Government Social Research
There are many social science research organisations that have experience of working with government, and that can provide valuable support to government social researchers. This can be in the form of general social scientific knowledge, specialist expertise, advice and consultation, and potential contractors for commissioned work.
The list of Centres below is not definitive. GSR members who know of additional organisations that can help government social researchers should feel free to offer details to the GSR Web Team.
Centre for Research on Families and Relationships generates high quality research on families and relationships and disseminates it widely. A consortium research centre, whose main office is at the University of Edinburgh, with partners at Glasgow Caledonian University, the University of Aberdeen, University of Glasgow, and University of Stirling. Research programme across the life course and generations, is collaborative and inclusive and produces high-quality cutting-edge research relevant to Scotland today. Research is both qualitative and quantitative.
> Centre for Research on Families and Relationship website
The ESRC is the lead organisation for promoting social science research and training in the U.K. The ESRC's key aim is to 'provide high quality research on issues of importance to business, the public sector and government. The issues considered include economic competitiveness, the effectiveness of public services and policy, and our quality of life.'
The ESRC organises its work around thematic priorities and supports a number of ESRC Research Centres, Programmes and Projects. The ESRC also provide support for training and research development.
>The ESRC
website
(Society Today (formerly Regard) is the online database of the ESRC. It
holds up-to-date information about research projects and associated outputs
plus full text recent reports to download)
One of the ESRC Centres that has considerable relevance for GSR members is the Centre for Evidence-Based Policy and Practice at Queen Mary's College, London. The Centre's primary objectives are 'to foster the exchange of research based evidence between policy researchers and practitioners, and to accelerate the development of methods of appraising and summarising the results of research relevant to policy and practice. It will also aim to improve the quality of research and practice, and through its dissemination function inform and advise those in policy making roles.'
This Centre for Evidence-Based Policy and Practice is the hub of an Evidence Network that includes eight Research nodes developing sound evidence on:
> The Evidence Network's website
(Contact steamrail@britishlibrary.net for information regarding the evidence network associates' newsletter.)
NCeSS aims to raise awareness of, and expertise in, e-science within the social science research community. They provide training, information and support to social scientists with an interest in using these new technologies in their research. They work with networks of social scientists to shape and advance the UK e-social science strategy so that social science research gains the maximum benefit from e-science. For more information, events and current research see:
IFS is an independent research organisation that aims to provide high quality economic analysis of public policy. Its research focuses particularly at the UK tax system, considering the likely effects of fiscal policy on every section of the population.
IFS's research portfolio covers a range of substantive areas, including:
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) is one of the largest independent social policy research and development charities in the UK. It supports a wide programme of research and development projects in housing, social care and social policy. The Foundation also carries out practical innovative projects in housing and care through the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust. It seeks to ensure that these and the findings from the research programme are helpful in the development of better policies and practices across the UK.
JRF's current portfolio of research covers:
> The Joseph Rowntree Foundation's website
National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM)
The mission of the National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) is to provide a strategic focal point for identification, development and delivery of an integrated national research and training programme aimed at promoting a step change in the quality and range of methodological skills and techniques used by the UK social science community.
The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) is the largest independent social research institute in Britain. NatCen designs, carries out, and analyses research studies in the fields of social and public policy, including extensive research among members of the public. It has expertise in quantitative research, survey methods, qualitative research and research into elections and social trends ( CREST).
The NatCen's portfolio of research covers:
The British Social Attitudes Survey was set up in 1983 to measure the changing attitudes, values and beliefs of the British public. Over the years, the survey has covered an extensive number of complex social, political and moral issues. The British Social Attitudes survey records and interprets long-term shifts in public opinion rather than short-term trends.
The Nuffield Foundation was established in 1943 by William Morris (Lord Nuffield) the founder of Morris Motors. The Nuffield Foundation's mission is support research and practical developments that will 'advance social well being'. Apart from making grants to other organisations the Foundation runs its own projects and activities. These aim to develop research in areas where long term study or involvement could make a difference. The Foundation has built up considerable expertise amongst its own staff in a range of long-term activities which include:
> The Nuffield Foundation's website
Policy Studies Institute (PSI) is one of Britain's leading independent research institutes, conducting research to promote economic well-being and improve quality of life. PSI enjoys a reputation for the rigorous and impartial evaluation of policy in the UK and Europe, and the publication and dissemination of research findings is central to our ethos.
PSI undertakes and publishes research studies relevant to social, economic and industrial policy. It is an independent subsidiary of the University of Westminster. PSI's research is organised in three multi-disciplinary research groups:
PSI has a particularly strong reputation for using large-scale national surveys in an innovative and creative way. It also makes extensive use of other research methods, including case studies, intensive interviewing of special groups, statistical analysis, literature and document research, focus groups and discussions with practitioners and other researchers, seminars, conferences and group discussions.
Research Unit for Research Utilisation (RURU) - conducts research on research use and provides a research resource for all interested in using research to improve public policy and services. Also provides training in areas relating to the use of research in policy and practice.
A list of key centres for social research and public policy purposes, and a brief description of each of them, is included on Policy Hub
The Campbell Collaboration is an international organization that aims to
help people make well-informed decisions about the effects of interventions
in the social,
behavioural and educational arenas. It does this by preparing, maintaining
and disseminating systematic reviews of studies of interventions. It also
acquires and promotes access to information about trials of interventions
as well as building summaries and electronic brochures of reviews and reports
of trials for policy makers, practitioners, researchers and the public.
