Policy making is: 'the process by which governments translate their political vision into programmes and actions to deliver 'outcomes' - desired changes in the real world'. (Modernising Government White Paper, 1999)
This concern with achieving real changes in people's lives is reflected in the Government's overall strategy for improving public services published in March 2002 (Reforming our public services: principles into practice - pdf, 4082kb) [No 10 website]
Promoting good practice in policy making is fundamental to the delivery of quality outcomes for citizens and to the realisation of public sector reform.
Policy makers should have available to them the widest and latest information on research and best practice and all decisions should be demonstrably rooted in this knowledge.
The features of good policy-making are considered in detail in Better Policy-Making (pdf, 1120kb) [CMPS website] and Professional Policy-Making for the 21st Century (pdf)
In addition, the National School of Government offers a wide range of courses on various aspects of policy making
The International Comparisons in Policy Making Toolkit provides help and guidance in the use of international comparisons in policy making.
Better Regulation Executive have published a guidance checklist for policy makers on impact assessment and appraisal.
The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland have produced a very helpful policy toolkit for the Northern Ireland Civil Service.
This area also includes a section proving links to guidance, reports and projects on risk management
The following pages provide links to a variety of sources and initiatives (websites, networks, databases, reports etc) that support better policy making. The nine features of policy making, identified in Professional policy making for the twenty first century (pdf, 321kb), published by the Cabinet Office Strategic Policy Team in 1999, have been used as a framework for linking to these. Use the links below to navigate to the page of your choice:
The Improving Delivery area of Policy Hub provides more detail on initiatives and projects to improve the implementation and delivery of policy and examples of successful delivery.
This section provides access to key documents that have helped set and guide the agenda to improve policy making. The publications are arranged alphabetically by title. Use the A-Z index below to find the title that you are interested in quickly. (Warning: some of the larger pdf documents may take a few minutes to download.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
2020 vision: report of the Teaching and Learning in 2020 Review.-DfES, 2007
The abuse of research / Marie Breen Smyth and Jeroen Gunning.- in Guardian, 13 February 2007
Adding it Up: improving analysis and modelling in Central Government Performance and Innovation Unit, 2000. (This report makes proposals for improving analysis in Government).
Adult offenders’ perceptions of their underlying problems: findings from the OASys self-assessment questionnaire - Home Office, 2007 (Findings 284)
Ageing
& Society
Benefits: the journal of poverty and social justice-Policy Press (Volume 15, number 2) - table of contents - special issue with several of the contributions arising from an ESRC seminar series on poverty and social justice. Both the seminar series and the articles in this issue seek to facilitate engagement between academics, policy makers and practitioners.
A better education for children in care, Social Exclusion Unit, 2003
The Better Government for Older People Programme was launched in 1998 to improve public services for older people. It is a unique partnership between central government, local government, the voluntary sector, the academic world and older people.
Better policy delivery and design. (111kb) Performance and Innovation Unit, 2001 (Looks at what can be done, particularly at the centre, to help those on the front-line achieve better results and draws on a series of brief case studies examining recent experiences of policy delivery).
Better Policy Making. (1120kb) Centre for Management and Policy Studies, 2001. (This report is a a comprehensive survey of policy making across Government. Drawing on extensive case studies that demonstrate innovative approaches to policy making, it shows what can be achieved by civil servants working with Ministers in complex areas of public policy). Warning: this report make take a few minutes to download
Better policy making: a guide to Regulatory Impact Assessment. Cabinet Office, 2003 - now revised as Regulatory Impact Assessment Guidance. Cabinet Office, updated 2005 - provides background information on the meaning and purpose of RIAs and step by step guidance on the procedure for preparing and presenting them.
Breaking the Cycle - Taking stock of progress and priorities for the future, Social Exclusion Unit, September 2004
Breaking the gridlock: moving the road pricing debate forward - Local Government Association, 2007
Bridging the policy/ research divide: Reflections and Lessons from the UK / Sandra Nutley - New Zealand Treasury guest lecture series: 28 April 2003. Draws upon data from the UK to argue that there is the potential for policy decisions to be better informed by research evidence. This requires an investment in research, some rethinking of policy processes, and the development of mechanisms for bringing research and policy closer to one another.
