National Centre for Research Methods helps researchers make an impact
17 Feb 2025
A new report shows how the National Centre for Research Methods has boosted the skills of thousands of researchers and helped them to make an impact on society.
The National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM), which is a partnership between The University of Manchester and the University of Southampton, runs high-quality, affordable training in research methods. It also provides free online learning resources and supports methodological innovation.
NCRM’s Impact Assessment Report 2020-2025 draws on surveys, cases studies and other forms of feedback to highlight the ways in which NCRM has supported people at different career stages, in a variety of disciplines and sectors. More than 14,000 researchers have taken part in NCRM training and events over the past five years and more than one million users have accessed its website and online resources. In a survey of course participants, 94 per cent of respondents said that they had applied their new learning to their work.
The report illustrates how other NCRM initiatives have helped researchers to develop innovative new methodologies, share knowledge and improve practices in teaching research methods. These initiatives include national networks of key organisations, collaborative events and funding schemes.
Together, NCRM’s activities have helped to build the UK’s research capability and enable researchers to do work that positively impacts different aspects of society, including healthcare, criminal justice and policymaking.
These activities have made NCRM a leading provider of research methods training, a major contributor to methodological innovation and a strategic leader in its field.
The Centre has been funded by the Economic and Social Research Council since 2004. Its current funding phase began in January 2020 and runs until December 2025.