People & Partners

Institute for Social Marketing

The Institute for Social Marketing (ISM), which is supported through a partnership of The Open University (OU) and Stirling University, is concerned with the study and dissemination of social marketing theory and practice. ISM is a highly successful self-funded academic research unit with over twenty-five years’ experience in delivering research and teaching. The Institute’s activities involve using social marketing principles to develop and evaluate interventions for changing behaviour. ISM is also concerned with the impact of public policy on health and social welfare and the effects of commercial marketing on health and behaviour.  There are currently a number of joint research and writing projects between the Institute and the Marketing and Strategy Research Unit (MSRU) of the OU Business School. Current projects include exploring cancer awareness; tobacco cessation and control; drug prevention and education; and the impact of alcohol marketing on youth drinking.

Visit the ISM website