Press coverage from previous years
SIRC in the News
Press coverage from 2009
- Telegraph — 08.12.2009.
Copenhagen: Will the "warmest decade on record" silence the pub bore? The final bolt hole of the warmist is the precuationary principle. We must do something drastic, just in case. This is utter nonsense. The Social Issues Research Centre puts it best: "In one sense, the precautionary principle might have some utility. If we apply the precautionary principle to itself — ask what are the possible dangers of using this principle — we would be forced to abandon it very quickly."
- Independent — 06.12.2009.
Class is the river that runs right through the English soul. Class is the deepest river that runs through the English soul. Roger Scruton points out in his book England: an Elegy that "class in England is the primary social fact". Jeremy Paxman in The English points out that the "English are obsessed by class". The social anthropologist Kate Fox says in her book Watching the English that in England "everything is touched by class". Furthermore, despite all the "enrichment" of the pre-2007 years, people have a sense of themselves as working class at heart.
- Nursery World — 25.11.2009.
A closer look at nanny workforce. As regulations tighten on anyone in contact with young children, a new profile of nannies shows why they count too ... It didn't win many news headlines, but the Children's Workforce Development Council last month achieved the feat of counting the uncountable. The composition, needs and aspirations of the nanny workforce in England, its report of a year's research commissioned from the Social Issues Research Centre (SIRC), put a new figure on the number of nannies working in the country, as well showing as a clearer profile of nannies by age, education, qualifications and other demographic factors than anyone has done yet.
- Observer — 04.10.2009.
Middle-class life and debt, even on a good salary. Last week the Bank of England published figures which indicate that we have indeed learned a lesson in prudence: the proportion of Britain's national income that was saved jumped to 5.6% in the second quarter of the year, the highest since 1993. And nine out of 10 Britons believe they will retain some of the financial habits they've adopted after the economy recovers, according to research commissioned by Friends Provident. However, the many people who claim they are changing their behaviour is in stark contrast to those who took on board the lessons of the last recession. Research by the Social Issues Research Centre shows that 49% of UK adults who remember a previous recession feel their past experiences have not helped them to cope better this time round.
- Welsh Local Government Association — 14.09.2009.
Older People and Ageing Bulletin — Recession Generation (Social Issues Research Centre). It is clear that people — even those unaffected directly — are worried, especially about their future financial security. But are there some positive lessons to be learnt that will not only help us to survive financially over the next one, two, three or more years that the recession and its after effects are expected to last but put us, perhaps, in better stead for the future when the economy has improved? Do we have a younger generation, experiencing recession for the first time in their lives, who may be strengthened by their current experiences? - Examiner (US) — 08.09.2009.
Complications of female platonic relationships and research that posits best friends are unlikely. Dubbed "emotional creatures" or "catty", women share a common confidence which is drastically different from that of men. According to a study by Social Issues Research Centre (SIRC), the three factors that determine close friends for women are the following ... - Irish Examiner — 08.08.2009.
Psychological recession divides UK generations. Young people in Britain are less gloomy about the recession than their parents appear to be, according to a report published today. A generational divide has emerged, with 18 to 25-year-olds proving better at shrugging off the economic downturn, research shows. Despite many British school and university-leavers in this age group facing unemployment, they were found to be the least worried and least depressed about the impact of the recession. Meanwhile, their parents are in the grip of a "psychological recession", concluded the Generation Recession Report, which was commissioned by pensions company Friends Provident and undertaken by the Social Issues Research Centre. - Cambridge News — 08.08.2009.
A giant leap out of the ordinary! Risk-taking, danger and an uncertain outcome are concepts often associated with the term "adventure" — which some are more than happy to avoid it seems. Research conducted by the Social Issues Research Centre for The National Lottery found that 56 per cent of people in the East of England had not tried a new activity for a year or longer — compared to a national figure of 48 per cent. - What Investment — 08.08.2009.
Recession prompts rise of financial rationality. The downturn has prompted UK adults to get a grip on their day-to-day finances, as well as giving serious thought to their savings and pensions, finds Friends Provident. The Generation Recession Report, commissioned by Friends Provident and carried out by the Social Issues Research Centre, claims that the recession has come as a wake-up call for many, as people recognise that their lifestyles cannot be maintained permanently without greater financial security. - Mail on Sunday — 05.08.2009.
