2025 Social Research Dissertation Fairs: Week 2
This week we had another three excellent presentations covering critical issues related to social changes and inequalities
These three research projects examine critical social transitions and inequalities through qualitative and mixed-methods approaches. Collectively, these studies demonstrate the value of centering subjective experiences and interpretive approaches to understand complex social phenomena that extend beyond institutional or purely quantitative analyses.
To retire or not to retire?
ANNE SERR (MSc Social Research)
My research explores a timely and often overlooked question: How do people aged 50 to 65 perceive and emotionally experience the decision to retire? In a world of longer life expectancy, shifting work patterns, and uncertain economic conditions, the traditional notion of retirement is no longer a given. While existing literature often focuses on financial planning or institutional factors, my study examines the emotional and identity-related dimensions of this transition. Adopting an interpretivist lens and using a qualitative thematic approach, this study draws on in-depth, semi-structured interviews (n=12, 50/50 male/female) with individuals who are either approaching or have recently entered retirement. What makes this study distinctive is its focus on how personal meaning, social expectations, and self-perception shape decisions at this stage in life. Preliminary insights suggest that many do not see retirement as a clear end point, but rather, as a space that is heavily negotiated emotionally, socially, and economically. Decisions impacting this and later life are shaped not only by financial factors, but also by identity, purpose, societal value, which often are as, if not more, important than one’s pension size. Overall, this research seeks to provide a novel way of demonstrating the deeply human experience of this stage in life and showcasing the understanding how these types of transitions are much more than a state-assigned pension age or the amount in the pot. Ultimately, the aim is to positively impact social policy and workplace practices.
Anne Serr is currently pursuing an MSc in Social Research at Birkbeck, University of London. Anne brings a rich background in global marketing, brand strategy, and consumer research, with over 20 years of experience leading strategic insight work for major international brands. Her recent volunteer work with Age UK has deepened her interest in later-life transitions and intergenerational wellbeing. She is particularly interested in qualitative methods and the intersection of lived experiences, identity, and life course decisions.
How working on Defra Animal Health and Welfare policies shapes diet and lifestyle choices
ELLIE SIMONSEN (MSc Social Research)
Public attitudes data reveal that British people care about animal welfare, but research shows that knowledge of the reality of farming practices is limited. Those who work in animal welfare policy are well-aware of these realities. Does this awareness have any influence on their choices around animal products? This project will adopt a qualitative, interpretivist approach. More specifically, I plan to use purposive sampling to recruit approximately 20 DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) staff who work on animal health and welfare policies in policy, delivery, analytical, and veterinary roles to take part in semi-structured interviews. This approach will enable an understanding of how subjective experiences and attitudes are connected, thereby shedding light on the relationship between individuals' career and life choices. The research will also explore the human-animal relationshipand ethical and moral values, and how these intertwine with diet and lifestyle choices, particularly in relation to career and identity. The concepts of knowledge and power, and Bourdieu's concept of habitus, will be used to aid in the thematic analysis of the data.
Ellie Simonsen is currently a Government Social Researcher for Defra in the central evaluation team. Up until this year, she was working in the animal health and welfare team as a social researcher, which is where her research idea was inspired. Working as a government researcher means she has and will in the future work on a range of projects using a range of methods, but she has an affinity for qualitative research as she believes we learn the most from delving deep into thoughts and experiences of individuals.
Understanding structural racism in the UK job market through intersectionality and lived experience lens
TESFAY ABADI (MA Sociology)
Structural racism continues to prevail within the UK job market, where racially marginalized individuals are impacted in accessing work opportunities and progress in their careers. According to the 2022 UK Labour Force Survey, the unemployment rate for Black people was 7.7%, compared to 3.5% for White people. Black and Asian workers were more likely to be in insecure, low-paid, or zero-hour contract jobs, despite similar qualifications. This study will investigate the magnitude and the lived experiences of structural racism in the UK job market using a mixed-methods approach. Statistical data from national sources (the national labour force dataset and the office for national statistics) will be analysed to identify the patterns of inequalities in employment outcomes by ethnicity, gender and religion. In addition to this, semi-structured interviews will be conducted with individuals from minority backgrounds and will explore the lived experiences of workplace discrimination, starting from the hiring stage, and institutional barriers that place racially marginalized groups at disadvantage. Theoretically grounded in intersectionality and critical race theory, the research will observe how race intersects with other social identities, such as gender and socioeconomic class, to shape unequal labour market experiences. Some research findings suggest that systemic bias in recruitment, limited progression opportunities and policies impacted people from minority backgrounds while this research highlights the importance of centering lived experience alongside quantitative analysis to understand the structural nature of racism in employment. The study's findings will contribute to developing more inclusive market labour policies.
Tesfay is a postgraduate student in MA sociology focusing on structural inequality, race, and social justice. His current study investigates structural racism in the UK job market and understands the lived experience of African descent and other minority groups. He particularly emphasized intersectionality and critical race theory. His work combines statistical analysis and interviews to explore how race, gender and class shape employment effects. Grounded in intersectionality and critical race theory he aims his research findings to inform anti-racist policies and amplify lived experiences within the labour market.