List of The last word Archive

Do facial expressions convey emotions? (maybe not...)

Blog

01 Jul 2013

Jonathan Rowson

I just came across a fantastic feature on facial expressions and the psychology of emotion. The article is based on a large body of data that challenges Ekman's celebrated research into the universality of facial expressions as a means of conveying emotion. One of the reasons this research is so deeply valued is that it represents one of very few social scientific ideas that appear to have universal currency. The claim is that a sad face, an angry face, a happy face and so forth look the same the world over.

Beyond nudge to demand management

Report

01 Jul 2013

Many local authorities could be forgiven for believing that they now find themselves in the business of managed decline. Is demand management the answer?

The Flex Factor: Realising the value of flexible working

Report

30 Jun 2013

Could flexible working practices unlock commercial and community value?

Investing in Shared Lives

Report

30 Jun 2013

Shared Lives is a little known, but important, alternative to home care and care homes for people in need of support.

Between the Cracks

Report

30 Jun 2013

This is the first major report for several years to examine the issue of in-year admissions in schools in England.  

Incremental, innovative or disruptive

Blog

28 Jun 2013

Matthew Taylor

I have two reminders this week of the fractal nature of my three powers theory (adapted from ‘cultural theory’ which itself based on the work of Mary Douglas).

Architect behind RSA House refurbishment wins RiBA award

Fellowship news

28 Jun 2013

Matthew Lloyd Architects’ refurbishment of The RSA has won a RIBA London Award 2013, which is awarded to ‘the highest quality architecture of the present day for the way that it forms part of and contributes to the continuity and history of its London context’.

Research and Teacher Education with the British Educational Research Association

Fellowship news

28 Jun 2013

How can research best inform teacher education and hence improve the quality of teaching and learning in schools? This new inquiry, from BERA and the RSA, is accompanied by a general Call for Submissions.

RSA Fellows: bound by a common desire for change

Blog

28 Jun 2013

Alexandra Barker

As a newly appointed Fellowship Development Coordinator, one of the first questions I asked my colleagues from the outset was… so what is the average Fellow like? Of course, I soon discovered that amongst the 27,000, there is no such thing as an average Fellow. The Fellowship is made up of a diverse collection of people who are united by the desire to build a better society.