A1: Descriptions of sub-panels for the REF2014

Sub-panel 21: Politics and International Relations

The UOA (Unit of Analysis) includes (but is not restricted to) comparative, area, national and subnational politics; public administration and policy studies; political behaviour and political sociology; 60 REF 01.2012 political theory and philosophy, including history of political thought; international relations, including strategic, war and peace studies, international history, international political economy and foreign policy analysis; methods in political studies; and higher education pedagogic research in politics and international studies. 15. Boundaries: The sub-panel expects submissions in this UOA from all areas of the discipline in the UOA descriptor, but recognises that some of the outputs submitted will cross disciplines; the sub-panel is confident of its ability to assess a wide range of interdisciplinary outputs.

Descriptor: The UOA includes empirical and theoretical study of the social structures, cultures and everyday practices of societies, including styles and material standards of living, opinions, values and institutions. It covers all areas of social theory, historical and comparative studies, and social research methodology (including qualitative and quantitative methods and visual methodologies), philosophy of social science, and research on pedagogy in sociology. The sub-panel also expects to consider sociological research in such interdisciplinary fields as criminology and sociolegal studies, media and cultural studies, demography, socio-linguistics, social psychology, psychosocial studies, social studies of science and technology (including science and technology policy), and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex studies.

Sub-panel 22: Social Policy and Social Work

The UOA [Unit of Analysis] covers all forms of research in social work, social policy and administration and criminology, including those in governmental, voluntary and community, private for profit and not for profit areas. Research includes: a. Theory, methodology, empirical research, ethics and values, and pedagogy as they apply to social work, social care, social policy, criminology and criminal justice policy, gerontology and substantive issues in these areas of study. b. Comparative research and research into international institutions, policy and practice. c. Research that uses a range of disciplinary approaches including (but not exclusively) the following: business and management, demography, development studies, economics, education, geography, health studies, history, law, politics, psychology and sociology. d. Relevant links with other stakeholders, professionals, service users and carers. e. Policymaking processes, practice, governance and management, service design, delivery and use, and inter-professional relationships.