ESRC/WAG Studentship ‘Small Area Estimates of Of Social And Digital Exclusion’

We invite applications for a second externally funded collaborative studentship to start October 2008.

‘Developing And Refining Approaches To Estimating Small Area Social Indicators Of Social And Digital Exclusion’

This ESRC/Welsh Assembly Government funded Collaborative Governmental Studentship will be based in ISTR’s Technology and Social Change Research Centre (TaSC – http://istr.essex.ac.uk/tasc/) and will provide an opportunity to carry out research and training in a three-year programme leading to a PhD.

http://www.postgraduatestudentships.co.uk/node/3235

Deadline = 31st July 08

Academic Supervisors:
Dr Ben Anderson and Dr Paul Stoneman

Project Details:

There has been considerable recent interest in the estimation of non-census variables at the small area level using a range of approaches that go under the term ’spatial microsimulation’. These have been driven by an agenda that assumes that ‘Governments need to predict the outcomes of their actions and produce forecasts at the local level.’ (Openshaw 1995). This agenda requires the creation of datasets which measure the attributes of individuals, households or other micro-data units (such as firms) and which generate a synthetic census made up of these units to produce robust estimates of these attributes at the small area level.

Recent work conducted by TaSC and funded by the Welsh Assembly Government has adapted these techniques to the estimation of small area levels of income deprivation and child poverty. These preliminary studies have demonstrated the potential value of this approach not only to the estimation of small area social indicators but also to the estimation of within-area inequalities and to the modeling of the spatial effects of potential policy interventions.

The main objectives of this studentship are to:
• develop improved and/or novel methods for spatially microsimulating income and deprivation indices and
• apply these developments to the estimation of small area indicators of a) consumption poverty and b) digital exclusion with a focus on within as well as cross-area measures

In addition to the research programme the studentship will involve periods of secondment to the WAG in each of the three years of study. Although pursuing their own research agenda the student will be expected to work closely with and contribute to the research team and the programme in which they will be embedded.

This studentship would suit a quantitative Social Geographer or Social Scientist with an interest in modeling spatial distributions of social outcomes. Applicants must have evidence of suitable research training before starting this ‘+3’ mode studentship. Normally this would be in the form of a suitable (e.g. ESRC recognised) Masters degree with a strong research training element.

Applications are therefore invited from graduates with a first or upper second class degree AND who have or are expecting to achieve a Masters level qualification (or equivalent) in a demonstrably relevant discipline.

Desirable experience, skills and attributes would also include one or more of the following:
• The ability to engage with non-academic researchers
• The ability to work as part of a collaborative team
• An interest in the relationship between social and technological change

The studentship offers funding for a period of 3 years for research towards a PhD starting on 1st October 2008. The studentship covers fees, research expenses and a tax-free living allowance which includes an additional payment of £2,000 per annum over and above the standard RCUK stipend.

To apply please email a CV and covering letter (both in pdf format) to Dr Ben Anderson (benander@essex.ac.uk).