New series on the nature of community

Nice quick one today, but thought this was worth sharing.

A three part series begins on Monday looking at what the notion of 'community' actually still means.

All the details are here.

Major new report from UoB on gang-related sexual violence

Two days ago a report, two years in the writing, was released on gang-related sexual violence in England. It was commissioned by the Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCC) and written by researchers working at UoB. I think it's one of the hardest hitting things I've ever read whilst I've done this job, but I'm proud to say that I work for the institution that produced it.

It details both the depth and breadth of sexual abuse that is perpetrated against young girls within the world of gang culture, featuring many hours of interviews with both victims and perpetrators. UoB reported the findings like this.

In addition there was a special report on Newsnight which is currently available on iplayer. The item (which begins 16 minutes into the show and runs for 17 minutes in total) will be accessible for another 5 days. I should also add that it includes strong descriptions of sexual and violent acts.

The full report, which is called "It's wrong...but you get used to it", is available here.

Finally, there are four films made by young people to accompany the report and they're available here.

If you have any questions at all about the research carried out then please do ask.

New report on the future of the police in the UK

Firstly, thanks to all you first years who've tolerated me showing you new things very quickly in the last few days. It'll all start to make sense soon I hope.

This post is of relevance to any of you studying criminology or law related subjects. Yesterday the Independent Police commission published the most wide ranging and in depth report on the future of policing in 50 years.

The full thing is over 200 pages long and if you're feeling brave you can find it here. Alternatively, the highlights were covered yesterday by the BBC, along with an interview from Lord Stevens who wrote the thing.

If you'd like help with how to reference something like this then feel free to email me.

My last ever post about referencing

Today has gone something like this;

Student 1: Can I reference videos?
Me: Yes.

Student 2: Am I allowed to reference websites?
Me: Yes.

Student 3: Are we allowed to reference TV progra...?
Me: YES.

Student 4: Can I...?
Me: Almost certainly.

So. Just to make this absolutely clear to all students reading this. That basically means both of you. And possibly Deena.

You. Can. Reference. Absolutely. Anything.

You really can. I once referenced Yoda from Star Wars in a social psychology assignment-got an A too. Not that I'm suggesting you can get an A purely from quoting puppets. You'll probably need some books and journals at some point, but there's genuinely nothing wrong with mixing things up a little as long as what you include is making a relevant point; YouTube, radio shows, newspapers, TV shows, emails, phone conversations, tweets, blogs and podcasts can be referenced. All you need is the correct format for each type of reference and the easiest way to find that out is to either use the library referencing guide, or get yourself a copy of this.

The key point here, as always, is to read widely from every relevant source you can find and if you do that and reference it correctly, then you'll produce good work.

Whose job is it to block images of online child abuse?

On Monday the story broke that Google and Microsoft are now actively blocking certain words and phrases from their search results. Although details of the exact words haven't been shared it's said to be as many as 100, 000 individual terms.

This led to further debates about what should happen next, the lengths that search engines should go to in preventing images from being found and some scepticism about whether the technology will even work.

The BBC reported the story like this, although the Daily Mail took a different approach and reported the story as a victory for...the Daily Mail. Personally, I think this 'victory' would probably carry more weight if they didn't carry so many non-stories about minor female celebrities turning 16.

The debate about whether the steps taken by Google and Microsoft will actually make any practical difference really begins now.

The Moral Maze this week

Just a quick plug for this week's Moral Maze which looked at foreign aid, charity appeals and whether it's better to 'look after our own'. This is a timely debate with relation to Children in Need and the current situation in the Philippines.

The show will only be available to hear via i-player for a week, but you can always download it as a podcast.

Click here to listen to it.

I am clearly rubbish at everything

When I got to work today I had a few things I wanted to achieve.
None of them were particularly difficult.
Admittedly some of the things I wanted to do I hadn't done before, but...you know what... I've been doing new things for ages now so I thought I'd be fine.

Turns out I was wrong.

I achieved precisely sod all due to a combination of technological breakdown, bad luck and my own sweet incompetence. So I reacted like any normal person would by deciding I was rubbish. Rubbish at everything. Forever.

Even buying chocolate didn't help.

Right before I finished work tonight I had another go. I was still rubbish at what I was trying to do but very slightly not as rubbish as earlier.

So here's the message of encouragement dear student. We all have days where nothing (including, seemingly our own befuddled mind) works.

Keep at it-tomorrow will be better.

Bias, prejudice, angle, theoretical approach or slant?

I have a list of personal biases and prejudices a yard long (anyone who calls football 'footie' can go straight to the top of the list for a start), but acknowledging and addressing bias in published research is a more serious issue.

Sometimes when I'm trying to explain concepts like evidence based practice or the nature of academic writing then I invent examples. Other times real world examples of an issue land in my lap and they're so perfect that all I have to do is pass it on. So here's an example of the thorny issue of subjectivity (bias?) and academic report writing.

A report was published this week by the Centre for Research and  Analysis of Migration (CReAM). If you want to read it, it's here. It's an investigation of whether immigrants are a financial drain on society or good for the economy.That's somewhat simplistic (false binary opposition social work first years?!?), but hopefully you take my point. It broadly decided that immigration was a positive economic factor. So far, so unremarkable.

However, on the same day Migration Watch (whose website is here) commented on the CReAM report as well as the new Office for National Statistics report on population (which you can read here) and recommended immediate curbs on immigration. Admittedly Migration Watch do say this sort of thing a lot, but it really struck me this time due to the timing of both statements.
Almost as if it was deliberate.

Or is that just the bias of a Guardian-reading, soft arsed liberal shining brightly?

Last night's Panorama programme on child protection

The BBC broadcast a TV programme last night looking at possible changes to the law in relation to child sexual abuse. I must admit I thought it was already illegal to not report suspected abuse, but this isn't the case.

It's available for another 6 days from here.

If, after watching it, you'd like to reference it for assignments then contact me and I'll explain how to do it.

First workshop of the year.

This is just a reminder that I'll be in TR1 from 2pm until 3pm this Wednesday 6th November to take questions/offer advice on anything you're having problems with regarding research.

The session is open to all courses and all years.

I'm not expecting 300 of you to turn up so hopefully we'll have room for everybody, but my advice is get there early as I will have to shut the doors if the numbers become unmanageable. That is unlikely, but I thought I'd better mention it.