Introduction to the White Rose
Social Sciences
Doctoral Training Centre
Susan Molyneux-Hodgson
Director, WRSSDTC
Welcome
WRSSDTC
• A collaboration between the Universities of
Leeds, Sheffield and York
• Encompasses all of the PGR social science
provision at these institutions
• One of the largest DTCs in the UK
• Part of a national network of 21 centres of
excellence funded by ESRC
• ESRC fund 48 studentships per annum across
23 research pathways
Our Vision
• Increase research capacity in the social sciences and
enhance doctoral training to meet the demands of
the contemporary knowledge economy
• Build on current strengths in
– qualitative and quantitative methodologies
– skills training provision
– international leadership in core social science
subject areas
• Develop our interdisciplinary strengths in key areas
The DTC Research Pathways
Politics and International
Relations
Sociology (inc. gender studies)
Education
Economics
Area Studies (inc. East
Management and Business
(inc. Finance, Work Psychology) Asian studies)
Human Geography
Psychology
Social Policy
Social History
Social Work
Planning
The DTC Research Pathways
International Development
Health & Wellbeing
Science and Technology Studies Socio-legal Studies
Environment & Sustainability
Linguistics & Language
Sciences
Communication and Media
Studies
Security, Conflict &
Justice
Challenges
• Developing a ‘whole social science’ approach
• Building ways to share training across sites
• Alignment of systems and practices across 3
leading research Universities
• This DTC is for all social science students &
supervisors
• Maximising the opportunities and enhancing
the experiences for all social scientists
Training and Resources
You can access training at your home institution,
at the other two White Rose universities, within
the UK network of 21 DTCs and via a national
methods service.
Designing your doctoral training
a) Complete a ‘needs analysis’
b) Select the best programme from the available
opportunities. Your training will probably include:• General social science training (philosophy; methods)
• Pathway and subject specific activities (events at home
or partner universities; subject modules at M-level)
• Cross-DTC activities e.g. conferences, summer schools
• Transferable skills training e.g. events on impact,
developing research grants, dissemination
On entry to doctoral study, the student will be
asked to discuss training needs with their
Supervisor and agree a training plan.
Training Needs Assessment: Year 1
Substantive
topic?
Data required and
sources?
Practical/ethical
issues raised?
Analysis of
datasets
Year2
Year 3
TNA1:
Methods to
secure data
TNA2:
managing
research
TNA3: Data
analysis skills
ESRC priority:
National Centre for Research Methods
Future activities:Faculty of Social Sciences Induction, University of Sheffield
Introduction to FSS programme, 9th October, ICoSS.
National Conference for First year ESRC students
8 February 2013 Central Hall, Westminster, London.
National Conference for Final year ESRC students
Hosted by WRDTC @ University of Sheffield, 24th April 2013.
WRSS DTC Methods Conference 7th May 2013, University of Leeds
To include talks on cutting-edge methodological issues, student
poster competition and student-led discussion panels.