Drugs, sex and social science: Social science research and health policy in Australia

Abstract

Social science health research in Australia has undergone considerable expansion through government sponsorship of projects that complement or address issues related directly to policy and program concerns. In examining the rationale for supporting social science research, and the difficulties that social scientists often face in return in presenting their work in ways that might optimize funding, the paper first explores the paradigmatic tensions between social and biomedical scientists, that in turn influence funding decisions and potentially the receipt and uptake of social research. It also addresses the incorporation of the language and concepts of social science within policy documents, using ‘ethnicity’ as an exemplar of this. The paper then documents and analyses federal targeted-funding programs for health research, and the measures taken to encourage policy-relevant research. In particular, the paper discusses the funding programs that operate for drug and alcohol use and HIV/AIDS.