Brief review of trends in political change: freedom and conflict (378kb) - summary of trends in freedom and conflict of the past several decades; changes in governance, freedom, armed conflict, refugees and terrorism.
Brief review of world basic demographic trends (708kb) - summary of the main demographic trends of the past several decades; changes in population size, population size, population growth, infant mortality rates, age distributions.
Brief review of world socio-demographic trends (784kb) - summary of the main socio- demographic trends of the past several decades; changes in urbanization, education and ethnolinguistic fractionalization.
The British Journal of Sociology - scholarly journal published on behalf of the London School of Economics and Political Science. Some content is free to view - ask your librarian for guidance.
Building on progress: security, crime and justice.-Home Office, 2007
Building policy capacity in Newfoundland and Labrador.-CPRN, 2007
The Campbell Collaboration: Helping to Understand What Works, National Institute of Justice Journal, volume 251 - provides important information for policy makers and social researchers about the Campbell Collaboration
Canadian Policy Research Network (CPRN) - links to over 1500 online documents - all CPRN publications since its creation in 1994
Capturing Innovation, Office of Government Commerce (OGC), April 2004 - provides advice on harnessing innovative ideas from suppliers. The guide is aimed at policy staff as well as OGC's regular audience of programme, project and procurement teams.
The changing nature of the school-to-work transition process in OECD countries.-IZA, 2007
Children at Risk (HM Treasury) This review will seek to establish key targets for children's services, identify obstacles to meeting those targets and test departmental baselines against those findings.
Citizens Forum.-Cabinet Office, 2007
Climate change 2007: the physical science basis.-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007
Code of Practice on Consultation, Cabinet Office, 2004. The Code comes into force on 1 April 2004 and will apply to all UK public consultations by government departments and agencies, including consultations on EU directives.
Communities, Social Exclusion and Crime by Rt. Hon. David Blunkett MP, Barbara Roche MP, Professor Roger Graef, Professor Mike Hough, Dr Jessica Jacobson, Matthew Baggott QPM, Alison Hannah, Tabitha Taylor Higginson, David Hooker, Sir Charles Pollard, Andy Hawthorne. Edited by John Grieve CBE QPM and Roger Howard, Smith Institute, 2004 - a series of specially commissioned essays by experts in a wide range of fields associated with crime, social exclusion and community building. It seeks to highlight a number of areas upon which policy must focus if the Government is to achieve its overarching aims.
Community,
immigration and the construction of citizenship.-ESRC, 2007
Connecting with users and citizens (pdf) Audit Commission, 2003. - Guidance illustrated by case studies which aims to inform and encourage public sector service providers to develop new and effective ways of involving local people in improving services that they use.
Crime in England and Wales: 2006/07 - Home Office, 2007
Crime statistics in Canada: 2006 - Statistics Canada, 2007
Current migration trends in OECD countries.-Eurasylum, 2007
Depression and older people: towards securing well-being in later life by Mary Godfrey with Tracy Denby, Policy Press in association with Help the Aged, 2004
Developing educational leadership: using evidence for policy and practice, edited by Lesley Anderson and Nigel Bennett, SAGE Publications, 2003. Examines the approach of Evidence-Informed Policy and Practice (EIPP) to structuring research studies and analysing the data generated, to inform educational leadership in its key task of improving learning and teaching.
Development of policy advice, Auditor-General of Melbourne Australia, 2004 - evaluation of the development of policy advice by state government departments, in Report on Public Sector Agencies: results of special reviews and other studies, August 2004.
Devolution: Inter-Institutional Relations in the United Kingdom House of Lords Committee, 2002. Examines the relationship between Government and the Devolved Assemblies and assessed the impact of devolution within the United Kingdom.
