Programme full

Thursday 16 April 2016 15:30 - 17:00
PAPER SESSION 6 / PECHA KUCHA SESSIONS
through the findings of the collaboration of sociologists and the BBC in the Great British Class Survey. The 6 speakers
are authors of the edited book and will use the presentation format of the Pecha Kucha in order to talk about social
class and social inequality in Britain today.
Mckenzie, L., Savage, M., Friedman, S., Miles, A., Laurison, D.
(London School of Economics and Political Science)
Frontiers 2
W828, HAMISH WOOD BUILDING
PEER REVIEWING: TIPS AND PITFALLS
The peer review process lies at the heart of academic activity – playing a key role in the evaluation and
communication of research findings. Learning how to review effectively is therefore an important element of being an
academic. Sarah Neal (University of Surrey) and Karim Murji (The Open University), Editors of Sociology will lead
this session exploring the process of peer reviewing articles submitted for publication in journals.
Sociology is the flagship journal of the BSA, publishing outstanding and original articles which advance our
understanding of the widest possible range of sociological topics. Publishing high quality research depends on an
equally high quality peer review process and peer reviewers are an essential part of the journal ecology and the
advancement of research. As Editors of Sociology, Sarah and Karim have a wealth of knowledge about what makes a
good review, how it is used to develop research publications and how to get involved in reviewing with
Sociology. Scholars of all ages and stages can make great reviewers so we encourage all delegates to attend and
find out more about contributing to the discipline through peer review.
Medicine, Health and Illness
C236, CHARLES OAKLEY BUILDING
IS AUSTERITY HARMING SOCIETAL WELL-BEING? EVIDENCE FROM THE UK
At a state banquet for the new Lord Mayor, David Cameron spoke of a new economic reality that necessitated
'permanent austerity'. Much of the public debate surrounding the introduction of policies intended to reduce the UK's
public debt has focused on whether they will achieve this economic aim. Yet, cuts to public services and the welfare
state are not merely matters of balancing the books. The human dimension of austerity continues to be an
understudied area and, more importantly, it remains largely absent from the public conversation. While economic data
is published quarterly, social scientists are only now beginning to be able to document the social and health-related
consequences of austerity. In this panel we bring together an interdisciplinary group of researchers from sociology,
public health, and social policy whose work addresses these human dimensions of austerity politics. Each of the
speakers will evaluate the effects of specific aspects of austerity measures enacted in the UK on different health and
well-being outcomes, including, 1) the consequences of increasing the minimum wage for health behaviours and
mental health; 2) the impact of decentralization of the social fund for food insecurity; 3) the impact of sanctions for
Jobseekers on poverty and employment outcomes; and 4) the effects of Working Capability Assessments on mental
health. Collectively, this panel documents regressive trends in societal well-being associated with austerity, findings
that are particularly troubling in light of the UK outlook of ‘permanent austerity’.
The Mental Health Impact of the Work Capability Assessment in England: A Longitudinal Cross-Local
Authority Study
Barr, B., Taylor-Robinson D. Stuckler D, Loopstra, R., Reeves, A., Whitehead, M.
(University of Liverpool)
There are several indications that the deterioration in mental health that followed the recent economic crisis has
continued into the period of economic recovery . This has led some to hypothesize that welfare reforms and cuts in
public expenditure are sustaining or exacerbating the decline. One aspect of welfare reform has been the
implementation of more stringent medical assessment for individuals receiving Incapacity Benefit, i.e., Work Capability
Assessment (WCA), which result in fewer people being eligible for this support. Using quarterly data between October
205 BSA Annual Conference 2015
Glasgow Caledonian University