The Applied Social Science Group provides a forum for research exploring patient experiences, contexts and health behaviours in their social context 1 of 3
Bringing together social science methods, approaches and ideas to understand and contribute to medical practice and public health 2 of 3
Current projects located in the ASSG include study of the relationship between infant mental health and later physical health in adulthood, funded by the Wellcome Trust 3 of 3
The Applied Social Science Group (ASSG) was established within the Primary Care Unit in 2016, and is headed by Dr Robbie Duschinsky. Our work has three main strands:
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Teaching social science research, methods and theory within the Cambridge Clinical School.
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Leading grant-funded interdisciplinary studies addressing the integration of health and social care, with a particular focus on mental health, family relationships and safeguarding.
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Contributing social science input to other research within the Primary Care Unit.
Our teaching and research are highly collaborative. Crucial to both is the involvement from experts-by-experience and clinicians. The policy-relevance and impact of our research also benefits from ongoing collaboration with the National Children’s Bureau.
Our work is guided by some core values:
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Attention to inequalities and intersectionality informs everything we do.
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We try to take nothing for granted about the current state of services in our research or the current state of medical education in our teaching.
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We are focused on change: conducting research and teaching to improve outcomes for patients and service-users.
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Building for the future is a core purpose for the group, especially in supporting early career researchers.
An Investigator Award in Medical Humanities from Wellcome (2014-2021) supported research on the history of attachment research and its applications in clinical and child safeguarding practice with children and families.
Find out about our research on the history of attachment research
Among recent projects, a Collaborative Award in Medical Humanities from Wellcome (2020-2025) is supporting research into the impact of health and social care assessments on children and families.
Applied Social Science Group News
Dr Robbie Duschinsky awarded Pilkington Prize for outstanding teaching
Dr Robbie Duschinsky is a 2022 winner of the University of Cambridge’s highest teaching award, the Pilkington Prize. Robbie is Associate…
PCU profile: meet Dr Barry Coughlan
Barry is research associate at the Applied Social Science Group, established within the Primary Care Unit in 2016 by Dr…
This online panel discussion, held on 15 July 2021, celebrated the publication of Dr Robbie Duschinsky and Sarah Foster’s new…
New report ‘Supporting and strengthening families through provision of early help: A rapid review of evidence’, highlights problems the Government…
150,000 downloads for open access book on attachment research by Dr Robbie Duschinsky
Dr Robbie Duschinsky’s Cornerstones of Attachment Research, a widely accessible introduction to the field of attachment research, has been downloaded…