Two new jobs in Christian Research

For both, the posts are based in Swindon and the closing date is 17 April 2011.

If you have the expertise for one of these challenging full-time roles, visit www.biblesociety.org.uk/jobs for a job description and application form.

If you have a heart for and understand the way the church works and the language it uses, you could be just the person we want to recruit!

Research Manager

£30 - £35k + competitive benefits package

The prime purpose of the role is to manage research projects from the initial brief through to reporting and follow up.

You must be fully experienced in quantitative and qualitative research methods, and possess good project management skills.

You will also be required to deputise for the Director on occasions.

You will be an excellent communicator, both in writing and orally, able to report findings in a clear and concise way.  In addition, your interpersonal skills must enable you to manage a small team of staff, clients and suppliers alike – building and maintaining good relationships.

You will be a pro-active self-starter with the ability to work alone.

Research Assistant

C. £17k + competitive benefits package

The main purposes of the role are to support the Director and Research Manager, to act as the first point of contact for Christian Research and to develop our secondary research capabilities.

This work will include providing project support, developing and running desk research and working on the content of our websites.

You will use clear and concise writing skills in the production of briefs, proposals, reports and writing publications for members.

You must demonstrate that you have good interpersonal skills, along with the ability to multi-task, prioritise, and organise.

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In the light of the recent controversy around the question about religious affiliation asked in the 2011 census and the attempts by certain interest groups to actively influence the outcome of the census it seemed pertinent to post an article at greater length than Research Brief permits of the process of selection and validation which National Statistics used to generate the questions asked in the census. 

The 2001 Census was the first time a religion question had been asked in England, Scotland and Wales to learn more about religious affiliation as a variable in its own right, collect data on religious minorities that cut across national and ethnic boundaries and capture data on two ethnic minority groups (Sikhs and Jews), ensuring that obligations under the Race Relations Act could be met.

A variety of quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used to test the questions recommended for inclusion in the 2011 Census. Qualitative question testing on religion has primarily been conducted by the data collection methodology (DCM) branch in ONS through a programme of cognitive testing, running since February 2005. Quantitative question testing has been conducted at various intervals since May 2006 using a variety of methodologies.

Measuring ‘religion’ is notoriously complex as there are a number of dimensions to the concept of religion. The key dimensions for survey and census questions about religion are affiliation, practice and belief. Based on the evidence of a lengthy programme of research and consultation, ONS believes that the most appropriate question for the 2011 Census is one that asks about religious affiliation rather than practice of belief. Several different question wordings have been tested, including:

• What is your religion?

• What is your religion or belief?

• What is your religion, even if not currently practising?

• Do you regard yourself as belonging to a religion?

• Which of these best describes you?

Testing found that the question ‘what is your religion?’ best meets the requirement of collecting good quality data on religious affiliation within the space constraints of the census questionnaire. The question will also provide comparability between the 2001 and 2011 Censuses. 

To find out more use this link:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2011-census/2011-census-questionnaire-content/recommended-questions---religion.pdf 

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From Research Brief...

The probability of dying below the age of 75 is more than one-fifth higher in the north of England compared with the south. A study undertaken by researchers from the University of Manchester and recently published in the British Medical Journal said the north-south mortality difference was now at its widest for 40 years.

Red coloured regions have lower life expectancies than green coloured regions. Bracketed figures are respectively male and female life expectancies. Click to enlarge

In 1965, those living in the north were 16% more likely to die before the age of 75 than those in the south but this has risen to just over 20% by 2008. Men were more likely to be affected. 

Lead researcher, Professor Ian Buchan, said that health inequalities persisted even when people in the north and south were born into similar socio-economic groups. The reason for the divide is that people in the south, even if they have low incomes, have greater access to resources. He explained: ‘There is an overall concentration of resource in the south, the built environment is very different, there's more access to education, transport and other large scale resources. It’s not because those in the north are not looking after themselves... this is because of social, economic and health care resources controlled by government. For example, there are fewer GPs in deprived areas.’

The Department of Health said it was committed to reducing health inequalities by providing a ring-fenced public health budget, weighted towards the most deprived areas. However public health expert, Professor Alan Maryon-Davis said government cuts would worsen health inequalities: ‘Health care also depends very much on social care and voluntary support in the community. The huge cuts in local authority budgets in ... parts of the north mean that the divide is only likely to widen even further.’

To find out more use these links

The original research, published by the BMJ is here:

http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d508.full

and a selection of coverage from UK media is here: 

BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12464427

ITV: http://www.itv.com/granada/is-it-grim-up-north36990/ 

Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/feb/15/people-in-north-die-younger 

Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/northsouth-health-divide-kills-thousands-every-year-2216169.html

Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8325912/North-south-health-divide-at-widest-point-in-40-years.html

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