Assessor appointment for professor

Professor Robert E. Wright (Department of Economics) has been appointed as an assessor of the European Social Survey (ESS) and the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP).The ESS is a thirty nation study designed to chart and explain the interaction between institutions, attitudes, beliefs and behaviour patterns. Its main aim is to measure and explain how people's social values, cultural norms and behaviour patterns are distributed, the way in which they differ within and between nations, and the Prof Wrightdirection and speed at which they are changing. It is a biennial study, with data for the first three rounds being publicly available to researchers. The ISSP is an annual programme of cross-national collaboration on surveys covering social science topics. It brings together pre-existing social projects and coordinates research goals. Its main aim is to add a cross-national, cross-cultural perspective to individual national studies.

Also, on October 14, Professor Wright attended a meeting of the Economic and Social Research Council International Committee in Swindon. He is the liaison person between this committee and the Methods and Infrastructure Committee. The main function of the International Committee is to develop the ESRC's International Strategy. This includes providing advice and guidance on international activities and policy, identifying opportunities for the three policy committees to work together and link international activities and identifying and advising on best practice in international activities.