![Professor Mark Western](/sites/default/files/profiles/909.jpeg)
Overview
Background
Mark Western is Research Director, The Queensland Commitment, UQ, and Professor of Sociology in the Centre for Policy Futures in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia and the Queensland Academy of the Arts and Sciences. From 2009 to March 2022 he was Founding Director of the Institute for Social Science Research, UQ's university research institute for the social sciences. He has previously worked at the Australian National University and the University of Tasmania, and held visiting appointments at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Manchester, and the Institute of Education, London.
Mark is an International Fellow of the Centre for the Study of Poverty and Inequality at Stanford University, and a former Chief Investigator on the ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life course and the ARC Centre of Excellence in Policing and Security.
He has been a member of the Boards of the Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research at the University of Manchester, the Leeds Social Sciences Institute, and the Stretton Institute at the University of Adelaide. In recent years Mark Western's external appointments include:
- 2023-2024 Member, National Research Infrastructure Advisory Group, providing long term and strategic advice to the Federal Government on National Research Infrastructure
- 2023- Chair, Group of Eight Equity Working Group, advising the Group of Eight on student equity in higher education.
- 2022- Member, Steering Committee, Academy of Social Sciences in Australia Research Infrastructure Decadal Plan
- 2021-2022 Chair, Expert Working Group reviewing the ERA Rating Scale and Benchmarking for the ARC
- 2020-2021 Chair, Steering Committee for the State of the Social Sciences Report 2021 for the Academy of Social Sciences
- 2019 Member, Advisory Group to the Academy of Humanities Project, Mapping International Research Infrastructures for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
- 2014-2015 Deputy Chair, Review of the Australian Research Training System, Australian Council of Learned Academies.
Mark has also served as Chair and Deputy Chair of ARC ERA and Engagement and Impact Evaluation Committees, and on the ARC College of Experts and various ARC Selection Advisory Committees for other ARC Research Funding schemes.
He has edited and authored 7 books, and over 100 book chapters, journal articles and commissioned reports and held research grants and contracts worth approximately $120 million.
Availability
- Professor Mark Western is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Arts, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
Research interests
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Solution-oriented social science
This work focuses on how to strengthen connections between social science research and "real-world" problems in order to develop better solutions, enhance the relevance and public value of university research, improve research quality and lead to new scientific discoveries. The key to better "solution-oriented" social science is to build strong partnerships between university researchers, government, industry, not-for-profits and civil society. It requires new collaborative approaches across disciplines and sectors, and researchers with strong disciplinary foundations, generalisable advanced research skills, and an ability to move beyond narrow intellectual comfort zones. We also need to build the research infrastructure - data, analytic tools, training and skilled workforce - and other aspects of the research and innovation system, including mission-driven funding mechanisms, to support these activities. I am interested in doing solution-oriented social science to address specific problems and also in research about how to create the conditions to do it better, and at larger scale.
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Social and economic inequality
This work focuses on understanding the dimensions and causes of social and economic inequality in rich countries, and what to do about it. I am particularly interested in educational inequality, dimensions of social and economic inequality in adult life, and now "non-economic" processes, like culture, social capital, and system and institutional design contribute to different kinds of inequalities. I have a particular interest in understanding social and economic mobility across generations and over the life course.
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Social Science Research Methods
My interests in research methods are both technical and more broadly methodological. I am interested in how to improve quantitative methods like social surveys and statistical analyses to generate more valid and reliable conclusions from these kinds of data. I am also interested in how to use new computational methods like machine learning on very large social science datasets, to identify patterns, classify observations, and make better predictions. At the more methodological level, I am interested in how to design research projects and analyse data to produce useful information in real settings where we need certain kinds of good answers - for instance, knowing if a social program works in a real community that is subject to many overlapping programs, where we have too much information, but too few observations for conventional methods to work well. I am also increasingly interested in how working closely with stakeholder communities can enrich social science research and help social scientists avoid making errors, including harmful errors, that come from being too theoretical and abstract, and not sufficiently grounded in the realities they are studying.
