The future of social science: Is the paradigm shifting?

I  could not believe the news that my eyes spotted on the Research Professional - 'Elliot steps down as ESRC Chief.' 

Why? 

I believe it is a part of the move that UK Research Councils will be integrated into one body, the UK Research and Innovation.  Appointing Sir Mark Walport as the Chief Executive,  the Board members have been recruited, which application closes at the end of this March.  

This is all based on the Higher Education and Research Bill 2016-17 and the White Paper on future research in the UK.  The themes here are 'cutting edge', 'inter/multi-disciplinary' and 'partnership with industries (i.e. commercialisation)' (See Box 3.3, pg 69). 

What does this mean to social/health inequalities? 

I do not have a clear picture to offer here, but I could say that we need to think hard to get new research ideas to secure funds.  We have to think outside of the box to find a partnership elsewhere to show that the research is 'cutting edge' and we are 'ensuring that research outcomes are fully exploited for the benefit of UK'.

It sounds interesting, but could we solve the problems of social or health inequalities that way? Histories show that it has been deeply embedded in our social structures. I am not going to talk about the TEF that aims to facilitate social mobility in the UK even though social mobility and education go together. What I am worried here is that many research funds go to short-term and individually oriented interventions. Policies have advised us improving our health-related behaviours which show some positive changes recently.  But what about social or health inequalities?

I cannot answer if the current UK research trends will change the paradigm of social science. It totally depends on us: how we stand as social scientists. Thomas Kuhn said that the paradigm shift occurs when the accumulated knowledge has to be changed. So it is our moment to voice what we have known already and what we still need to address like pathways and social-biological interface across the lifecourse. Please take up ICLS' examples for your reference.