Life passing you by? You're not alone as half of Britons admit they are stuck in a rut ... Half of Britons are so stressed out and fed up with the effects of the credit crunch they haven't taken on a fresh challenge for at least a year ... More than a third of those polled by the Oxford-based Social Issues Research Centre wished for a bit of variety to spice up their otherwise hum-drum lives. The survey found financial worries, family responsibilities and the fundamental fear of looking silly are stopping millions from making the most of life's opportunities. Dr Peter Marsh, the centre's co-director, said: "We British are a pretty unadventurous lot. Most of us are locked inside routine lives - we resist change and as a result let opportunities in all parts of our lives simply slip by." - Telegraph — 05.08.2009.
British are unadventurous. Fear of looking silly and the potential negative impact on family life were amongst the reasons given for the lack of adventure. One in six could not remember when or what the last new activity they tried was, found the research for The National Lottery. This is despite a third admitting they wanted more variety in their lives. The research, conducted by the Social Issues Research Centre, found around half of those questioned had not tried a new activity for a year or longer. It also explored why people were held back from making the most of opportunities presented. - Scotsman — 05.08.2009.
Brits knock back opportunities. A sudy has today exposed Britons as being deeply unadventurous. Research for the National Lottery found that 48 per cent of those questioned had not tried a new activity for a year or longer and 17 per cent said they couldn't even remember when or what it was. This is despite 34 per cent of those quizzed admitting they wanted more variety in life. The research, conducted by the Social Issues Research Centre, also explored why people were held back from making the most of opportunities presented. Top of the list was financial concerns. - BBC — 13.07.2009.
Are you making the most of life? Financial worries, family responsibilities and the fear of looking silly make people less willing to take chances in their lives. Are you making the most of life? Research carried out for the National Lottery found that 48% of people questioned had not tried a new activity for at least a year. For 17% it had been so long since they tried something new they could recall what it was ... Read the full report on the Social Issues Research Centre website. - Telegraph — 13.07.2009.
Macho behaviour means higher insurance premiums Men's "Stone Age" behaviour behind the wheel could be costing them more when they insure their car, according to a new report ... The link between driving aggression and Stone Age survival traits was first made by the Oxford-based Social Issues Research Centre report, Sex Differences in Driving and Insurance Risk. - Cumberland News — 07.06.2009.
When is a woman too old to flirt? Flirting is much more than just a spot of fun. It is a universal and essential aspect of human interaction — or so says the Social Issues Research Centre, which sounds important enough to know. Anthropological research shows flirting is to be found, in some form, in all cultures and societies … The SIRC … argues the large human brain — our superior intelligence, everything that distinguishes us from animals — is the equivalent of the peacock's tail: a courtship device evolved to attract and retain partners. - Libero — 07.06.2009.
I pericoli della moda: dall'anoressia al culto dell'esteriore.
Chi dà troppa importanza alla moda rischia di preoccuparsi in modo eccessivo del proprio aspetto. Le modelle di solito sono alte e magre, e veniamo continuamente bombardati dalle loro immagini. Il fisico "giusto" è usato per vendere di tutto, dalle macchine alle caramelle. Un centro di ricerche inglese (Social Issues Research Centre) ritiene che "in un solo giorno le ragazze di oggi vedono piú immagini di donne bellissime di quante ne vedevano le loro madri in tutto il periodo dell'adolescenza". - Gazet van Antwerpen — 25.05.2009.
Nederlandse mannen verkiezen voetbal boven seks. Twee derde van de voetbalfans in Nederland zou een voetbalmatch verkiezen boven een vrijpartij. Dat blijkt uit een onderzoek van het Engelse Social Issues Research Centre (SIRC). In zeventien Europese lander werd op vraag van Canon, sponsor van het Europees kampioenschap, aan tweeduizend supporters gevraagd of ze voetbal boven seks verkiezen. In Zweden kozen de supporters resoluut voor seks, in Nederland kiest meer dan zestig procent voor het voetbal. 73 procent van alle deelnemende supporters gaf toe wel eens een wildvreemde kussen of omhelzen bij een voetbalwedstrijd.
- Driving — 15.05.2009.
Is there a reason he won't ask for directions? Estrogen actually makes women safer drivers, because it influences brain structures stimulated by focused attention and rule learning, says a study at Bradford University in the United Kingdom. As a result, women have fewer accidents and traffic violations: a 2004 meta-analysis of gender research by the U.K.-based Social Issues Research Centre found that, internationally, men not only drive faster, they incur the lion's share of driving offences, get into more accidents and are more likely to overestimate their driving ability. "In terms of driving behaviour, the differences can be seen clearly in the greater propensity of males to take risks, exhibit aggression and seek thrilling sensations," the study's authors wrote.
- BBC Magazine — 04.05.2009.
