NCRM Resource Repository

At the request of ESRC, the National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) has prepared a response to the ESRC specification for creating an NCRM Resource repository which will maintain access to the NCRM online training and capacity building resources which have been developed over a 20-year period. Details of what is included is specified in the document from the ESRC. It has been recognised that these resources are valuable assets, and it is important they continue to be made available to the social science community after 2025. The NCRM Resource Repository will provide access to selected, existing NCRM resources (full list below in Appendix). It will not create new training materials or new functionality. The current NCRM website platform will form the basis of the new repository. A new technical platform will not be created. However, the existing website will need to be changed and adapted to reflect the required change in functionality and remit. What we present is a cost-effective option to guarantee access to the online resources across the five years (from Jan 2026). ESRC recognises its new research skills strategic leadership hub ('the Hub') is still being commissioned and that how the ESRC and the new Hub will want to work with the Repository is unknown. This specification has been developed based on the needs identified by the ESRC in July 2024. There may need to be further conversations between ESRC, the Hub and the Repository during the funding period of this 5-year grant (i.e. between 2026-2030) as ESRC's training and capacity building landscape evolves. It is likely that further discussions between NCRM, the ESRC and the Hub may also need to take place during 2025. However, future needs, beyond what is outlined by the ESRC specification have not been included in this response. (The grant therefore does not allow for hand-over of materials or TCB infrastructures to the new hub, nor the upkeep of any functionality of other NCRM TCB infrastructures not listed in the specification from 1 Jan 2026). We anticipate a higher level of activity in years 1 and 2 while the new investment is established and develops their own new online portal for resources. There will be potentially close collaboration required between our team and the new investment, but the nature of this work is yet unknown.   Specification: Maintaining access to NCRM online resources via the NCRM website, which will include (as listed in the ESRC specification): Online tutorials  NCRM E-Prints   Resources for trainers   Recordings of NCRM events and other videos   Podcasts   Books and collections   Methods Futures   The Ethics of Research Involving Children: Common Questions, Potential Strategies and Useful Guidance  Investigative Methods: An NCRM Innovation Collection  Resources for conducting research during the COVID-19 pandemic/Changing Research Practices   ReStore  The NCRM YouTube channel  NCRM Moodle, the NCRM virtual learning platform, which allows access to training materials and resources for course (and event) participants. These particular resources are only available to those that registered for a course (or event). (These resources are not freely available since they are designed for the particular course participants, and restrictions from the presenters may exist.)