Social science professionals, wherever they work, are increasingly expected to ground their practice and decision-making in evidence from research and evaluation. The DSocSc programme provides participants with opportunities to:

• Acquire competency as an autonomous researcher, able to undertake and interrogate research, and communicate its outcomes.
• Gain a deeper understanding of theoretical frameworks underpinning the social sciences and social policy and examine how these can bring insights to their own practice and organisation.
• Develop skills in qualitative and quantitative research design and methodologies in order to produce reliable primary data, and be able to analyse and critically evaluate both primary and secondary data.
• Identify the roles of research and evaluation within organisations and apply existing research findings to issues emerging in the workplace and other relevant contexts.
• Demonstrate intellectual and professional leadership through the use of research as a method of developing organisations and service provision.