News
Alcohol Research UK announces UK grants programme for
2014
Research and Development Grants Programme for 2014
Initial,
brief applications for this programme are now invited. Proposals should take into consideration our
current research priorities. This year,
a number of research gaps have been identified within our priority areas and we
would particularly welcome applications that address these gaps (identified
below). However, submissions relevant to
other areas will be considered on their merits.
Grants
of up to £60,000 in total, over one to three years, are available.
Research
teams should familiarise themselves with our current research projects and
ensure that their proposals address distinct themes.
Applications are rated by:
- how achievable the
project is;
-
whether it is value for
money;
-
how rigorous is the
methodology employed;
-
how impactful the
project is likely to be; and
-
how clearly the proposal
aligns with current research priorities
Timetable:
Wednesday,
11th December 2013
Deadline
for electronic receipt of brief, initial application forms. Hard copy not required. All applications will
be acknowledged – if you have not received an acknowledgement, we have not
received your application.
Monday,
20th January 2014
Applicants
will either be informed that their initial bid was unsuccessful or be requested
to submit a full application.
Wednesday,
26th March 2014
Deadline
for electronic receipt of full applications.
One completely signed hard copy must be delivered to the Alcohol Research
UK office.
Thursday,
22nd May 2014
Notification
of final decisions on full applications will be sent.
Research Priorities:
Research
priority 1: Identification, treatment and recovery
We
invite research exploring ‘what works’ in identification, treatment and
recovery. In particular, research
identifying common factors in effective treatment as well as exploring and
evaluating recovery-based programmes. We will also consider studies of
interventions and brief interventions in non-medical settings (such as the
workplace, prisons or service providers), as well as those medical settings
where solid evidence is not yet available. We would welcome research evaluating
the impact of moving public health to local authorities on the commissioning of
treatment services.
For 2014 we would particularly
encourage research in the following areas:
- Alcohol use and treatment among prisoners and prison-leavers
- Evaluating recovery-based programmes
-
Common factors in effective treatment
Research
priority 2: Policy and culture change
We
invite proposals evaluating the impact of policy on cultural change. This could include research into the role of
licensing in shaping purchasing behaviours, or the evaluation of local
initiatives to tackle alcohol harms. We would welcome research into the
regulatory process: how licensing boards reach decisions; what factors impact
on that process; and how relevant stakeholders work in partnership. This could include archival and / or qualitative
observational studies. Historical
research on the relationship between policy and culture (e.g. comparisons with
smoking) is also welcome. We would also
consider research on non-regulatory ‘nudge’ techniques that seek to extend
understanding of behaviour-change in the drinking environment.
For 2014 we would particularly
encourage research in the following areas:
- The process of alcohol licensing and
its role in reducing harms
-
Historical studies of the role of
policy in encouraging culture change
-
The impact of local partnerships and
harm reduction initiatives
-
Analyses of interventions in the
drinking and retail environment (e.g. initiatives to reduce sale of alcohol to
intoxicated customers)
Research
priority 3: Marketing and media
The
role of media communications in drinking cultures is increasingly
important. We invite innovative research
looking at this area and addressing key methodological questions. This may include qualitative research on the
interpretation of marketing messages, in particular regarding social media
communications; research exploring robust methods for analysing media content;
or proposals addressing regulatory challenges presented by contemporary
marketing and exploring appropriate policy responses. We are particularly
concerned with the ways in which different types of media, including social
media, combine in multi-platform marketing environments.
For 2014 we would particularly
encourage research in the following areas:
- The relationship between media
representations and policy change
-
Methods for analysing media content
Research priority 4: Information and
education
Schools-based
education remains commonplace, but we invite research which explores the role
and efficacy of education programmes in a wider range of contexts. This may include research on effective
parental education; the effective use of digital media to promote alcohol
awareness; education programmes in youth services and elsewhere, or strategies
for the effective dissemination of research findings.
For 2014 we would particularly
encourage research in the following areas:
- Parental / family education and support
-
Health promotion and education using
digital media
Research priority 5: Developing
research methods
We
invite proposals seeking to broaden our understanding of research methods
across the alcohol field. These may
include innovative methods for effectively measuring consumption; new ways of
analysing or developing existing research databases; methods for more
accurately segmenting consumer groups (and moving beyond broad averages for
measuring consumption); strategies for improving follow-up response rates etc.
in cohort studies; methods for evaluating policy impact; or methods for
accurately measuring media content and influence.
For 2014 we would particularly
encourage research in the following areas:
- Methods in qualitative research on alcohol
-
Promoting recruitment and retention in
alcohol research (including use of innovative technologies)
-
Development and / or linkage of outcome
indicators for treatment
The following considerations apply
to all applications
Cross-cutting theme: drinking in the
lifecourse
Where
appropriate, we strongly encourage proposals to consider drinking across the
lifecourse and in a range of settings.
This includes underage consumption, youth drinking, student drinking,
post-university consumption, workplace consumption, home drinking, parental
drinking, ‘empty-nest’ behaviours, middle-age, drinking in retirement and so
forth. Proposals need not cover all (or
more than one) of these stages, but we would encourage proposals to explicitly
consider how the research relates to lifecourse issues.
Methodology and Researchabilty
Applications
must persuade referees and our Grants Advisory Panel that the ability to
collect robust evidence is at the heart of the proposal. Where relevant, proposals must show that
sampling and analysis methods are reliable, seek to avoid biases, and take
account of potential issues such as low response and follow-up rates.