Why Social Research?

Why social research?

TONIC wasn't the path I had originally mapped out for myself. Stepping into my first professional role was daunting, and social research wasn't something I had envisioned when I thought about my future. But looking back now, I wouldn't change this trajectory for anything.

My longer-term goal has always been to work in a supporting capacity with people. For as long as I can remember, I've been drawn towards clinical psychology and the idea of making a tangible difference in someone's life. So, when this role came along, I was curious but cautious. I had genuinely loved the research components of my undergraduate degree, but I wasn't sure whether this path would bring me closer to, or further from, the future I had in mind.

What I didn't anticipate was just how much this role would answer questions I hadn't even known how to ask.

Seeing behind the curtain

Before joining TONIC, I would often find myself wondering about the systems that shape people's lives- but why wouldn't they just do this? Working here has shown me the real answers. The intricacies of funding decisions, the mechanisms behind service design, the pressures facing local authorities and other commissioning bodies; suddenly, the picture became far more complex and far more human than I had previously realised.

Through my experience as a volunteer Samaritans listener, I have seen first-hand the consequences of poorly supported, under-acknowledged, and stigmatised mental health in our communities. To now be part of a team whose work directly influences the services that reach those most in need, that is something I find genuinely heart-warming. Research, I've come to understand, is not removed from the human experience, it sits right at the centre of it.

Finding my footing

Research felt like a natural fit in many ways. I had loved every stage of it at university; the design, the facilitation, the moment findings came together into something meaningful. I completed three full research projects while studying, with particular emphasis on gender issues; demonstrated through my final year project investigating how feminist attitudes affect perceptions of fatherhood. I assisted in senior staff members conducting of research within the lab in my spare time, collecting data and administering tests using university apparatus. With experience using statistical software, creating and collecting online surveys, interviews, and designing rating scales, I felt confident in my ability to conduct research.

Translating that into a professional context was a different challenge entirely. As a fresh graduate, liaising with experienced clients and making recommendations to highly respected individuals felt far beyond what I thought I was ready for. Who was I to be in those conversations?

What made the difference was the team around me. Working within a small, attentive group meant that support was never far away, I was never left to navigate the steep learning curve alone, and that made all the difference in building my confidence.

A puzzle piece falling into place

This role has reignited something in me. The passion I had for academic research, which I feared might fade in a professional setting, has only grown stronger. That's part of why I feel so fortunate to have the support of my team while I complete a Master of Science in Affective Disorders alongside my current work.

It feels, in many ways, like pieces of a puzzle coming together; my experience at TONIC, my voluntary work, and my studies are each shaping a perspective grounded in both care and curiosity. Understanding the epidemiology of mental health conditions, the barriers that exist in treatment, and the gaps between research and real-world services: these are not abstract questions to me. They are things I encounter, in different ways, every single day.

Social research is not always the most obvious career choice, and it certainly wasn't mine. But if my experience has taught me anything, it's that the most meaningful paths are rarely the ones you planned. Research gives you the rare ability to sit at the intersection of evidence and empathy; to ask the right questions, find the honest answers, and ultimately shape the systems that affect real people's lives. If you are someone who wants to make a difference but isn't sure where to begin, social research might just be the place where everything starts to make sense.

Written by Phoebe Exelby, Researcher and Analyst, April 2026