Fresh perspectives are invaluable in the world of social impact measurement. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce you to Rebecca Phelan, one of the newest members of our Social Value Lab team. Rebecca’s journey from academic research to applied social impact measurement offers a fascinating glimpse into the diverse pathways that lead to our field.
We sat down with Rebecca to chat about her background, her day-to-day work, and what excites her most about measuring social impact.
From Forensic Psychology to Social Impact
Rebecca’s path to Social Value Lab wasn’t a straight line – and that’s precisely what makes her perspective so valuable. “I did a master’s in forensic psychology after being away from uni for a few years,” she tells us.
But it was this return to academia that gave Rebecca a fresh outlook on research. “I remember in my undergrad very much thinking research is so boring and dry,” she recalls. “But my master’s gave me a new perspective on how useful applied research can be when you’re actually in the settings and speaking to people.”
When her master’s was wrapping up, Rebecca cast her net wide. “I was just looking to see what was out there,” she says. That’s when the Social Value Lab position caught her eye.
“It seemed interesting because it was a researcher role, which I’d been interested in, but it wasn’t in an academic context,” Rebecca explains. “Looking at the website and the work they’d done before with charities – I found that really interesting.”
A Day in the Life at Social Value Lab
So, what does a typical day look like for a researcher at Social Value Lab? As Rebecca quickly learned, there’s no such thing as a ‘typical’ day.
“It’s quite different day to day,” she says. “For example, today I had a meeting to plan the next steps with an organisation, organising site visits to speak to people where they are. There’s often a lot of email back and forth with clients to schedule things and that kind of planning aspect.”
Rebecca’s day often includes conducting interviews. “I’ll maybe do one or two telephone interviews with stakeholders, staff or beneficiaries of programs.” And between these tasks? “There’s usually some background research on the different clients and projects we’re working on to learn more about it. So, we’re asking the right questions, and I know what I’m talking about when I’m speaking to people.”
From Theory to Practice: The Research Process
For those of us not steeped in the world of social impact measurement, the research process might seem a bit mysterious. Rebecca gives us a peek behind the curtain.
“For a lot of projects, and this is obviously a collaborative process, we’ll start with a theory of change workshop,” she explains. “We’ll have a meeting with lots of people involved in the project to come together and get on the same page about the outcomes we’re looking for – the most relevant and important outcomes.”
From there, it’s all about engagement. “Once those have been agreed, we’ll create an engagement plan of who we’re going to speak to and how. After that, we’ll create interview topic guides and surveys, though sometimes there won’t always be both interviews and surveys.”
Current Projects
One of the most exciting aspects of Rebecca’s work is the sheer variety of projects she gets to be involved with. “At the moment, we’re doing some work with Aberlour, the children’s charity, on a few projects about their outreach services for families at the edge of care, and also some short respite services for people with learning disabilities and additional needs.”
But that’s not all. “On the other side, we’re doing some work with Amazon on different projects they’re running. For example, they’ve got an employability scheme where they try to help people with experience in the criminal justice system, care-experienced people, and people with learning difficulties into employment and training.”
The Joy of Continuous Learning
When asked what excites her most about her job, Rebecca doesn’t hesitate. “It’s always learning,” she says. “I’m learning about people and organisations that I didn’t know existed, and then from a research side, techniques that I didn’t know existed.”
This constant exposure to new ideas and approaches is clearly invigorating for Rebecca. “I feel like I’m never going to know everything. I’m never going to stop learning, which I like. So that’s great.”
Looking to the Future: Trends in Social Impact Measurement
As someone with fresh eyes on the field, Rebecca offers an interesting perspective on emerging trends. “There is quite a lot of work that’s very community-based with a holistic approach,” she notes. “Treating people as whole persons, using person-centred approaches where people are met where they’re at, rather than services trying to apply a one-size-fits-all approach.”
Advice for Aspiring Social Impact Researchers
For those considering a similar career path, Rebecca offers this advice: “Come in open-minded, and I don’t mean forget everything you’ve done before. But be prepared to learn about new things and learn from your colleagues. Take it all in and don’t rely on preconceived notions about what you think research is about.”
As our chat with Rebecca winds down, we’re left with a sense of excitement about the future of social impact measurement. With passionate researchers like Rebecca bringing fresh perspectives and a genuine enthusiasm for learning, the field is in good hands.
