My second attempt at sending this email to allstat after receiving a 
message that this was unsuccessful at the first attempt. My apologies if 
you have received this email twice.


>Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2006 17:54:20 +0000
>To: [log in to unmask]
>From: Gerry Nicolaas <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: REMINDER - PLACES ARE STILL AVAILABLE : SRA Annual Conference, 
>Wednesday 6th December 2006, "Challenging myths, researching reality - the 
>role of social research"
>
>Forwarded on behalf of the Social Research Association (please do not 
>respond to me).
>
>SOCIAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION (SRA) ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2006 " CHALLENGING 
>MYTHS, RESEARCHING REALITY - THE ROLE OF SOCIAL RESEARCH"
>
>Dear all,
>
>This is a reminder about the SRA Annual Conference being held on Wednesday 
>6th December 2006.
>
>There are still some places available so to avoid disappointment please 
>book as soon as possible for what promises to be a most exciting and 
>informative event.
>
>More information about the day can be found below and here:
>www.the-sra.org.uk/documents/pdfs/sra_conference_programme_06.pdf
>
>whilst an electronic booking form can be found here:
>www.the-sra.org.uk/documents/word/sra_annual_conference_booking_form_2006.doc
>
>BACKGROUND TO THE CONFERENCE:
>
>Understanding and explaining the society we live in is a key task for 
>social researchers. This year the SRA's annual conference "Challenging 
>myths, researching reality  the role of social research" provides an 
>opportunity to focus on some of the problems faced by social research when 
>investigating and presenting complex social issues.
>
>Through key note speakers and eight workshop sessions, the conference aims 
>to promote discussions about the nature of social research and the role it 
>plays in informing the research and policy community as well as the 
>general public.
>
>In the morning, Ian Diamond will examine the capacity of social research 
>to challenge misconceptions of social issues, whilst John Curtice and Greg 
>Philo will address the issue of how social and political attitudes, 
>perceptions and actions are formed, including examining the role social 
>research and the media plays in shaping people's understanding of "reality".
>
>In the afternoon, eight workshops delivered by research experts from 
>academia, government and the private sector will provide opportunities to 
>examine robust evidence on headline (and often myth laden) topics such as 
>community cohesion, user involvement in health services and attitudes to 
>poverty and rural disadvantage. Other workshops will identify and discuss 
>some of the methodologies, analytical tools and technologies that can be 
>used to enhance our understanding of the world.
>
>Finally a panel of expert users of social research including the Director 
>of the European Parliament's UK Office, the Head of UK and International 
>Policy at the Refugee Council and the Chair of the Treasury Select 
>Committee will discuss their use of social research to combat some of the 
>common myths and misperceptions in their policy fields.
>
>OUTLINE OF THE DAY
>
>Registration: From 9.30am
>
>10.00am > SRA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (SRA MEMBERS ONLY)
>
>10.30am > CONFERENCE OPENING
>
>= Welcome and Introduction from the Chair, Barbara Doig, SRA Chair
>
>= Plenary speakers:
>
>Ian Diamond, Chief Executive of the Economic and Social Research Council 
>(ESRC)
>Professor Diamond will address the role and capacity of social research to 
>challenge misconceptions of social issues.
>
>Greg Philo, Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Applied Social 
>Sciences, University of Glasgow
>Professor Philo will address the issue of the role the media plays in 
>shaping people's understanding of "reality".
>
>John Curtice, Department of Government, University of Strathclyde
>Myths and Reality in Social Attitudes
>
>= Panel discussion with comments and questions from the floor.
>
>12.30pm > LUNCH
>
>1.30pm > Workshops Session A (workshops 1 to 4)
>
>* Workshop 1: Housing and Rural Communities
>
>Private landlords and tenants  their real issues and concerns.
>Afi Adjei and Maggie Davidson, Building Research Establishment
>
>Challenging the Myth of the Rural Idyll: Using Market Segmentation 
>Techniques to Understand Rural Attitudes to Disadvantage.
>Ruth Bradshaw, Thematic Studies Manager, Commission for Rural Communities
>
>* Workshop 2: Community Cohesion
>
>Refugees are abusing our system, aren't they?
>Siddig Elzailaee, Researcher, Working Lives Research Institute, London 
>Metropolitan University
>
>Whose 'problem' is cohesion anyway? Challenging misconceptions about 
>social integration and community cohesion.
>Dr Adele Smaill, Community Cohesion Evaluation Officer, Strategy and 
>Resources, Oldham MBC
>
>*Workshop 3: Healthy Involvement
>
>The Patient Advisory and Liaison Service as a catalyst for change: Myths 
>and realities of the implementation of the NHS user involvement agenda.
>Sarah Booker, Research Fellow, Faculty of Health & Social Care, University 
>of the West of  England
>
>Obesity, social control and the tyranny of health.
>Dr Michael Gard, Charles Sturt University, Australia and Carnegie Research 
>Institute, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK
>
>*Workshop 4: Understanding Poverty and Managing Money
>
>Managing money in older age: Are pensioners really as financially excluded 
>and vulnerable as commentators suggest?
>Annie Irvine and Katharine Nice, Social Policy Research Unit, University 
>of York and Peter A.  Kemp, Department of Social Policy & Social Work, 
>University of Oxford
>
>The Reality or Myth of Poverty  a Method for Applying Objectivity to 
>Poverty Studies.
>Wendy Olsen and Jamie Morgan, Cathie Marsh Centre for Census & Survey 
>Research, University of Manchester
>
>2.50pm > TEA
>
>3.20pm > Workshops Session B (workshops 5 to 8)
>
>* Workshop 5: Binge Drinking
>
>'Binge drinking' in the UK: the recent history of a confused concept.
>Rachel Herring, Research Fellow and Virginia Berridge, Professor, Centre 
>for History in Public Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical 
>Medicine, London; Betsy Thom, Reader, School of Health and Social 
>Sciences, Middlesex University.
>
>* Workshop 6: Shifting public beliefs about poverty
>
>Shifting public beliefs in the UK about poverty.
>Julian Thompson and Sarah Castell, Ipsos MORI HotHouse
>
>* Workshop 7: Approaching Stereotypes
>
>Approaching stereotypes and myths in social surveys: the example of 
>British Social Attitudes.
>British Social Attitudes Team, NatCen
>
>* Workshop 8: Challenging myths and stereotypes
>
>Using the ONS omnibus survey to challenge myths and stereotypes.
>Chris Dowsett, Research Officer, Social & Vital Statistics, Office for 
>National Statistics
>
>4:15pm >  PANEL DISCUSSION "Challenging myths, researching reality - the 
>role of social research"
>
>Chaired by Ceridwen Roberts, Vice Chair of the SRA
>
>With:
>
>John McFall MP, Chairman of the Treasury Select committee
>Nancy Kelley, Head of International and UK Policy, Refugee council
>Dermot Scott, Director of the European Parliament's UK Office
>
>5:20pm > DRINKS RECEPTION