Sun, sea, spade, maypole, cheese rolling? Peter Marsh, the co-director of social research think tank the Social Issues Research Centre, says bank holiday behaviour has been tempered by economic prospects. Not so long ago, it wouldn't have been unusual for people to zip off to Bruges, Barcelona or Biarritz to spend the three-day weekend. Now, as people tighten their belts, we're more likely to spend our time at the local DIY superstore, he says. - Kenosha News — 03.05.2009.
Women keep conversation moving with tag questions. I was doing some research recently on the topic of female friendships for a women's group I facilitate, and I found one study from the Social Issues Research Centre in the United Kingdom to be particularly interesting. The research was commissioned by Diet Coke and the report is entitled "Girl Talk, The new rules of female friendship and communication" (www.sirc.org) I learned some interesting new facts. - Daily Mail — 27.04.2009.
Harman's crazy class war law will make us ALL poorer. Interviewed on the Radio 4 Today programme Harriet Harman talked about equality and opportunity as if they were the same thing. For the BBC the idea that economic equality, egalitarianism is a good thing was taken as a given ... The Harman interview was preceded by two academics — Professor Danny Dorling from Sheffield University and Dr Peter Marsh from the Social issues Research Centre — both banging the class war drum and lamenting that the Government wasn't going far enough with its proposed new meddling. - Mind Hacks — 09.04.2009.
What are we celebrating? I've just re-read the fantastic Social Issues Research Centre article on social and cultural aspects of drinking and it has an amusing section illustrating the difference between British and French drinking cultures which helps to explain why the British have a reputation for drunkenness when they visit the continent. - Daily Mail — 04.03.2009.
Food for guilt: How our children are being served large helpings of nutritional jargon at school. This obsession with our children's waistlines is deemed necessary to stem that much vaunted ‘obesity epidemic’. But it could have quite the opposite effect, confusing children into a lifetime of bad eating habits. "A lot of so-called health professionals' advice is wrong, misguided or inappropriate," says Dr Peter Marsh, co-director of The Social Issues Research Centre, an independent lifestyle think-tank. "The impact of the coercion and pressure put on children, of constantly telling them that food is dangerous, has been shown to have a counter effect: distorting their relationship with food and encouraging over or under-eating." - Adam Smith Institute — 02.03.2009.
Optimists and pessimists.I have long thought that mainstream environmentalism is essentially a belief system for pessimists. In their eyes, we are on a downward path from some idealised golden age, and things can only get worse ... Now the Social Issues Research [Centre] has published a report which suggests that, as a nation, Brits are more optimistic than we might believe. But, being Brits, we are very self-effacing about this and don't really want to admit it. Nevertheless, in my (optimistic) view, this seems to confirm my feeling that the majority of people worry less about the big environmental issues than does a vocal and influential cadre of pessimists. - Independent on Sunday — 01.03.2009.
Blame it on the culture. According to a survey whose results appeared in Wednesday's papers, three-quarters of Britons consider themselves to be optimists. Of the 2,000 adults questioned by the Social Issues Research Centre for the National Lottery, 58 per cent said that a positive outlook is contagious, and a further 52 per cent found optimists more attractive than pessimists, a category in which only 6 per cent believed themselves to reside. - Intute — 27.02.2009.
Do you feel lucky? Is Britain a nation of optimists or pessimists - a new report may surprise you - but that obviously depends on your point of view! The report presents the first findings of research conducted by the Social Issues Research Centre (SIRC) into the nature of optimism in 21st century Britain. A few choice snippets from the Executive Summary … - The Age — 27.02.2009.
Science finds cause to feel good. While many of us might be genetically disposed to be like grouchy Victor Meldrew of the sitcom One Foot in the Grave, most of us do not see ourselves that way, it appears. Separate research from the Social Issues Research Centre published this week suggested that three-quarters of Britons consider themselves optimists. - Investor's Business Daily — 27.02.2009.
Bleak Future for Parents if 'Bungee Brood' Keeps Bouncing Back for More Cash. Parents could be facing a bleak future, owing to the rise of the 'bungee brood' a generation of young adults who may never sever their links to the parental purse strings, according to a new report released today from Child Trust Fund provider The Children's Mutual (http://www.thechildrensmutual.co.uk/) and the Social Issues Research Centre (SIRC). The study has identified a new generation which considers itself 'financially independent' while still accepting parental subsidies for everything from day-to-day living costs to house deposits. - Denver Post — 25.02.2009.
Good smell, bad smell. Humans have about 5 million to 6 million olfactory receptors, compared with 220 million in dogs and 100 million in rabbits, according to The Smell Report, published by the Social Issues Research Centre, a U.K.-based nonprofit social research organization. While the human ability pales in comparison, it still plays an important role, affecting more than a person's nose. - Scotsman — 25.02.2009.
