Kent, in partnership with Belong: The Cohesion and Integration Network, has been funded by the Nuffield Foundation to carry out research into how societal cohesion has been affected by the COVID-19 emergency.<\/p>\n
Professor Dominic Abrams<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Dr Fanny Lalot<\/a>\u00a0of Kent\u2019s\u00a0Centre for the Study of Group Processes<\/a>\u00a0will lead the research, alongside\u00a0Belong<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0use data<\/strong>\u00a0that emerges in\u00a0real time<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The project will build on existing data focussing on\u00a0societal cohesion<\/strong>\u00a0during Brexit. Data will be gathered through\u00a0surveys of representative samples<\/strong>\u00a0in Kent, Scotland and Wales, and five local authorities, and combined with qualitative data, including\u00a0insights<\/strong>\u00a0from\u00a0community activists<\/strong>. The research will test how cohesion is made\u00a0better or worse<\/strong>, how and why individuals become\u00a0involved<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0disengaged<\/strong>\u00a0with groups and communities. This evidence will provide insight into how significant\u00a0medium term pressures<\/strong>\u00a0are borne within regions, communities and by individuals.<\/p>\n The findings will provide a\u00a0rich historical record<\/strong>\u00a0of what is happening to\u00a0societal cohesion<\/strong>\u00a0as the\u00a0COVID-19 pandemic<\/strong>\u00a0continues to unfold, and will\u00a0support policy<\/strong>\u00a0to\u00a0build resilience<\/strong>\u00a0against future short, medium and long term challenges.<\/p>\n The team have been awarded\u00a0\u00a3234,559<\/strong>\u00a0to conduct the\u00a0intensive research<\/strong>\u00a0that will take place over the next\u00a0nine\u00a0months<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Dominic Abrams, Professor of Social Psychology said: \u2018We are delighted to have this\u00a0opportunity<\/strong>\u00a0to understand what is happening to\u00a0people\u2019s sense of connection and belonging<\/strong>, their priorities and feelings during this extraordinary time. We hope that this research will break new\u00a0scientific ground<\/strong>\u00a0whilst also contributing\u00a0valuable evidence<\/strong>\u00a0for policy.\u2019<\/p>\n