Impact case study database

Over the last ten years, research by Hodges and Prys has had demonstrable impact across a range of sectors at local and national level including Government Policy, Education, Third Sector, Healthcare and Civil Society. The impact has been affected through influencing policy and practice in three key, interrelated areas: Welsh Government (WG) Language Policy and Projects; the work of the Welsh Language Commissioner (WLC); and the field of Language Promotion and Education.

Research has significantly influenced WG priorities in the area of language planning as attested by Deputy Chief Social Research Officer, WG: “Understanding the factors that influence the use of Welsh in informal settings and at community level is a key element of the Welsh Government’s work in relation to promoting the use of Welsh. Research undertaken by Dr Cynog Prys and Dr Rhian Hodges has contributed to the evidence base that is available to us, as we increase this understanding” [5.1]. Citing the evaluative analysis undertaken by Hodges and Prys into the efficacy of WG’s flagship language strategy, A Living Language: A Language for Living (2012 - 2017), the WG has changed its strategic priorities within the current WG language strategy, Cymraeg 2050, to focus efforts on community Welsh language use by prioritising key language use domains [5.2]. In particular, the strategy calls for further opportunities for teenagers and young adults to use Welsh socially, as highlighted in Welsh Language Use in the Community for which Hodges and Prys provided expert input [5.3]. The strategy also responds to the research finding that fluent Welsh speakers tend to switch to English when speaking to Welsh learners and new Welsh speakers. Based on the research, WG outlined their aim of embedding “positive language use practices supported by formal and informal opportunities to use Welsh socially” [5.2]. Research findings were also referenced by WG in its Welsh language strategy A living Language: A language for Living - Moving Forward [5.4]. Following recommendations surfaced by Prys in Exploring Welsh speakers’ language use in their daily lives (S4C, BBC Cymru Wales, WG, 2013) [5.5], the WG developed the marketing campaign ‘Pethau Bychain’ (Little Things) to influence daily linguistic behaviour and norms. Additionally, this research contributed to the WG policy of providing an active offer of Welsh language services within the health and social care sector as outlined in the WG’s Strategic Framework for Welsh Language Services in Health, Social Services and Social Care, More than just words (WG, 2019). The research is also referred to within a key policy consultation document National policy on Welsh language transmission and use in families (WG, 2020). In addition, Hodges and Prys have been regularly approached to provide expert input to key WG reports and evaluations in the area of language planning, for example, Process Evaluation of Cymraeg for Kids: final report [5.6].

Research undertaken by Hodges and Prys is regularly used to support WLC decision making and inform those public bodies legally required to adhere to the Welsh Language Standards published in 2015. Bangor University research underpins a co-produced WLC report assessing the use of Welsh within the voluntary sector in Wales [5.7]. The report contains twenty recommendations for good practice and are the only guidelines for language use in the Third Sector. Senior Officer, Welsh Language Commissioner’s Hybu Team states: “We refer to this work in our training sessions for third sector organisations. The slides we have prepared include quotes from the research and our top tips were created based on this evidence” [5.8]. The WLC held several public events with voluntary organisations and stakeholders to promote the research findings and highlight examples of good practice. The WLC used the study to: “Raise awareness of the findings and recommendations through meeting with stakeholders such as Welsh Government, WCVA, County Voluntary Councils, county volunteer bureaus, GwirVol and The Duke of Edinburgh Award, Welsh Sports Association” [5.7]. Bangor research [3.2] also informs the WLC report, My Language My Health [5.9] and the best practice guidelines published by the WLC for county borough councils and National Park authorities [5.10].

Research has informed language promotion initiatives across Wales and education practice across a range of age groups. A key development is the co-produced toolkit [5.11] (with Mentrau Iaith Cymru, the national organisation which supports the work of 22 local Menter Iaith language initiatives) to promote the use of Welsh in the community. The toolkit is used by Mentrau Iaith Cymru (MIC) to train staff and it is hosted on its website for community actors to download. Menter Iaith Bangor, Cered and Menter Iaith Caerffili use the toolkit to facilitate discussions, to understand how Welsh speakers use the language in a variety of contexts, and Menter Iaith Bangor has since expanded their activities by hosting workshops and organised bi-monthly community language panels (Popdy Trafod Iaith). Funded by Bangor University’s ESRC Impact Acceleration Account, dissemination and discussion workshops were held with local stakeholders in eight communities across Wales between March and May 2017. Confirming the use and significance of the toolkit, Team Leader, Mentrau Iaith Cymru states: “This practical resource has been of great use for both MIC and the local Menter Iaith initiatives, of which there are 22 organisations and over 100 members of staff. The toolkit contains valuable examples of innovative programs that can be adapted to work in various communities in Wales. As a result, the toolkit has been used during workshops and training days hosted by MIC” [5.12]. The toolkit was launched by the Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language at the 2017 National Eisteddfod and ignited important discussions on Welsh language community sustainability amongst practitioners and policy makers alike.

Responding to the need identified through research for enhanced availability of targeted materials in Welsh, particularly in relation to the prioritised group of teenagers and young people, Hodges and Prys have led on the development of unique multimedia Welsh-medium Sociology materials and worked to develop new and standardised terminology. These are used to teach A Level, Welsh Baccalaureate, and Degree-level Sociology across Wales. Their ground-breaking Dulliau Ymchwil (Research Methods) online resource [5.13] has over 1000 views and is used in other disciplines, such as education, history and music. This work also contributed to the development of Welsh language terminology in sociology and research methods. Examples include coining terms such as ‘hapsamplu syml’ (simple random sampling) and ‘tanddosbarth’ (underclass). Their work has been incorporated into the Termiadur Addysg (Education Terminology Dictionary) which is utilised by all primary and secondary schools, further education colleges and universities in Wales.