Government Social Research
'It seems to me that there is no standard that you could say 'this is the way it has always got to be'. I think it's got to be what's appropriate in particular circumstances and those judgements are always down to people like me...' Research Manager
'I want to make some choices and I want to think there is a better and a worse way' Academic/ research practitioner
The Government's commitment to evidence-based policy is matched by its drive to develop excellence in government research and evaluation.
Qualitative techniques are used extensively in government social research so the Strategy Unit in the Cabinet Office commissioned the National Centre for Social Research to undertake a methodological review of quality standards in qualitative evaluation methods. The aim of this project was to produce guidance for undertaking research and evaluation that uses qualitative methods.
The framework provides a useful and useable guide for assessing the credibility, rigour and relevance of individual research studies.
This report and framework also contributes to the ongoing debate in the wider social research and academic community on the quality of all types of social research. The report aims to stimulate further debate and developmental work on these issues.
This project supports the wider activities of the Government Social Research Unit in promoting high-quality social research in Departments to support the development, implementation, review and evaluation of policy.
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