The symposium comprises of 4 one-hour-long seminars for early career researchers interested to learn more about using and comparing data on social relationships. You can sign up for any or all of the talks. 40 minute presentations will be followed by a Q and A.

What is UK-Japan SWAN? How will it help your research in social relationships and health?

Presenter: Dr Noriko Cable, UCL

Date and time: NOVEMBER 9 12-1

Participants will hear about the UK SWAN project, which is comparing the roles of social and cultural participation in promoting the physical and mental wellbeing of people living in the UK and Japan. They will also hear about relevant social relationships and well-being variables which are likely to be harmonised and used for cross-national comparative research.

Measurement in cross-national comparative research

Presenter: Professor Tarani Chandola, University of Manchester

Date and time: NOVEMBER 16 12-1

This talk will examine some of the methodological issues involved in cross-national comparative research, such as sources of systematic and random measurement error. This will be illustrated using examples of measurement issues in comparative research and the talk will discuss concepts like measurement invariance testing and approximate measurement invariance.

The pitfalls of cross-national comparative research

Presenter: Professor Hideki Hashimoto, University of Tokyo

Data and time: NOVEMBER 23 12-1

The talk will raise the issues regarding the significance of social and cultural context for measurement construct in cross-national comparative studies on social relationship and health. The discussion will treat the construct such as social cohesion, trust, and locus of self identity and the society.

A critique of social and cultural engagement measures included in the UK cohort studies

Presenter: Dr Ula Tymoszuk, Royal College of Music

Data and time: NOVEMBER 30 12-1

This talk aims to provide a brief and practical overview of common conceptual approaches for studying social and cultural engagement within epidemiological research. It reflects on how the interest in social and cultural engagement has evolved over time and points to seminal publications and resources which can help to guide through the complexity of the research on social engagement and health.