We are pleased to invite proposals for projects that will undertake
cutting-edge methodological research development, within the context
of substantive research problems. Projects must be focused in one or
more of the following strategic areas:

Digital devices and mobile technologies for data collection
Participatory approaches
Analysis of online digital and Big Data
Bio-social data analysis
Policy relevant research synthesis
Small area estimation

The call is issued in partnership with the Department for
International Development (DFID) which will co-fund in the Policy
Relevant Research Synthesis area. The aim of the call is to increase
the quality and range of methodological skills and techniques used by
the UK social science community, to enable new or existing social
science research questions to be addressed more effectively.

http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/34169/ncrm-methodological-research-projects-2015-call.aspx