Project: Sleep restriction

Training provided by Prof. Arber  relates to the training in Sociology and in Sociology of Ageing at Masters and PhD level at Surrey. Professor Arber, Co-Director, Centre for Research on Ageing and Gender (CRAG), University of Surrey, was Head, Department of Sociology (1996-2002), and Head (2001-2004), School of Human Sciences. The Sociology Department was awarded the highest rating, 5**, in the last Government Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). There are strong links with the Surrey Sleep Research Centre (SSRC) and there are excellent ongoing collaborations between research groups interested in sleep across the University.

The Marie Curie Fellows obtain intensive training in sociology. They are full members of the Centre for Research on Ageing and Gender (CRAG) at Surrey, and take part in the Centre activities. They take relevant modules from the MSc in Social Research Methods, which trains 16 full-time and 28 part-time students per year in sociological research methods. These MSc modules include Research Design and Survey Methods (20 hours), Field Methods and Qualitative Research Design (20 hours), Innovative Ethnographic Methods (10 hours), Data Analysis for Social Scientists (20 hours), Multivariate modelling for social scientific analysis (20 hours), and Computer assisted qualitative data analysis (15 hours). Trainees are also expected to take relevant modules in Sociology of Health and Illness, and the Sociology of Later Life.

Each researcher, both early-stage and experienced, prepares a research and personal development plan in collaboration with Professor Arber. The progress of the Fellow's research studies is evaluated against this plan, and reported in the Marie Curie network meetings. Sara Arber has successfully supervised 29 doctoral students and is currently supervising 12 doctoral students, mostly co-supervisions with other members of the Sociology Department. She has extensive experience of multi-disciplinary research supervision, an integral part of the training of the Marie Curie Fellows. She is currently leading a major UK 4 years multidisciplinary project on optimizing sleep quality among older people in the community and in care homes (SomnIA).

The Sociology Department runs a Day Course programme in advanced sociological research methods - it is expected that Fellows attends relevant day courses, e.g. Sampling and Survey Design, Focus Groups, Qualitative Data Analysis, Designing Research Proposals, Multi-variate analysis. The Fellows attend the Sociology Department programme of research workshops and seminars, and the early stage researchers play a full part in all training activities organised for existing doctoral students in Sociology. There are currently 25 full-time and 37 part-time doctoral students in Sociology. 

The Fellows attend the Sociology Department's weekly research seminar programme. They work alongside existing researchers and doctoral students within the Centre for Research on Ageing and Gender (CRAG). During their Marie Curie Fellowship they obtain a full understanding of the sociological aspects of sleep, and how these interlink to gender and ageing.

The Fellows participate and give papers to the annual meetings of the British Sleep Society (September) and the  biannual European Sleep Research conference. They are encouraged to present papers at other conferences relevant to their research, eg the European Sociological Association Conference. Fellows write up their research results for publication, in collaboration with members of CRAG.

The range of current research on sleep within CRAG and the strength of sociological research in the Department of Sociology provides a lively and supportive training environment that ensures appropriate training and support for both experienced researchers and early stage researchers.  
The details of the training program can be found www.soc.surrey.ac.uk and www.soc.surrey.ac.uk/crag