Research impacts
Mark has led or contributed to projects which have had direct impacts on policy and practice. In 2001 he led the team which produced one of the first national studies of General Practitioners' use of information technology for the Australian Department of Health. In 2005- 2006 he led a team which produced estimates of international students' non-tuition fee expenditure which were used in the Australian National Accounts to help quantify the export value of Australian education. He also led the first national study of the employment outcomes of graduates of Australian PhD training programs. More recently, he has also worked on major evaluations of government policies and programs, such as the national Paid Parental Leave Scheme, and developed evaluation frameworks for major policy initiatives such as the Health and Hospitals Fund, which supported national health infrastructure, and the Queensland Government's 10 year Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy. Mark also sits on a number of Advisory and Expert Reference Groups for non-government organisations, and State and Federal Government Departments. Mark particularly enjoys working with partners in government, industry and the not-for-profit sector on problems that matter to them and have real-world relevance and impact.
Works
Search Professor Mark Western’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Book Chapter
Social mobility and social capital
Western, Mark and Huang, Xianbi (2024). Social mobility and social capital. Handbook on Inequality and Social Capital. (pp. 351-365) Edward Elgar Publishing. doi: 10.4337/9781802202373.00032
2024
Journal Article
Parenting, child maltreatment, and social disadvantage: a population-based implementation and evaluation of the Triple P system of evidence-based parenting support
Sanders, Matthew R., Clague, Denise, Zając, Tomasz, Baxter, Janeen, Western, Mark, Chainey, Carys, Morawska, Alina, Tomaszewski, Wojtek, Prinz, Ronald J. and Burke, Kylie (2024). Parenting, child maltreatment, and social disadvantage: a population-based implementation and evaluation of the Triple P system of evidence-based parenting support. Child Maltreatment, 30 (1), 10775595241259994-191. doi: 10.1177/10775595241259994
2024
Other Outputs
Advancing equity in Australian higher education
Western, Mark (2024, 02 15). Advancing equity in Australian higher education Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
2023
Conference Publication
The effects of educational capital, cultural and linguistic proximity, and age of arrival on the labour market outcomes of foreign-born university graduates in Australia
Zajac, Tomasz, Tomaszewski, Wojtek, Sharma, Nikita and Western, Mark (2023). The effects of educational capital, cultural and linguistic proximity, and age of arrival on the labour market outcomes of foreign-born university graduates in Australia. ISA RC28 Spring Meeting, Paris, France, 23-26 May 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
The effects of educational capital, cultural and linguistic proximity, and age of arrival on the labour market outcomes of foreign-born university graduates in Australia
Zajac, Tomasz, Tomaszewski, Wojtek, Sharma, Nikita and Western, Mark (2023). The effects of educational capital, cultural and linguistic proximity, and age of arrival on the labour market outcomes of foreign-born university graduates in Australia. RC28 Spring Meeting 2023 'Education and Social Inequality across the Life Course', Paris, France, 24-26 May 2023.
2023
Book Chapter
Class and inequality in Australia
Western, Mark, Baxter, Janeen and Germov, John (2023). Class and inequality in Australia. Public Sociology. (pp. 232-256) London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003193791-14
2023
Book Chapter
Gender role attitudes in Australia 1986–2005
Baxter, Janeen, Van Egmond, Marcel, Buchler, Sandra and Western, Mark (2023). Gender role attitudes in Australia 1986–2005. Encyclopedia of quality of life and well-being research. (pp. 2702-2705) edited by Filomena Maggino. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Cham. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-17299-1_4087
2023
Conference Publication
Labour market outcomes of university graduates of migrant background in australia: the relevance of cultural, linguistic, and educational capital in the country of origin
Tomaszewski, Wojtek, Zając, Tomasz, Western, Mark and Sharma, Nikita (2023). Labour market outcomes of university graduates of migrant background in australia: the relevance of cultural, linguistic, and educational capital in the country of origin. XX ISA World Congress of Sociology, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 25 June-1 July 2023.
