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CIAO DATE: 12/99
Background to the INCORE/CCRU seminar on Research in a Divided Society, Malone House, BELFAST
Seminar on Research in a Divided Society
October 22, 1997
INCORE and CCRU (Central Community Relations Unit) held a seminar on “Research in a Divided Society” in Belfast on 22 October 1997. The seminar, which was open to invited guests only, focused on the connection between research and policy-making and was attended by 60-70 senior policy-makers from government and NGOs as well as academics.
The premise for the seminar was that there is probably more research with public policy implications being carried out in Northern Ireland at the moment that at any time in the past. It has been argued that this research has had little impact on the framing and implementation of policy.
The late John Whyte posed the question “Is research on the Northern Ireland problem worth while?” in his 1983 Professorial lecture. 1 This question, and many of the points which he raised in his lecture, are still relevant today. Professor Whyte noted that “The point has now been reached where, in proportion to its population, there may well be as much research available in Northern Ireland as on any other part of the world...Yet when one asks ‘what difference has this mountain of research made?’, the answer must be ‘discouragingly little.’ Our problems are not solved. Peace has not returned. The economy is in worse shape than for many years. People are more divided than they ever have been before. And there is no end in sight.” 2
John Whyte’s advice for researchers who hoped to influence policy was, “...do not expect too much. It is not certain that you will even be listened to by anyone with power; and if you are, it is uncertain whether what you have to say will be of much help to him. By all means go ahead - you may be the lucky exception. But do not count on it. You could be well advised to have some other motivation to keep you going, in case this one fails.” 3
The seminar had four sessions, each of which concentrated on a different aspect of research and policy-making. Session one, “Shaping the Research Agenda”, examined what motivates a funding body to commission research, what funders actually want from researchers and their frustration at what is sometimes on offer. Session two, “Resourcing Research”, examined funding issues such as reactions to unsolicited approaches.
Session three, “The Conduct of Research”, concentrated on methodological issues and drew from the experiences of two researchers who had worked in Northern Ireland and Israel/Palestine. Session four, “Making Research matter”, concentrated on the effectiveness of research, its use and dissemination after completion and how it can be made more effective.
Four of the papers presented at the seminar are available on the INCORE website.
Endnotes
Note 1: J.H. Whyte, “Is Research on the Northern Ireland Problem Worth While?” An Inaugural Lecture delivered before the Queen’s University of Belfast, 18 January 1983. [INCORE is grateful to Dr. Jean Whyte for permission to quote from this lecture]. Back.
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