60 second Interview
Susan McVie
Director AQMeN,
Senior Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh
How did you become interested in statistics?
I've always enjoyed mathematics, but my first real use of statistics came during my undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at Napier University in Edinburgh. We learned to do statistical analysis using Minitab, and were then able to apply the tests to a range of experiments that we did in the lab (one of which involved a frogs leg that actually managed to jump off the table!). It was a great way to learn statistics and I am a firm believer in applying the theory to something practical as you learn it.
What was your first job on leaving University?
I had lots of little jobs (including working as an adjudicator on Spot the Ball for the Scotsman newspaper), but my first proper job was as a Research Officer for the Central Research Unit at the Scottish Office, as it was called then. My postgraduate degree was in Criminology, so I got a job in the Criminological Research Branch. I had a terrific group of colleagues including Simon Anderson who is now Director of Scotcen, and Michele Burman who is Professor of Criminology at the University of Glasgow. I worked on a wide range of research projects, including studies of fatal accident inquiries, jury service and the experience of child witnesses in adult courts. However, my main responsibility during my time in government research was the Scottish Crime Survey. I was involved in design, management and analysis of the survey and still use crime survey data and maintain an involvement in the planning and design of the survey today.
What is your current role?
I am a Senior Research Fellow within the School of Law at the University of Edinburgh, where I have worked for the last 12 years. I have three main roles. First, I am the Director of AQMeN which means that I am responsible for leading the team of partners funded by the Network and for planning and developing the strategic direction of AQMeN. Second, I am Co-Director of the Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime which is a prospective longitudinal study of youth offending. The Edinburgh Study is now in its 12th year and we are currently interviewing our cohort at age 23, having started when they were just 12. Finally, I am leader of the CJ-Quest network of the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research (SCCJR). CJ-Quest specialises in quantitative methods of research within the field of criminology, and we are involved in developing different ways of analysing crime data. I also sit on various Government Committees, get involved in teaching criminology and statistics, and supervise several PhD students.
Who or what has inspired you in your career?
I am lucky enough to have been inspired, encouraged and mentored by many great people throughout the course of my career. However the person who inspires me the most - and with whom I continue to share a very close working relationship - is Professor Lesley McAra. Lesley is Professor of Criminology at the University of Edinburgh, and a fellow Director of the Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime. Her enthusiasm, wit, brilliance and generosity are endless and it's a pleasure to work alongside her as we develop new ideas and write about our work on youth crime and justice.
What would you say is your greatest achievement during your career?
I'd like to think that my role developing AQMeN will become one of my greatest achievements, but that is very much in it's early stages. My greatest achievement to date is the Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime, which was rated as outstanding by the ESRC and described by an American Professor as one of the "premier longitudinal studies in the world". The study has been running for twelve years, we have had extremely high response rates and the findings that we have published from the study have proved to be hugely valuable, if a little controversial, to public policy debate. For some of the very hard to reach young people in the study who lead chaotic, problematic lives, each interview is a major achievement in itself.
What is your vision for the future of Statistics in Scotland?
That's a big question, but my vision would be for statistics to be a readily accepted aspect of all degree courses regardless of disciplinary background. At the moment there is a really big divide between areas of teaching that feel that quantitative methods are core to that teaching. In a small country like Scotland, this means there are subject disciplines which have big methodological gaps and , in this increasingly competitive marketplace, it would be great to see research across all aspects of Scottish academia flourishing.
What do you think are the main benefits of AQMeN?
One of the main benefits of AQMeN is that it is trying to bring together like minded people from across a range of organisations, subject disciplines and geographical locations. Scotland is a data rich country with many opportunities for collaboration and cooperation; however, this has been hindered by the fact that many people with shared ideas and complimentary skills have not previously had opportunities to meet and talk about their work. I hope that our forthcoming programme of training events, seminars and lectures will help to forge links across Scotland and provide people with the confidence and skills to start developing new areas of work with new people.
