’s events. More than one million users have accessed NCRM’s website and used its extensive collection of online learning resources.
By establishing national networks and collaborating with partners in different regions, NCRM has enabled trainers and researchers everywhere to share knowledge, improve teaching practices and develop research methods.
NCRM has ensured its courses remain open to a wide audience by offering bursaries to cover course fees and focusing on online delivery, with in-person training also provided. Its reach extends beyond the UK, with many international researchers using NCRM’s online resources and taking part in its activities.
The centre works with expert trainers to ensure the high quality of its courses. More than than 92 per cent of participants who responded to NCRM’s course evaluation questionnaire reported that they were either satisfied or very satisfied.
Over the past five years, NCRM has responded quickly to changes in technology, practices and researcher needs by offering training in innovative methods. This has helped the centre to equip researchers with the latest skills and provide training in highly specialised techniques.
Researchers at many different career stages have benefited from their involvement with NCRM. The centre’s activities have helped its users and collaborators as they complete their theses, apply for jobs, teach research methods, develop research programmes, work as senior researchers, experts, managers and directors, and enhance their skills later on in their careers.
Impacting society
NCRM’s activities enable researchers to do work that positively impacts different aspects of society, from healthcare to policymaking. This range of impact is illustrated in the report.
For example, researchers who attended training on analysing health statistics applied the techniques to child safeguarding initiatives. In another case, a course participant used new skills in spatial data analysis to support local authority decision making on issues related to climate change and austerity measures.
A participant on a longitudinal data analysis course reported that they were applying their skills to work on disability services in Ireland. Another researcher, who attended a filmmaking course, applied her skills to a project that works with survivors of violence by police in Colombia, helping them shape their cases for justice.
After receiving funding through NCRM’s Innovation Fora scheme, a research team was able to work on machine learning approaches and clinical data analysis to support women’s health.
The report also highlights examples of impact achieved by researchers who have worked with NCRM over many years. These include the development of an index on sentencing severity in England and Wales, and the creation of a training programme in cultural competency for healthcare clinicians.
Advancing methods
As outlined in the report, NCRM runs a variety of initiatives that help to advance research methods, for example by connecting researchers with shared interests or expertise.
The centre chairs two training networks that bring together key ESRC-funded organisations from across the UK to improve training in key areas. These groups – made up of representatives from data resources and doctoral training partnerships – have enabled members to identify training requirements, share insight, run public events and develop strategies to meet national needs.
NCRM also runs a growing international network of research methods trainers, which has provided a unique forum for members to share best practice and contribute to NCRM pedagogy publications.
The establishment of several methodological special interest groups has created opportunities for researchers to run free public events on key topics within their fields, share knowledge and cascade this within their institutions.
NCRM’s Innovation Fora scheme, which provides funding for researchers to bring together experts and discuss cutting-edge new research methods, resulted in the creation of publications and videos on critical issues. These resources are freely available on the NCRM website. One project’s video series, on decolonial research methods, has received more than 24,000 views.
A benchmark for methods training excellence
The report concludes: "NCRM has fulfilled (and exceeded) its intended impact goals and leaves behind a strong foundation upon which future methods training providers can build.
“Its role in connecting, empowering, and inspiring a broad spectrum of researchers will continue to benefit the UK’s research and innovation landscape, ensuring that the high standards NCRM has established remain a benchmark for methods training excellence.”