2022
Journal Article
Identifying factors for poorer educational outcomes that may be exacerbated by COVID ‐19: A systematic review focussing on at‐risk school children and adolescents
Coles, Laetitia, Johnstone, Melissa, Pattinson, Cassandra, Thorpe, Karen, Van Halen, Olivia, Zheng, Zhaoxi, Bayliss, Olivia, Lakeman, Nicole, Western, Mark, Povey, Jenny and Staton, Sally (2022). Identifying factors for poorer educational outcomes that may be exacerbated by COVID ‐19: A systematic review focussing on at‐risk school children and adolescents. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 58 (1), 13-40. doi: 10.1002/ajs4.236
2022
Journal Article
Connection, connectivity and choice: Learning during COVID ‐19 restrictions across mainstream schools and Flexible Learning Programmes in Australia
Plage, Stefanie, Cook, Stephanie, Povey, Jenny, Rudling, Emily, te Riele, Kitty, McDaid, Lisa and Western, Mark (2022). Connection, connectivity and choice: Learning during COVID ‐19 restrictions across mainstream schools and Flexible Learning Programmes in Australia. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 00 (1), 212-231. doi: 10.1002/ajs4.228
2022
Journal Article
Uneven impacts of COVID ‐19 on the attendance rates of secondary school students from different socioeconomic backgrounds in Australia: A quasi‐experimental analysis of administrative data
Tomaszewski, Wojtek, Zajac, Tomasz, Rudling, Emily, Riele, Kitty, McDaid, Lisa and Western, Mark (2022). Uneven impacts of COVID ‐19 on the attendance rates of secondary school students from different socioeconomic backgrounds in Australia: A quasi‐experimental analysis of administrative data. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 00 (1), 111-130. doi: 10.1002/ajs4.219
2022
Journal Article
The impact of effective teaching practices on academic achievement when mediated by student engagement: evidence from Australian high schools
Tomaszewski, Wojtek, Xiang, Ning, Huang, Yangtao, Western, Mark, McCourt, Brianna and McCarthy, Ian (2022). The impact of effective teaching practices on academic achievement when mediated by student engagement: evidence from Australian high schools. Education Sciences, 12 (5) 358, 358. doi: 10.3390/educsci12050358
2022
Other Outputs
Connection, connectivity, and choice: learning during COVID-19 restrictions across mainstream schools and Flexible Learning Programs in Australia
Plage, Stefanie, Cook, Stephanie, Povey, Jenny, Rudling, Emily, te Riele, Kitty, McDaid, Lisa and Western, Mark (2022). Connection, connectivity, and choice: learning during COVID-19 restrictions across mainstream schools and Flexible Learning Programs in Australia. LCC Working Paper Series. 2022-10. Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane.
2022
Book Chapter
Some comments on class analysis
Western, Mark (2022). Some comments on class analysis. Class in Australia. (pp. 58-74) edited by Steven Threadgold and Jessica Gerrard. Clayton, VIC Australia: Monash University Publishing.
2022
Book Chapter
Adolescence a period of vulnerability and risk for adverse outcomes across the life course: the role of parent engagement in learning
Povey, Jenny, Plage, Stefanie, Huang, Yanshu, Gramotnev, Alexandra, Cook, Stephanie, Austerberry, Sophie and Western, Mark (2022). Adolescence a period of vulnerability and risk for adverse outcomes across the life course: the role of parent engagement in learning. Family dynamics over the life course: foundations, turning points and outcomes. (pp. 97-131) edited by Janeen Baxter, Jack Lam, Jenny Povey, Rennie Lee and Stephen R. Zubrick. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-12224-8_6
2021
Other Outputs
Pillar 3 report: What can be done to maximise educational outcomes for children and young people experiencing disadvantage?
McDaid, Lisa, Cleary, Anne, Robinson, Mark, Johnstone, Melissa, Curry, Matthew, Ridgway, Tyrone and Western, Mark (2021). Pillar 3 report: What can be done to maximise educational outcomes for children and young people experiencing disadvantage?. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2021
Other Outputs
Health and wellbeing Queensland health and wellbeing Queensland data governance framework
Mamun, A.A., Mayfield, S., Maymann, N., Robinson, M., Salom, C., Fatima, Y., Western, M. and McDaid, L. (2021). Health and wellbeing Queensland health and wellbeing Queensland data governance framework. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Institute for Social Science Research.
