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Social Research in the Department for Transport (DfT)

Aims and objectives of DfT

Transport affects everyone, and is essential for a strong economy and society, providing access to jobs, services and leisure activities. Making transport work better is a major Government priority.

Our role is to set overall strategy and policy, and to manage relationships with the local, regional and private sector partners we rely on to deliver our strategy with the aim of providing a transport which works for everyone.

Embedded into the Department’s strategic direction is a response to the challenge of delivering a sustainable transport system which balances the need for realising carbon reductions with maintaining and supporting the economy and productivity of the UK.

The Department has identified five steps towards delivering a sustainable transport system:

1. Cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to combat climate change;
2. Help economic productivity and competitiveness by improving the most unreliable, congested and crowded sections of the transport network;
3. Protect people’s safety, security and health by improving the safety of transport users and workers, addressing the terrorist threat and promoting health benefits of cycling and walking;
4. Improve quality of life, by reducing noise and vibration from transport and reducing its negative effect on biodiversity and the landscape; and,
5. Use transport improvements to help equality of opportunity, giving access to jobs, services and social networks.

What is the role of social research in DfT?

Social researchers in DfT work on a range of high profile areas including congestion and environmental behaviour change, and provide robust social research and evaluation evidence to help underpin policy development and implementation. Working closely with senior policy-makers, social researchers in DfT ensure that the evidence base is designed and utilised to effectively inform high profile policy direction and Ministerial decisions. Given the cross cutting nature of our remit this sometimes involves joint working with social researchers in other Government Departments, in particular Defra, DWP, BERR and DCLG.

We are responsible for developing the evidence in strategic areas, which can involve: synthesising the existing evidence base and identifying gaps through knowledge reviews; commissioning and managing research projects; undertaking in-house research and analysis; and, providing an intelligent customer role to interpret the policy implications from the research findings.

In order to develop the standards for social research and evaluation we have built up methodological and policy-based expertise particularly in relation to accessibility and social inclusion issues, road safety, attitudes and behaviours and evaluation. We are continually developing the evidence base and are drawing on innovative approaches, such as deliberative methods, to provide new learning for the Department.

How is research organised in DfT?

There is a friendly and supportive network of 14 social researchers across DfT who work mainly within two main teams: Social Research and Evaluation, and Road User Safety Research. We contribute to a range of cross cutting policy agendas including:

• Behaviour change – understanding the public’s underlying attitudes and behaviours towards environmental, congestion and road safety initiatives;
• Understanding the medium and longer-term needs of transport users – by exploring the views of the public and businesses about their priorities for travel, and in particular, identifying the needs of vulnerable groups;
• Identifying the impact of the transport system on communities - in relation to accessibility, health and quality of life;
• Measuring the public acceptability of key policies – including policies to reduce congestion, to improve the security of transport and the expansion of airports.

Where can I find out about DfT's research publications?

Further information about social research in DfT, including links to published research projects, can be found at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/scienceresearch/social/