Corpus Linguistics and Programme Evaluation

This book presents a systematic and in-depth linguistic analysis of the feedback provided by people who participated in Wise Steps, a social inclusion programme that was funded by the European Social Fund and the National Lottery. Wise Steps was delivered across Tyne and Wear between September 2016 and December 2022, and was available to people who were of working age, unemployed or economically inactive, were socially excluded and had multiple barriers to employment, helping 4,431 people in the Tyne and Wear area. In this book, the author highlights the problem of unemployment and social exclusion in the North East, provides a real example of social action and change through Critical Discourse Analysis, and examines a data set of feedback from more than 460 unemployed or economically inactive people. The study brings to light a distressing and hugely problematic situation faced by people with multiple barriers to work and life, with the analysis showing that some people feel lost,stuck, invisible, alone, socially isolated, like no one cares, not part of the community, not listened to, like a number, out of options, out of control, rushed into doing things, scared of the job centre, and treated with disrespect. These feelings are the result of social injustice and exclusion, but they are also linked to these participants' previous experiences with powerful social institutions and "back-to-work" programmes. The final chapter focuses on social change and the denaturalisation of the strict approach followed by powerful social institutions. The book will be of interest to academics and students in the fields of Linguistics, Sociology, Employability and Career Services. It will also appeal to Third Sector organisation professionals, and Monitoring and Evaluation researchers.