What Evidence on Whose Terms?: Policy-Relevant Religion Or Belief Research

Paul Weller

doi:10.1093/9780191790355.003.0031

What Evidence on Whose Terms? Policy-Relevant Religion Or Belief Research

Paul Weller

Peace and Security Honorary and Visiting Researchers

University of Derby
University of Oxford

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

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Abstract

This chapter explores a range of key methodological and methods issues in religion or belief research and evidence- based policymaking. The issues involved might be summarized by the questions ‘What evidence?’ and ‘On whose terms?’. They are explored with reference to two research projects led by the author. The projects were on ‘Religious Discrimination in England and Wales’, which was contracted with the UK Government Home Office (1999– 2001); and on ‘Religion and Belief, Discrimination and Equality in England and Wales: Theory, Policy and Practice 2000– 2010’, which was funded by the UK Arts and Humanities and Economic and Social Research Councils (2010– 2013). The issues explored include working within contractual constraints and pre-set terms of reference; handling relationships with community representatives and with politicians, civil servants, and government in- house research staff; disseminating research results through the media; and working through ethical issues as scholars, citizens, and individuals involved in research of this kind.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Messy Methods in Researching Religion
Editors	Linda Woodhead, Louisa Cadman, Nicole Graham
Place of Publication	Oxford
Publisher	Oxford University Press (OUP)
Chapter	30
Pages	342-353
Number of pages	12
ISBN (Electronic)	9780191790355
ISBN (Print)	9780199687893
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/9780191790355.003.0031
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 10 Apr 2025

Bibliographical note

© Oxford University Press 2025.
Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

Funding

No specific funding was directly associated with the writing of this chapter as such, but the 1999-2001 Religious Discrimination in England and Wales Research Project discussed in the chapter and linked with this entry was funded by the UK Government Home Office; while the (2010-2013) Religion and Belief, Discrimination and Equality in England and Wales, 2000-2010: Theory, Policy and Practice” project also discussed in this chapter and linked with this entry was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council Religion and Society Programme (contract number: AH/H016074/1)

Funders	Funder number
Home Office
Arts and Humanities Research Council	AH/H016074/1

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

Keywords

religion
methods
evidence
policy
methodologies

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Religious studies
Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

Themes

Equality and Inclusion
Governance, Leadership and Trust
Social Movements and Contentious Politics
Societal and Cultural Resilience

Access to Document

10.1093/9780191790355.003.0031

Weller2025AAMAccepted author manuscript, 501 KB

Cite this

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title = "What Evidence on Whose Terms?: Policy-Relevant Religion Or Belief Research",

abstract = "This chapter explores a range of key methodological and methods issues in religion or belief research and evidence- based policymaking. The issues involved might be summarized by the questions {\textquoteleft}What evidence?{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}On whose terms?{\textquoteright}. They are explored with reference to two research projects led by the author. The projects were on {\textquoteleft}Religious Discrimination in England and Wales{\textquoteright}, which was contracted with the UK Government Home Office (1999– 2001); and on {\textquoteleft}Religion and Belief, Discrimination and Equality in England and Wales: Theory, Policy and Practice 2000– 2010{\textquoteright}, which was funded by the UK Arts and Humanities and Economic and Social Research Councils (2010– 2013). The issues explored include working within contractual constraints and pre-set terms of reference; handling relationships with community representatives and with politicians, civil servants, and government in- house research staff; disseminating research results through the media; and working through ethical issues as scholars, citizens, and individuals involved in research of this kind.",

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note = " {\textcopyright} Oxford University Press 2025. Copyright {\textcopyright} and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. ",

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N1 - © Oxford University Press 2025. Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

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N2 - This chapter explores a range of key methodological and methods issues in religion or belief research and evidence- based policymaking. The issues involved might be summarized by the questions ‘What evidence?’ and ‘On whose terms?’. They are explored with reference to two research projects led by the author. The projects were on ‘Religious Discrimination in England and Wales’, which was contracted with the UK Government Home Office (1999– 2001); and on ‘Religion and Belief, Discrimination and Equality in England and Wales: Theory, Policy and Practice 2000– 2010’, which was funded by the UK Arts and Humanities and Economic and Social Research Councils (2010– 2013). The issues explored include working within contractual constraints and pre-set terms of reference; handling relationships with community representatives and with politicians, civil servants, and government in- house research staff; disseminating research results through the media; and working through ethical issues as scholars, citizens, and individuals involved in research of this kind.

AB - This chapter explores a range of key methodological and methods issues in religion or belief research and evidence- based policymaking. The issues involved might be summarized by the questions ‘What evidence?’ and ‘On whose terms?’. They are explored with reference to two research projects led by the author. The projects were on ‘Religious Discrimination in England and Wales’, which was contracted with the UK Government Home Office (1999– 2001); and on ‘Religion and Belief, Discrimination and Equality in England and Wales: Theory, Policy and Practice 2000– 2010’, which was funded by the UK Arts and Humanities and Economic and Social Research Councils (2010– 2013). The issues explored include working within contractual constraints and pre-set terms of reference; handling relationships with community representatives and with politicians, civil servants, and government in- house research staff; disseminating research results through the media; and working through ethical issues as scholars, citizens, and individuals involved in research of this kind.

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KW - methods

KW - evidence

KW - policy

KW - methodologies

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DO - 10.1093/9780191790355.003.0031

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EP - 353

BT - Messy Methods in Researching Religion

A2 - Woodhead, Linda

A2 - Cadman, Louisa

A2 - Graham, Nicole

PB - Oxford University Press (OUP)

CY - Oxford

ER -

What Evidence on Whose Terms? Policy-Relevant Religion Or Belief Research

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Themes

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Positionality and Policy-Related Research in Religion: What Evidence on Whose Terms?

What Evidence and on Whose Terms? Researching Religion and Evidence-Based Policy-Making

Religion Or Belief, Discrimination and Equality: Britain in Global Contexts

Cite this

What Evidence on Whose Terms? Policy-Relevant Religion Or Belief Research

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Themes

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Activities

Positionality and Policy-Related Research in Religion: What Evidence on Whose Terms?

What Evidence and on Whose Terms? Researching Religion and Evidence-Based Policy-Making

Research output

Religion Or Belief, Discrimination and Equality: Britain in Global Contexts

Cite this