SPA Publications
Journal of Social Policy
The Journal of Social Policy carries high quality articles on all aspects of social policy in an international context. It places particular emphasis upon articles which seek to contribute to debates on the future direction of social policy, to present new empirical data, to advance theories, or to analyse issues in the making and implementation of social policies.
Social Policy Digest
An online resource, the Social Policy Digest was launched in 2003 and provides a regularly up-dated, fully searchable summary of policy developments and research findings across the whole range of social policy. The Digest is designed as a key resource for all those working in UK social policy: policymakers, researchers, teachers and students, campaigners, journalists, and practitioners. It provides an easily accessible listing of new developments across the whole social policy field and RSS and Atom feeds can bring breaking developments straight to your inbox.
Social Policy and Society
Social Policy and Society is an international academic journal sponsored by the UK Social Policy Association. The journal welcomes stimulating original articles that draw upon contemporary policy-related research and associated developments in the social sciences. Each issue contains peer reviewed articles reflecting topical debates and issues within social policy and uniquely, a themed section, edited by a Guest Editor(s). Every themed section includes an introductory piece, a set of peer reviewed articles, a selected review of the key literature, plus a guide to key sources in the area.
Social Policy Review
The Social Policy Review is an edited collection of papers examining current developments and debates in social policy. It is produced once a year and published by the Policy Press. SPA members receive a free copy as part of their membership package. Full information on the current volume and recent back issues can be found on the Policy Press website along with an online ordering facility.
Policy World
Policy World, the SPA's newsletter and magazine, is published three times per year. Each edition carries a themed section focussing on a topical social policy issue as well as debates, event announcements and reviews, and new publications. Back copies of Policy World are available free of charge online on the Policy World pages of the site.
Understanding Welfare Series
This bestselling series presents topical and innovative approaches to understanding social issues, policies and welfare delivery from leading experts. Accessible and student friendly, each includes chapter-specific summaries, questions for discussion, illustrative boxes and diagrams to help understanding and full bibliographies. Each book is Social Policy Subject Benchmark compliant, and with an attractive series design this collection builds into a library of essential reading for students.
One-off SPA Publications
In Defence of Welfare
In Defence of Welfare was published in early 2011 and brings together responses from social policy experts to a range of different aspects of the Coalition government's planned reforms of - and cuts to - to welfare provision.
SPA Guidelines on Research Ethics
The purpose of these Guidelines on Research Ethics is to provide a framework to help members of the Social Policy Association (SPA) identify and address the different kinds of ethical issues which may arise in the conduct of social policy research. They do not replace the need to engage in dialogue, training and debate around research ethics; nor the need to seek formal approval from an appropriate Research Ethics Committee.
Defining research quality in social policy
Defining 'Quality' in Social Policy Research: Views, perceptions and a framework for discussion by Saul Becker, Alan Bryman and Joe Sempik. This report presents the findings from an innovative mixed methods study of over 250 social policy researchers and users of research and how they conceptualise 'quality' in social policy research and how they judge the quality of published research texts.
Experiences of REF Impact Pilots
The Higher Education Funding Councils have proposed that the impact of research should form part of the forthcoming Research Excellence Framework (REF). Because the assessment of research impact is a new endeavour, the approach and methodology have been piloted by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), in four subject areas. Social Policy and Social Work (SPSW) is one of these four areas. Eleven universities were involved in the SPSW research impact pilots. The Social Policy Association (SPA) and the Joint University Council Social Work Education Committee (JUC-SWEC) organised a seminar to share experiences of the pilot and the challenges this raised.
Discussion document: SPSW-Sociology REF panel?
SPA has been asked by the British Sociological Association to consider whether it would support a single, merged Panel in the forthcoming Research Excellence Framework. In November 2009, SPA consulted members on this through the social-policy email list; and also sought the views of the 2008 RAE Social Administration, Social Policy and Social Work Panel. On the basis of this consultation, SPA sent the following letter to HEFCE in December 2009 setting out SPA's position.
Minutes of SPA Executive meetings
Annual financial accounts of the SPA
SPA financial accounts year ending 2009
SPA Financial Accounts 2009. This document shows the Social Policy Association financial accounts for the year ending 2009 as presented at the SPA AGM 2010 in Lincoln.
SPA financial accounts year ending 2008
SPA Financial Accounts 2008. This document shows the Social Policy Association financial accounts for the year ending 2008 as presented at the SPA AGM 2009 in Edinburgh.
