NSPCC Research Department

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NSPCC Research Department: Ethical issues in research with children; Research in progress; Completed NSPCC research; Child protection research briefings; Child sexual abuse research at Fresh Start; Conference papers; Centre for Learning in Child Protection (CLiCP); CORE-INFO; Research staff; FAQs and information for students; Contact us

NSPCC Research Department

The NSPCC has been carrying out and supporting research for the benefit of children since 1968

Developing the evidence base to tackle cruelty

The NSPCC Research Department carries out high quality national research on the crucial themes of child protection and child welfare. We seek to effectively tackle cruelty to children by expanding both knowledge and understanding of the causes, effects and prevention of child abuse.

Who are we?

The NSPCC Research Department encompasses the following:

research staff based at NSPCC Weston House in London
research and practitioner-researcher staff based at Fresh Start, the NSPCC's national centre for action on child sexual abuse, also in London
research staff based in the NSPCC's offices in Northern Ireland
two NSPCC research professors, based at the Universities of Huddersfield and Bristol
research fellows based at the University of Bristol, the University of East Anglia and Queen's University, Belfast
two Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Centre for the Analysis of Social Exclusion (CASE) collaborative PhD students based at Goldsmiths, University of London and Cardiff University.

The NSPCC also substantially funds two research centres:

CLiCP - the Centre for Learning in Child Protection at the University of Edinburgh
CORE-INFO - the Welsh Child Protection Systematic Review Group at Cardiff University.

In addition, the Department welcomes visiting academics and commissions research from a wide variety of research bodies.

Our objectives

The NSPCC's Research Department is part of the NSPCC Public Policy Function. Our objectives are to:

conduct research that addresses gaps in our knowledge about child abuse
encourage, commission and support first class research both within and outside the NSPCC
contribute to effective, evidence-based approaches to safeguarding all children and young people by disseminating research knowledge to influence policy, practice and social change.

Disseminating findings and influencing change

In developing knowledge and understanding of child maltreatment and the circumstances in which maltreatment occurs, the Department contributes to the NSPCC's efforts to educate, influence and change public and professional attitudes and community responses to child abuse. As such, research plays a key role in providing the evidence base needed to mobilise everyone to take action to end cruelty to children.

NSPCC research findings are disseminated to practitioners, managers, and policy makers via publications, conferences, seminars and training to promote effective, evidence-based policy and practice. The work of our research staff, professors, fellows and partners regularly contributes to direct dialogue with government, international researchers and practitioners in order to influence safeguarding policy and practice at both national and international levels.

Staff are continually developing new and accessible ways to report research findings back to both the children and adults who take part in our research. Our findings also influence the wider public through their incorporation into NSPCC's public education activities that seek to improve the care and protection of children and young people across society.

Supporting our colleagues in practice and research

The Department offers support both to NSPCC staff and external colleagues undertaking research relevant to the NSPCC's objectives. This can be through individual advice and consultancy, joint supervision of postgraduate degree studies, mentoring for the research modules of the Advanced Award in Social Work, and by providing practical research placements. We pursue an active training programme with postgraduate research students, including Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Centre for the Analysis of Social Exclusion (CASE) collaborative studentships. Advice and support is also offered to NSPCC children's services practitioners undertaking research within the context of their direct work with children and young people.

The Department can offer guidance on commissioning research, drafting research proposals, funding, research management and governance, methodology, data analysis, reporting, disseminating, publishing and making best use of research findings. The Department also provides opportunities for researchers to network and share knowledge through our dedicated Child and Family Research Network, and acts as an adviser and champion for ethical and safe research practices throughout the NSPCC and beyond.

External funding

Much of the work undertaken by the Department and its university-based research fellows is supplemented by external funding. Research grants have been provided by the Economic and Social Research Council, the Department of Health, the European Union Daphne Programme, the Nuffield Foundation and the Community Fund (now the Big Lottery Fund). We also receive funding from corporate and individual donors including British Home Stores, The Children's Charity, City Bridge Trust and Private Equity Foundation.

If you require further information about the work of the NSPCC Research Department, please contact us via our online Enquiry service