Social Sciences research at the University of Sunderland is delivered primarily through the Centre for Applied Social Science (CASS). CASS creates a space to develop new ideas and collaborations both within and beyond academia. Research in the Social Sciences focuses on making a positive difference to the lives of people and communities in the region, across the UK and around the world. CASS unites academics from across the social sciences and its research mission is to engage in research and practice-based collaborations that aim to:
- Address inequalities and social exclusion
- Promote social and criminal justice
- Contribute to policy, practice, and service development
Social Sciences research at Sunderland comprises staff who are primarily from the School of Social Sciences, but also includes members from other Faculties. We carry out applied and practice-based research in diverse areas including health and social care, education, community and youth work, social work, and criminal justice. Our researchers use a wide variety of approaches and methodologies, including participatory research, feminist and trauma informed methodologies, creative and arts-based approaches, ethnography, discourse analysis, and statistical analysis. We focus on social issues affecting the region and beyond and carry out pioneering research concerning:
- Violence and abuse across the life course
- Place, space, and wellbeing
- Offender rehabilitation, desistance, and risk management
- Children, young people, and families, including child protection
- Adult social work, including safeguarding policy and practice
- Creative, critical, and sustainable pedagogies
Social Science academics also contribute to the University’s research culture as staff are core members of cross-faculty research networks such as SUNGEN (University of Sunderland Gender Network), DISCRIM (Vulnerability and Criminal Justice Research Network) and RaCE (Race, Class and Ethnicity interdisciplinary research network).
As members of this research group are interdisciplinary social scientists, they typically have disciplinary associations to Criminology, Childhood Studies, Social Work, Sociology, Health and Social Care, and Youth Work.
For more information about CASS please contact our co-convenors: Dr Nicola Roberts (nicola.roberts@sunderland.ac.uk) and Dr Lesley Deacon (lesley.deacon@sunderland.ac.uk).