Frequently Asked Questions
What do government social researchers do?
Government social researchers provide government with objective, timely and relevant social research.
Social researchers in government:
- provide information and analysis on a policy issue and its development, or the design of policy delivery mechanisms;
- inform on what key interested parties or 'stakeholders' such as the public, customers and service deliverers think or understand about a policy or service;
- work in partnership with other government analysts to monitor and evaluate policies; and
- evaluate pilots for testing policies or delivery routes before full implementation or roll-out.
Government social researchers provide the following services in their departments.
- Policy research analysis - providing information on what research is already available in a policy area, whether commissioned by government or elsewhere. Also providing advice on whether research from other funders is reliable and relevant. In new policy areas, researchers provide reviews of research evidence.
- Technical consultancy - helping to refine research needs and advise on the best way to meet them.
- Research commissioning and management - if information isn't already available, GSR can commission work - either primary data collection or additional analysis of existing data - and ensure it is properly managed, delivered on time and to budget.
- In-house research and analysis - GSR can conduct analysis or small-scale data collection exercises in-house.
