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Research Assistant

Swansea University

Salary: Grade 07 £31,411 to £35,333 per annum pro rata together with USS pension benefit.
Contract: 7 hours per week 20% FTE Fixed Term Contract Until 31/07/2023

Location: Singleton Campus, School of Psychology

Swansea University research is currently at the forefront of uncovering how much citizens trust politicians and experts. But the reverse – how much politicians trust citizens like you and me – is also important: If politicians doubt the public is able and willing to comply with their decisions, they will refrain from proposing bold policies in the first place, even when these are desperately needed (such as measures to curb climate change). This project wants to find out:

  • how much politicians think trust is an important consideration when making decisions, and
  • how much they actually trust the public.

It is a collaborative project that brings together experts from psychology, political science and law: Dr Gabriela Jiga-Boy (School of Psychology), Dr Dion Curry (Department of Political and Cultural Studies) and Prof Yvonne McDermott Rees (School of Law), and it was funded by Swansea University’s MASI   institute:.

We will investigate politicians’ trust in citizens using use surveys and interviews with politicians, analyses of whether trust is a topic expressed in political discourse, and consultations with policymakers about the role of trust in political decision making. You will be based on Singleton Campus at Swansea University.

The Research Assistant will benefit from working closely in a team made of the PI (Dr Jiga-Boy), the Co-Is (Dr Curry and Prof McDermott Rees), and their undergraduate and postgraduate students. You will benefit from weekly lab meetings that serve as ideas-generation platform for the project. At these meetings, we will discuss the research that feeds into this project, plan weekly activities, and keep track of the project’s development. Your job will be to:

  • Assist the team in designing the ‘Project Trust’ website;
  • Help conduct the quantitative survey including gathering, preparing, and analysing data;
  • Help organize a policymakers’ meeting at Swansea University;
  • Be self-motivated and use their initiative to find solutions for challenges or to seek guidance when needed;
  • Interact professionally with partners elsewhere in the University and beyond, such as in public organisations.

    • Essential criteria:

  • A BSc or MSc Degree in Psychology or Politics;
  • Ability to do basic web design (e.g., using Google sites);
  • A demonstrable ability to conduct research in line with the objectives of the project;
  • Excellent communication skills.

    • Desirable Criteria

    Qualifications – BSc or MSc

    Welsh Language: Level 1 – ‘a little’ (you do not need to be able to speak any Welsh to apply for this role)

    e.g., pronounce Welsh words, place names, department names. Able to answer the phone in Welsh (good morning / afternoon). Able to use of learn very basic every-day words and phrases (thank you, please, excuse me). Level 1 can be reached by completing a one-hour training course.

    • Informal enquiries: Please contact Dr Gabriela Jiga-Boy, Senior Lecturer in Psychology ([email protected] ; telephone: 01792 29 50 82.

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