Government Social Research
Social science research output must be based on sound methodology and established scientific principles. It must be designed, conducted and produced/published to high research standards, and be objectively judged as meeting these standards. It must be impartial and objective and based on the best design available, given constraints.
Research must not be undertaken with a view to reaching particular conclusions or prescribing particular courses of action; it must strive to be objective, and any limitations to objectivity should be made transparent.
Departments/devolved administrations must ensure that they have appropriate quality assurance processes in place, with clear and transparent scruitiny mechanisms from design stage to the point of use, to guarantee the quality of their output.