Country has a good outlook. Three quarters of Britons consider themselves optimists.
More than 2,000 adults were asked about their views on life in a survey carried out by the Social Issues Research Centre. And 58 per cent of them said a positive outlook is contagious and being around optimistic people made them feel better about their own lives. A sunny outlook on life can also make you more attractive to the opposite sex, according to the survey. - Marie Claire — 25.02.2009.
Gene found that makes you happy or sad. Meanwhile three-quarters of Britons consider themselves optimists, according to a new report. More than 2,000 adults were asked about their views on life in a survey carried out by the Social Issues Research Centre (SIRC). A sunny outlook on life can also make you more attractive to the opposite sex with 52% of those polled saying they found optimists more attractive than pessimists. Dr Peter Marsh, co-director of SIRC, said: "The image of the British as a rather miserable race contrasts with our findings, showing the majority of Brits have a distinctively upbeat and optimistic outlook on life." - Telegraph — 25.02.2009.
Looking on the bright side of life. More than 2,000 adults were asked about their views on life in a survey carried out by the Social Issues Research Centre (SIRC). And nearly two-thirds (58 per cent) of them said a positive outlook is contagious and being around optimistic people made them feel better about their own lives. A sunny outlook on life can also make you more attractive to the opposite sex with 52 per cent of those polled saying they found optimists more attractive than pessimists. The research, conducted on behalf of The National Lottery, found three-quarters of those polled considered themselves generally optimistic, with only 6 per cent describing themselves as pessimistic. - Money Extra — 24.02.2009.
Report warns of major change to family finances. Young adults in the UK are depending on their parents for financial support - and putting the older generation's finances under strain.
A new report from The Children's Mutual and the Social Issues Research Centre (SIRC) found that four in ten 18 to 25-year-olds have at least some of their essential costs covered by their parents. - London Stock Exchange — 24.02.2009.
'Bungee broods' overstretching parental finances. The rise of the 'bungee brood' generation could have a negative effect on their parents' finances, a new report has suggested. Published by the Children's Mutual and the Social Issues Research Centre, the study indicated that 80 per cent of people aged 18 to 25 consider themselves "financially independent", despite relying on some financial support from their parents. - Telegraph — 23.02.2009.
Grown-up children still financially dependent on parents. The survey of 1,000 adults found that the most likely ways that parents contribute to their child's finances include charging them reduced rent to live in their family home, helping with bills, and contributing to the cost of trips and holidays, according to the report by The Children's Mutual and the Social Issues Research Centre (SIRC). Peter Marsh, co-director at the Social Issues Research Centre said: "Since the beginning of the twentieth century the flow of money between parents and children has been changing direction and ideas surrounding children and their upbringing have become more romanticised. - Birmingham Mail — 23.02.2009.
Young adults in Birmingham "rely on handouts from parents". Research found 78 per cent of 18 to 25 year olds quizzed in Birmingham admitted they were still having to ask their mums and dads for money, with 34 per cent of those saying their parents regularly continued to help them with their general day-to-day living expenses. A further 35 per cent were still living at home or receiving cash from their parents to help meet their rent, according to the statistics released by money experts The Children's Mutual and independent watchdog the Social Issues Research Centre (SIRC). - Daily Mail — 13.02.2009.
Round the bend. The Social Issues Research Centre has published a report on sex differences in driving, citing evidence that men (especially under-25s) are more aggressive drivers, and more likely to speed, take risks and crash. Home Office statistics show 94 per cent of those convicted of causing death by dangerous driving are men. Women are more likely to be involved in minor accidents, caused by pulling out of junctions, reversing into skips or misjudging how close they are to the car behind them. - Kathimerini — 07.02.2009.
Gossiping Greeks stay abreast of the times. Some studies have linked gossip to relaxation and stress reduction in the workplace, according to Efstratios Papanis, and it helps pupils acquire social roles. A study by the Oxford Social Issues Research Center showed that gossip had physical and psychological benefits equivalent to those of antidepressants. But there is a downside. Gossip contains sizable measures of myth and conjecture, and may depress those whose self-image is dependent on the views of others. - Cumberland News — 23.01.2009.
When is a woman too old to flirt? Flirting is much more than just a spot of fun. It is a universal and essential aspect of human interaction — or so says the Social Issues Research Centre, which sounds important enough to know. Anthropological research shows flirting is to be found, in some form, in all cultures and societies. It is a basic instinct. And it may even be the foundation of civilisation.