2021
Other Outputs
Try, Test and Learn Evaluation - Final Report. Prepared for Department of Social Service
Baxter, Janeen , Povey, Jenny , Burger, Sarah-Ann , Cook, Stephanie , Tseng, Yi-Ping , Polidano, Cain , Kalb, Guyonne , Mamun, Abdullah , Ahmad, Shabbir , O'Flaherty, Martin , Borland, Jeff , Plage, Stefanie , Bellotti, Melindy , Kennedy, Elizabeth , Tomaszewski, Wojtek and Western, Mark (2021). Try, Test and Learn Evaluation - Final Report. Prepared for Department of Social Service. Institute for Social Science Research - Publications Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland, Institute for Social Science Research.
2021
Journal Article
Good jobs and bad jobs for Indonesia's informal workers
Ablaza, Christine, Western, Mark and Tomaszewski, Wojtek (2021). Good jobs and bad jobs for Indonesia's informal workers. International Labour Review, 160 (1), 143-168. doi: 10.1111/ilr.12167
2021
Other Outputs
Learning through COVID-19: What do children, young people and families say about needs, and impact of COVID-19?: Pillar 2 Report
McDaid, Lisa, Povey, Jenny, Tomaszewski, Wojtek, Cleary, Anne, Plage, Stefanie, Cook, Steffi, Xiang, Ning, Zajac, Tomasz, Ridgway, Tyrone and Western, Mark (2021). Learning through COVID-19: What do children, young people and families say about needs, and impact of COVID-19?: Pillar 2 Report. Learning through COVID-19 St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Mark Western is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Completed supervision
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Good jobs versus Bad jobs: An empirical analysis of job quality in Indonesia's informal economy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Wojtek Tomaszewski
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Population Synthesis for Travel Demand Modelling in Australian Capital Cities
Principal Advisor
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Intergenerational economic mobility in contemporary Australia: Is Australia still the land of the 'fair go'?
Principal Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Health systems strengthening in global and national contexts
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Melissa Curley
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
A Longitudinal Approach to Measuring Income Mobility among Filipino Households
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Wojtek Tomaszewski
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
The influence of children on female wages: better or worse in Australia?
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Janeen Baxter, Emeritus Professor Gillian Whitehouse
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2005
Doctor Philosophy
BEYOND GENTRIFICATION: THE NEXT WAVE OF INNER CITY SETTLEMENT
Principal Advisor
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2004
Master Philosophy
DEMOGRAPHY OF PERCEPTION
Principal Advisor
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Beyond parental school choice: Understanding parental engagement in the context of school choice policies
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Wojtek Tomaszewski, Associate Professor Jenny Povey
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Pasifika Well-Being and Trans-Tasman Migration: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Samoan and Tongan Well-Being Perspectives and Experiences in Auckland and Brisbane
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Kelly Greenop, Professor Paul Memmott
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Bridging the theory to evidence gap: a systematic review and analysis of individual × environment models of child development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karen Thorpe
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
The housing security afforded by the later life housing circumstances of ex-service households of Queensland: A life course perspective.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Cameron Parsell, Associate Professor Maree Petersen
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Educational and Occupational Aspirations of Young Australians: Towards Understanding Socioeconomic Outcomes
Associate Advisor
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Youth internet engagement and inequality in Australian society.
Associate Advisor
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
A Foucauldian and Quantitative Analysis of NAPLAN, the category 'Language Background Other Than English', and English as a Second Language Level.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Bob Lingard
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Cohabitation in Australia: Characteristics, Transitions and Outcomes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Janeen Baxter
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Fraud against the Commonwealth: An analysis of serious and complex economic fraud investigated by the Australian Federal Police
Associate Advisor
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Environmental Determinants of Sibling Similarities and Differences in Problem Behaviour
Associate Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Household structure and housework hours: The effect of women's changing labour force participation on the domestic division of labour
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Janeen Baxter
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Urban quality of life: Linking objective dimensions and subjective evaluations of urban environments
Associate Advisor
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
THE DIFFUSION AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF ONLINE NEWS: STUDYING THE PAST AND PRESENT TO UNDERSTAND THE FUTURE OF THE INTERNET AS A NEWS MEDIUM
Associate Advisor
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
MARRIAGE BREAKDOWN IN AUSTRALIA: SOCIAL CORRELATES, GENDER AND INITIATOR STATUS
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Janeen Baxter
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2003
Doctor Philosophy
GENDERED CODES OF PARLIAMENTARY CONDUCT
Associate Advisor
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