Does cannabis use lead to mental-health problems?: findings from the research - Canberra: Paliamentary Library. Information and Research Services, 2007
The drivers of social exclusion: Review of the literature for the Social Exclusion Unit in the Breaking the Cycle series, Social Exclusion Unit, September 2004
Drug use in the family: impacts and implications for children - Australian National Council on Drugs, 2007
E-Policy principles: a policy makers guide to the Internet. Office of the e-envoy, 2003. These principles are designed to make policy makers aware of the impact that local, national, European and other international policy decisions and legislative proposals have on e-commerce.
Education and Skills Research (DFES)
Education and Skills Statistics (DFES)
Education and youth transitions in England, Wales and Scotland 1984-2002 - Economic and Social Research Council, 2007
Enhancing the value of health statistics: user perspectives: a report by the Statistics Commission
Ensuring that policies deliver value for money: Forty-Ninth report of the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2001 - 2002 [Stationery Office website]. This report, published on 31 July, examines the progress made in encouraging departments to improve their policy making so that risks to value for money are better managed. Includes Proceedings of the committee relating to the report; Evidence (Monday 21 January 2002) (HC541I, Session 2001-02); Memorandum submitted by the Cabinet Office Centre for Management and Policy Studies; Witnesses: Sir John Bourn KCB, Comptroller and Auditor General; Mr Brian Glicksman, Treasury Officer of Accounts; Mavis McDonald CB, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Cabinet Office; Professor Ron Amann, Director General, Centre for Management and Policy Studies; Dr David Salisbury CB, Principle Medical Officer, Communicate Disease Branch, Department of Health; and Mr Stephen Crowne. Acting Director, Standards and Effectiveness Unit, Department for Education and Skills; Mr Tim Burr, Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General.
Environmental Audit: third report.-House of Commons. Environmental Audit Committee, 2007
Ethnicity and health.-POST, 2007
European Governance: a white paper (pdf) Commission of the European Communities, 2001.COM 2001 (428). This report proposes important changes to ensure that EU policy-making is more inclusive and cross-cutting and linked to long-term objectives.
The European Happy Planet Index - New Economics Foundation, 2007
Evaluation of Drug Interventions Programme Pilots for Children and Young People: Arrest referral, drug testing and drug treatment and testing requirements.-Home Office, 2007 (PDF format, 651 Kb)
Evidence-based policy and practice / Boaz A. and Nutley S.M. in T. Bovaird and E. Loffler (eds) Public management and governance, Taylor and Francis, 2003.
Evidence-based practice in education, edited by Gary Thomas and Richard Pring, Open University Press, 2004 Explores the arguments of leading advocates and critics of evidence-based practice in education.
Evidence-informed policy: the role of outsiders. Centre for Evidence Based Policy and Practice, May 2005, (Working Paper 23) - looks at the factors that can help, or inhibit, outsiders in making a positive contribution. Using external experts from business, academia and elsewhere to contribute to central government policy development and delivery has a long history in the UK. The paper includes insights from some 30 confidential interviews with outsiders themselves, and others with relevant knowledge and experience.
Foot and Mouth Disease: lessons to be learned inquiry report - This report of the independent inquiry chaired by Dr Ian Anderson identifies the lessons that can be learnt from the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak. These include basing policy decisions on the best available scientific evidence available and ensuring that the processes for providing scientific advice are widely understood and trusted.
From transmitted deprivation to social exclusion by John Welshman.- Policy Press, 2007 - explores the history of debates over 'transmitted deprivation' and their relationship with current initiatives on social exclusion.
Governing for the future: second report of Session 2006-07: volume I: report, together with formal minutes (HC 123-I).-House of Commons. Public Accounts Committee, 2007
Government Action Plan for small business: The Evidence Base Small Business Service, 2004 - An Evidence Base complements the Plan by providing a more detailed analysis of the evidence justifying the case for government action for each of the seven strategic themes. 'The Evidence Base illustrates the importance that the Small Business Service attaches to the accumulation and use of knowledge and to making sure that all policy decisions which affect small businesses are underpinned by sound evidence and analysis.'
