A critical evaluation of research associated with carers’ organisations since the start of the Carers' Movement
International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy
ISSN: 0144-333X
Article publication date: 6 February 2023
Issue publication date: 25 October 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Since the start of the Carers’ Movement research into unpaid care and carers has been used to advocate for policy change. The purpose of this paper is to address the changes in research into unpaid care and carers since the start of the Carers’ Movement and to explore the relationship between these changes and social policy.
Design/methodology/approach
This research paper is based on a qualitative study of documents within the Carers UK archive.
Findings
Research into unpaid care and carers has changed focus from caregiving as an identity and lifestyle to an interruption to “normal” life and employment. Changes in research are intertwined with changes in policy, with research evidencing advocation for policy change and policy change fuelling further research. Changes in the methodology of this research exposes transition points in the Carers’ Movement and in social research more broadly.
Practical implications
This paper contributes to critical understandings of the relationship between research into unpaid care and caring and policy. The paper also contributes to debates on methodology, exploring how the methodological zeitgeist presents in archived research.
Social implications
Understanding how current research into unpaid care and carers has been developed and acknowledging the role of policy in research development brings available data on unpaid care and caring under scrutiny.
Originality/value
This paper is original in developing a critical analysis of the relationship between research into unpaid care and carers and social policy.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the ESRC as a White Rose PhD studentship.
For the purpose of open access, the authors have applied a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence to any author-accepted manuscript version arising.
Citation
Crossdale, R. and Buckner, L. (2023), "A critical evaluation of research associated with carers’ organisations since the start of the Carers' Movement", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 43 No. 11/12, pp. 1047-1062. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-10-2022-0275
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited