Government Social Research
Social research is about measuring, describing, explaining and predicting social and economic phenomena.
In government, this relates to policy development, implementation and delivery and to the estimation of policy impacts and outcomes.
Social research explores:
Government social researchers collect data using the methods of social research such as social surveys, focus groups, in-depth interviews and case studies.
They also analyse and interpret data and feed it into the policy process. They have a close relationship with other government analysts, such as economists, statisticians and operational researchers, as well as colleagues working on policy and delivery. Team working is essential in the provision of high quality research data.
Social research informs the development, implementation and evaluation of a wide range of government policies. Government Social Research plays a crucial role in evidence-based policy making today and becoming a social researcher offers an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of government.