The Campbell Collaboration has three substantive co-ordinating groups in the areas of:
In addition, there are co-ordinating groups in the areas of:
The Campbell Collaboration maintains a register of over 10,000 randomised and possibly randomised trials in education, social work and welfare, and criminal justice (the C2-Social, Psychological and Educational Controlled Trials Register - C2-SPECTR ), and a Register of Interventions and Policy Evaluation ( C2-RIPE ). Through C2-RIPE, researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and the public can access Reviews and review-related documents.
> Campbell Collaboration website
The Campbell [C2] Crime & Justice Coordinating Group is an international network of individuals that will prepare, update and rapidly disseminate systematic reviews of high-quality research conducted worldwide, on effective methods to reduce crime and delinquency or improve justice.
The Campbell [C2] Education Coordinating Group is an international network of volunteer professionals who will prepare, update and rapidly disseminate systematic reviews of high-quality educational and training interventions conducted worldwide that are aimed to improve education and learning.
Campbell [C2] Methods sub-Groups - strive to improve the methodology of research synthesis and to disseminate state-of-the-art reviewing methods. Sub-groups on statistics, research design, implementation process, training, information retrieval, and economic methods.
The Campbell [C2] Social Welfare Coordinating Group (SWCG) is an international network of people interested in the effects of social programs, who prepare, update, and disseminate high-quality systematic reviews of research conducted worldwide on effective methods to promote social welfare, health, and social justice.
The Cochrane Collaboration is an international non-profit and independent organisation, dedicated to making up-to-date, accurate information about the effects of healthcare readily available worldwide. It produces and disseminates systematic reviews of healthcare interventions and promotes the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies of interventions. The Cochrane Collaboration was founded in 1993 and named for the British epidemiologist, Archie Cochrane.
The Cochrane Collaboration currently has 51 substantive review groups covering a wide range of medical, surgical and public health conditions. It has generated 3329 systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and it maintain the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials ( CENTRAL ). It also has nine methods groups to support the different areas of health care research and methodologies that are used by them.
Free access to the Cochrane Library is available via the National Electronic Library of Health .
The OECD groups 30 member countries sharing a commitment to democratic government and the market economy. With active relationships with some 70 other countries, NGOs and civil society, it has a global reach. Best known for its publications and its statistics , its work covers economic and social issues from macroeconomics, to trade, education, development and science and innovation. OECD has an extensive research base, and considerable expertise, within each of these areas.
The World Bank Group's mission is to fight poverty and improve the living standards of people in the developing world. It is a development Bank which provides loans, policy advice, technical assistance and knowledge sharing services to low and middle income countries to reduce poverty. The Bank promotes growth to create jobs and to empower poor people to take advantage of these opportunities.
A major part of the World Bank's activities is research, evaluation and the development of statistics on world poverty.
A list of key centres for social research and public policy purposes, and a brief description of each of them, is included on Policy Hub
Abt Associates Inc applies rigorous research and consulting techniques and technical assistance expertise to a wide range of issues in social and economic policy as well as international development, business research, and clinical trials and registries.
Abt Associates offer a substantive and methodological expertise in wide range of areas. These include:
Center for Evidence-based Practices - an applied research center of the Orelena Hawks Puckett Institute . Aims to bridge the research-to-practice gap in early intervention, early childhood education, parent and family support, and family-centered practices by conducting research, preparing practice-based research syntheses, and producing evidence-based products.
Evidence-Based Program Database - compilation by the Center for Learning Excellence (CLEX) at Ohio State University of quality government, academic, and non-profit lists of evidence-based programs that appear on the World Wide Web and/or in print form. While these existing resources are of excellent quality, they have not been available in a centralized, user-friendly searchable database. Further, the content of all of these lists changes annually, making it very difficult for practitioners to remain knowledgeable of available evidence-based programs and select from them wisely.
The Manpower Development Research Corporation (MDRC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan social policy research organisation dedicated to learning what works to improve the well-being of low income people. Through research and active communication of the findings of research MDRC seeks to enhance the effectiveness of public policies and programmes.
MDRC undertakes research in four substative areas:
Mathematica seeks to improve public well-being by bringing the highest standards of quality, objectivity and excellence in information collection and analysis. It undertakes high quality research to support social policy in the areas of:
Mathematica has two operating divisions - Research and Surveys and Information - and offers expertise in survey methods, social experiments and demonstrations, policy and programme evaluation, and evaluating implementation and operations qualitatively, using process and case-study analyses.
> Mathematica semi-monthly updates
The Upjohn Institute is an independent, nonprofit research organisation devoted to finding, evaluating, and promoting solutions to employment-related problems. It undertakes research on public and private employment, and on unemployment, and seeks to communicate new knowledge and scholarship effectively to a wide audience of policy makers, practitioners and researchers.
The Upjohn Institute's current research portfolio includes:
The Urban Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy research and educational organisation that undertakes research and evaluation on social, economic, and governance problems. It seeks to help decision makers and citizens understand the issues and trade-offs in policy making.
The Urban Institute's current portfolio of research includes:
A list of key centres for social research and public policy purposes, and a brief description of each of them, is included on Policy Hub