Collaboratory Researcher Profiles
Project Title: What tips the scales?: Understanding how people in the East Midlands make decisions about universal credit and work
What were you doing (e.g. type of work/study) before your PhD/Placement?
I completed my bachelor’s degree in Sports and Exercise Technology and my master’s degree in Sports Engineering, both at Sheffield Hallam University. Before starting my placement, I had recently returned from travelling, which gave me the opportunity to experience different cultures, become more independent and a chance to develop confidence in unfamiliar environments. Spending time in China was an experience that broadened my perspective, and it is somewhere I would definitely like to return to in the future.
What are you researching?
I am researching how people claiming Universal Credit are making decisions about staying on the updated benefit system versus seeking employment and further work opportunities. Gathering the views and opinions of claimants, to explore how they understand and use information about universal credit, to judge the financial and personal tradeoffs between Universal Credit support and employment. This project focuses on the relationship between Universal Credit policy, accessibility of the Universal Credit system, and the claimant’s decision making. By using focus groups to gain firsthand insight from claimants, I can understand how real-life circumstances shape whether people feel ‘better off’ working, and what barriers are influencing their decision making.
What motivated you to apply for this specific Placement project?
I was motivated by this specific project as it gave me an opportunity to contribute to applied research that can be used to make a real-world impact. Working with organisations like Framework and East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) gives me that chance to inform policies and improve support to people facing finical or housing hardships. This fits with my motivation to conduct research that is not purely academic based and gives me a chance to impact people’s lives through producing research that could lead to practical improvements in support and policy systems.
Why do you think this research is important?
This research is important because it explores the practical consequences of Universal Credit through claimant’s’ real world experiences. This project can help to understand how people see Universal credit and their thoughts on income from work vs income from Universal Credit. The Universal Credit system was created using government research and statistics to mold it into a system that suits the Department of Work and Pensions. This research will explore the personal impact of Universal Credit on claimants that are often dealing with complex rules, uncertainty, and hardship.
This research will also help to highlight that claimant’s decisions are not just based on financial incentives. Systems like Universal Credit are often based on financial calculations to determine the payment amount and possible sanctions imposed. Through focus groups, this research can explore other factors that are important to people when making these decisions. This would give important feedback on real life issues that are faced. This could also help to understand why some Universal Credit rules/policies aren’t having the expected outcomes that the policy was designed to have.
What difference do you hope to make in Nottingham through this research?
I hope this research can be used by organisations, like Framework Housing and East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), as evidence to design or improve existing policies around Universal Credit. As well as giving insight into the experience of people receiving Universal Credit, to improve the support and advice given to claimants. Hopefully, the research will make a difference in people’s ability to understand and gain support around the topic of Universal Credit, to make informed decisions about their lives and future opportunities.
What do you hope to be doing in five years’ time? (personally and/or professionally)
In five years’ time, my aspiration is to pursue or to have completed a PhD whilst contributing to real life research within the sports/health industry. I would also like to have gained the opportunity to teach or research in another country, to further develop my professional skills and experience. Personally, I have set myself a target of learning an additional language, so hopefully within five years my Mandarin level will have significantly improved.