Our impact mission statement

Researchers in the Department of Sociology have a strong, enduring, commitment to socially engaged research. We are focused on recognising and supporting the ways that our research can make a difference to the social world, big and small - building an 'impact sensibility' that allows us to see the connections between our research findings and practice, and the people for whom that research can make a difference.

Our research influences many realms of life: from the work of civil society organisations, to practices of public policy, to everyday interactions, and from local to international levels. Talking about ‘changing the world’ rather than ‘impact’ reflects our Departmental approach to taking our research beyond the walls of the university.

Throughout the research process, researchers in our Department engage with publics in a range of ways: from shaping research design through ongoing conversations with those affected by the issues we research, to working with policy makers to shape their practice, to sharing our developing ideas and findings with online communities, to face-to-face public seminars.

We are always happy to discuss ways that sociological research might help to influence the wider world beyond the university. If you would like to discuss ideas for collaborating on research within our areas of interest, or organise activity that might help you to engage with our existing research, you are welcome to contact the Department's Director of Impact, Dr Hannah Jones, in the first instance.