SSRG Newsletter - March 2002: Regard: ESRC Social Science Research at your fingertips

What is Regard?

Regard is the web database of the Economic Social Research Council (ESRC). It is freely available to all at : http://www.regard.ac.uk Regard helps you locate and explore social science research funded by the ESRC.

Regard contains information on:

• Research projects (dates, summaries and so on)
• Publications and outputs (authors, titles, publishers and so on)
• Research finding reports (comprehensive, full text reports to download for the latest research)

The service is very easy and intuitive to use; simply enter your key words or phrases and see the results.

What is the value of this information?

Research information such as that freely available via Regard is valuable in supporting evidence-based practice in at least three ways.

Firstly, there is a real need to understand not only whether an intervention works, but also how it works. Rigorous academic research is certainly one relevant source of information on this. Secondly, researchers and practitioners need some way to overcome information overload. Using a database like Regard should both help those reviewing existing research, and prevent unnecessary new research from being undertaken. Thirdly, it is increasingly important to cross the boundaries between practice, management, policy and research. By making academic research freely and publicly available, Regard contributing to this process.

What is the use of this information?

Although valuable, research information will not be deployed unless it is also useful to those working with it. Again, it is possible to identify at least three ways in which research information, such as that on Regard is useful.

Firstly, change can be a difficult process to implement, and evidence from independent academic research can be a vital tool in overcoming resistance among both practitioners and managers. Secondly, and relatedly, individual champions are an important driver for change, and their effectiveness is enhanced if they have access to evidence such as that on Regard. Finally, research findings affect change by influencing the climate in which decisions are made, as well as influencing the decisions themselves.

Regard

Regard is freely available and gives you access to details of independent academic research funded by the ESRC. Use it at: www.regard.ac.uk

You can contact Regard at:
Institute for Learning and Research Technology (ILRT),
University of Bristol,
8-10 Berkeley Square
BRISTOL
BS8 1HH

Telephone: Regard (0117) 928 7194
Email: regard@bristol.ac.uk or neil.jacobs@bristol.ac.uk