EHRC Research

EHRC research on good relations

Since 2009, the EHRC has been developing a Good Relations Measurement Framework (GRMF), following the earlier development of an Equality Measurement Framework. The process involved in developing the GRMF has been a two-fold one. First, we published Good relations: a conceptual analysis by Nick Johnson and John Tatam of iCoCo, which provided the overall framework for our research work in this area (see the December 2009 newsletter for a summary of this report). The report of the second project, Good Relations Measurement Framework, has now been published after extensive additional research and consultation and is summarised below. Separate to this work on the GRMF, we have also published a report entitled Process of prejudice: Theory, evidence and intervention, which reviewed current knowledge about prejudice: what it is, how it might be measured and how it might be reduced (see the June 2010 newsletter).

Another strand of our work has examined the rise of the far right in British politics, with one aspect of this being to consider the impact of this development on good relations in selected areas of England. The two interlinked reports on the far right are summarised below.

Good Relations Measurement Framework by Andrea Wigfield and Royce Turner (Research Report no. 60)

This report outlines the Good Relations Measurement Framework which comprises four key domains and associated indicators. These have been arrived at through a complex methodological process involving a quantitative review, focus groups and stakeholder discussions. The four domains which have been selected to measure good relations are: attitudes; personal security; interaction with others; and participation and influence. The report discusses the reasons for the selection of each domain and indicator in detail, considers how well these can be measured by existing surveys and points to the gaps in the evidence.

Understanding the rise of the far right: Survey results
Understanding the rise of the far right: Focus Group results
both by Martin Boon (ICM Research) (Research Reports no. 57 and 58)

These linked reports examine the factors that underpin support for far right political parties, particularly the British National Party, and the impact of such support on good relations within communities. Based on research in three selected localities in England (Stoke-on-Trent, Blackburn with Darwen and North West Leicestershire), a survey of 1,582 people examined people’s everyday lives, their views about other groups in the community, and voting behaviour. The focus groups explored the views of participants about their local areas, political parties, the reasons for the increased electoral success of the far right, and its impact on good relations. They referred to a range of threats in their lives: economic decline and the view that migrant workers were taking local jobs; White British people reportedly receiving a raw deal in the provision of local services; and traditional values being eroded. Many participants also believed that the main political parties no longer represented them and noted that in the resulting vacuum, they were looking for an alternative.

Other GB-wide reports in the Research Report series

Disability, Skills and Employment: A review of recent statistics and literature on policy and initiatives by Sheila Riddell, Sheila Edward, Elisabet Weedon and Linda Ahlgren (Research Report no. 59)

This report examines the most up-to-date literature and statistics on the employment and skills gaps between disabled and non-disabled people. The findings suggest that, while disabled people have much lower employment rates and are more likely to be economically inactive than non-disabled people, there have been slight improvements in recent years. The report also highlights the different experiences of different groups of disabled people, and calls for policies and practices that recognise the range of disabled people’s experiences and outcomes.

All EHRC research reports can be downloaded from :

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/our-job/our-research/
 If you experience any difficulty in downloading these, contact Research@equalityhumanrights.com and they will send you the relevant PDFs