Developing research capacity in the social sciences: a professionality based model

This paper focuses on two inter‐related components of developing institutional research capacity in the social sciences: developing a research culture (of a specific nature), and developing researchers. I use the term “researcher” in the context of this paper to refer both to academics for whom research is, or is intended to be, a component of their work and of their contractual responsibilities, and to those employed in research only roles. First, however, I address the issue of the need for development, outlining the shortcomings of social science research and, by extension and implication, of the research leadership that I suggest is failing – at least in part – to achieve its purpose of developing institutional research capacity.