Maximising the Impact
of Social Science
Research
Research Methods
Festival 2010, Oxford
Nissa.Finney@manchester.ac.uk
Ludi.Simpson@manchester.ac.uk
• Present the evidence on population change and
segregation, and in doing so challenge popular
(mis)conceptions.
• Provide a text that was academically rigorous yet
accessible, and therefore appropriate to academic
and non-academic audiences.
• Ultimately to change the focus of debate on race
and migration away from a pre-occupation with
ethnic conflict.
a positive message based on evidence of more
mixing not segregation
expertise
new insights
FIRM
FOUNDATIONS
collaboration
predisposed
audiences
timing
Challenging the myth that ‘Britain
takes too many immigrants’
Challenging the myth that ‘So
many minorities cannot be
integrated’
Challenging the myth that
‘Minorities do not want to
integrate’
Challenging the myth that ‘Britain
is becoming a country of ghettos’
Challenging the myth of
‘Minority White Cities’
“The authors of this book are
on a mission.”
Ted Cantle (2009)
Journal of Social Policy
Are poor, ‘ethnic' areas cages?
(Globe and Mail)
Setting the record straight on immigration
myths which divide us (Daily Mail Online)
Exposing myths of a segregated Britain
(Socialist Worker)
'Myths' threaten racial harmony, say
population experts (Asian News)
Ask these people to go and live in the Bastwell area of Blackburn,
or in the Stoneyholme area of Burnley….Is there any point in
taxpayers paying for the education of these people? (Tony
Wales, Nelson, Lancashire Telegraph Blog, 22 Jan 2009)
I doubt whether either of these cloistered academics have walked
down Manningham Road, Bradford, Audley Range, Blackburn or
the heart of Leicester (the first city to exceed 50% ethnic
population) after dark any night.…Simpson and Finney, you are
naive in the extreme…but you are probably writing to satisfy
your government paymasters, who need the immigrant vote to
keep them in power, they are traitors to this country. (Political
Watch, Darwen, Lancashire Telegraph Blog, 22 Jan 2009)
what a lying typical
left wing gormless looking marxists you are ludi simpson
and dr nissa finney with your typical there are
no asian ghettos in lancashire, then you used the word white
ghettos as if these areas have not been white for
centurys before any immigrants arrived in lancashire, what a
typical middle class so called academic idiots you are….
(Peter from Lancashire, by email, Feb 2009)
http://mcincrisis.podomatic.com/
I just wanted to drop a quick line in appreciation of
your book, which is much needed and hits the
spot admirably. I don't know how many copies I
can persuade the library to buy but it will be on
several courses' reading lists.
(Professor Chris Gaine, University of Chichester,
3rd March 2009)
It tells a good clear tale and sends an important
message… I am busy recommending the book to
all and sundry.
(Professor, University of Oxford, 4th Feb 2009)
“[a] carefully constructed debunking of the
statistical evidence marshalled by British
opinion leaders in support of antiimmigrant ideology”
Fabos, 2010
Journal of Ethnic and Racial Studies
www.ccsr.ac.uk/research/mrpd/RaceMigBook.html
Just dropping you a line to say how much
I’m enjoying your book ‘Sleepwalking to
Segregation?’ It’s an excellent book and
the concise ‘mythbusters’ section in the
back is also really useful! …. many thanks
for your work which has been very helpful.
David
North of England Refugee Service
Do we think the book has fulfilled its purpose?
Yes Debate has moved on from preoccupations
with ghettos and segregation.
Yes The book seems to have reached a broad
audience and people have been stimulated by it.
Yes The style and form of the book seem to have
worked as intended.
No The myths persist, albeit not so easily among
senior policy and research staff.
What we’d do again
What we’d do differently
• Ensure a strong story and • Lay more foundations for
promotion including a debate
appropriate timing
with the myth makers
• Ensure rigorous analysis • Allocate more time and
that can sustain scrutiny
resources to promoting the
book
• Think carefully about how
• Make promotion of the book
to present the material
part of early discussions with
• Get feedback
the (potential) publisher
• Provide a summary
chapter
• Work closely with media
experts