World-leading research that interrogates, inspires, and improves
In many key areas, our research is leading the world. It’s agile, impactful, and highly responsive. It reflects our commitment to interrogating thinking and practice across the social sciences. In our School, “we’ve always done it like that” isn’t an option or an answer. From the workplace to our seminar rooms, we believe in transforming practice through an intellectually curious and data-driven enquiry of what works, and what doesn’t. Sometimes, that can take some hard calls — but in the name of change, progress and improvement, we’ll never shy away from them.
Constant evaluation. Challenging questions. Paid research apprenticeship opportunities for our students, and a peerless commitment to our early-career researchers. These are the things that epitomise our culture, in a School where knowledge is enthusiastically shared, and where Monday’s research paper can shape Friday’s lecture. We’re defined by our collegiality, our dedication to inviting new voices into our research conversations, and the richness and vibrancy of our community.
Our research centres
Centre for Crime, Offending, Prevention and Engagement (COPE)
COPE contributes to the understanding of victimisation risk and crime harm, the transformation agenda for change in the Criminal Justice System, and community engagement with crime prevention.
Centre for Public and Psychosocial Health
This Research Centre brings together a wide range of research excellence in Social Science, including in Public and Population Health, Health and Wellbeing and Employment and Wellbeing.
Centre for Research in Language, Education and Developmental Inequalities
The Centre for Research in Language, Education and Developmental Inequalities (CLEDI) is an interdisciplinary research centre which aims to understand different perspectives of language and education (at child, family, school, and community levels).
Centre for Policy, Citizenship and Society
The Centre for Policy, Citizenship and Society (CPCS) conducts research that seeks to understand the ways in which society operates, especially in relation to policy, theory and practice in social contexts.
Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Social Interaction
The Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Social Interaction (CROS) is an interdisciplinary grouping of researchers from across NTU interested in the phenomenon of social interaction.
Centre for Research in Applied Cognition and Neuroscience
Researchers from the Centre for Research in Applied Cognition and Neuroscience (CRACN) use behavioural and neuroimaging techniques to further fundamental theoretical knowledge of cognitive and neural processes and apply this to understanding performance in everyday tasks.
S3 Methods Hub
The S3 Methods Hub supports you with your methodological needs. We can help you design research projects and bids, generate new data or analyse existing data and help you to disseminate your findings.
Our featured researchers
Standing up for equality: decolonialising our society
Discover Associate Professor of Critical Psychology and Decolonial Studies Deanne Bell's research into collective trauma, social suffering, structural violence, indifference, and the psychological effects of coloniality and decoloniality.
A step change: helping to eradicate HIV transmissions
Doctoral Researcher Anthony Gifford, from NTU's School of Social Sciences, is researching the psychosocial influences on the decision to take PrEP in the MSM community. Anthony's research will help unpack the fears and barriers that stop people from taking this medicine, which prevents the transmission of HIV, to educate people to make safer, informed choices.
Breaking the cycle: preventing human rights violations
Explore how Associate Professor Blerina Kellezi's research is investigating how people collectively deal with, and are affected by, extreme life events: from illness and accidents to war, torture and immigration detention.
Tackling substance abuse: strengthening support for those in need
Doctoral Researcher Emma Smith, from NTU's School of Social Sciences, is researching how to improve substance use services for people suffering from addiction.
Our research stories
Re:drive
Even though UK roads are among the safest in the world, 1,700 people die and thousands more are seriously injured on them every year. NTU research, led by Professor David Crundall, has shown that being able to predict potential dangers is a key skill that could help to prevent collisions on our roads. This is more important than reacting quickly to dangers as they occur.
Re:covery
The impact of suicide is widespread, and individuals from all walks of life may experience thoughts of self-harm. Suicide rates within the prison and probation system in England and Wales in particular, however, have remained consistently high, ranging from 3 to 10 times above that of the general population.
Karen Slade, Professor of Applied Forensic Psychology, is helping to develop new strategies to prevent suicide and self-harm for individuals who encounter the criminal justice system.
Re:inforce
In partnership with Makerere University School of Public Health in Uganda, over a ten-year period, Professor Linda Gibson and Dr David Musoke and their teams developed research into the strengthening of the CHW programmes there. Their first project aimed to improve the CHW programme across Ssisa sub-county, a semi-rural community of 64 villages in Wakiso District.
Re:govern
There are around 300,000 school governors in England, making them one of the largest voluntary groups in the country. While governors have influence and expertise in their own sectors and communities, research by Dr Andrew Clapham, Associate Professor in NTU's School of Social Sciences, suggests that many struggle to put their valuable capabilities to use when serving on school governing bodies, and their needs are often reduced to an over-simplified checklist of skills.
Re:boot
The digital landscape is changing the ways in which we interact, and NTU is helping the world to decide how we respond. Our researchers Daria Kuss and Mark Griffiths recognise the impact of new tech on our health, and they're introducing new strategies to reduce the harm caused by online activities.
Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, 86% of NTU's research impact was assessed to be either world-leading or internationally excellent. The overall quality of each Unit of Assessment NTU submitted to REF in 2021 also saw an improvement from the previous REF in 2014.