Government response to Scientific advice, risk and evidence-based policy (HC 900-I)
Green Book: appraisal and evaluation in Central Government. HM Treasury, 2003. See also Managing risks to the public: Appraisal Guidance- supplementary guidance to the Green Book, Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government, published on 17 June 2005.
Guidance for Communicating Research Evidence - Policy makers often make the point that the key findings of social research and other types of analysis are hard to identify, or are buried in the rather dense text of research reports. The Canadian Health Services Research Foundation has developed an excellent two page guidance note on how to present and communicate research findings for policy makers and practitioners. It is called the 1:3:25 method and refers to the need to publish:
This approach has been used by government departments and agencies in Canada, Australia, the USA, the UK and other countries. For further details go to the report on the CHSRF website. Also see, other guidance notes for communicating research results to non-research audiences (pdf)
Guidelines on Scientific Analysis in Policy Making (pdf) [OST website] Office of Science and Technology, Revisied 2005 - a high-level document addressing the way in which government departments obtain and use analysis and advice in policy-making. The guidelines also seek to further highlight the need for analysts and policy makers to be explicit about the level of uncertainty surrounding the evidence they intend to present to policy makers. The guidelines call for:
Health is global: proposals for a UK Government-wide strategy.-Department of Health, 2007
Health effects of climate change in the UK - Department of Health, 2007
Health profiles for local councils - Department of Health, 2007
House of Commons Library Research Papers - The House of Commons Library Research Papers provide analyses and background information on topics of current parliamentary interest compiled for Members of Parliament by the staff of the House of Commons Library.
Identifying and Exploring Young People’s Experiences of Risk, Protective Factors and Resilience to Drug Use.-Home Office, 2007 (PDF format, 157 Kb)
Identifying good practice in the use of programme and project management in policy making (pdf, 613kb) Strategy Unit; Prime Minister's Office of Public Service Reform, 2002 - presents a distillation of the views and experiences of Civil Servants with policy and PPM backgrounds who have successfully applied PPM to policy and sets out some of their 'wisdom'.
Identifying Good Practice in the Use of Programme and Project Management in Policy Making - a cross-departmental project led by the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit and the Improving Programme and Project Delivery (IPPD) team within the Prime Minister's Office of Public Services Reform have examined good practice in Programme and Project Management (PPM) in the policy process. The final Improving programme and project delivery report was published in February 2003.
Identity in Britain by Bethan Thomas and Daniel Dorling.-Policy Press, 2007 - "explores changing identities from infancy to old age...atlas provides a "unique visual picture of identity and geography combined and tells the story of the myriad geographies of life in Britain" (website).
Imaginative thinking for better regulation Better Regulation Task Force, 2003 (Calls for better consideration of all available measures, including 'do nothing', when implementing policy objectives)
Impact assessment and appraisal: guidance checklist for policy makers Strategy Unit, 2002 Tips on where to go for guidance on impact assessment and appraisal
The impact of government policy on social exclusion among children aged 0-13 and their families A review of the literature for the Social Exclusion Unit in the Breaking the Cycle series, Social Exclusion Unit, September 2004
The impact of government policy on social exclusion among older people A review of the literature for the Social Exclusion Unit in the Breaking the Cycle series, Social Exclusion Unit, September 2004
The impact of government policy on social exclusion among working age people: A literature review, Social Exclusion Unit, September 2004
The impact of government policy on social exclusion among young people: A review of the literature for the Social Exclusion Unit in the Breaking the Cycle series report, Social Exclusion Unit, September 2004
Incorporating regional perspectives into the policy making process: issues for a future research study. Cabinet Office, 2002 This report commissioned by the Policy Studies Directorate (now part of the Strategy Unit) explored how regional perspectives are best incorporated into the policy making process. The report also scoped further work which resulted in the production of the toolkit and linked findings report below.
Incorporating regional perspectives into policy making toolkit (596kb) Cabinet Office, ODPM, 2002. This is intended as a practical resource to help policy makers ensure that their policy making is informed by a proper understanding of regional issues and priorities.
Incorporating regional perspectives into policy making: findings report (pdf, 309kb) Cabinet Office, ODPM, 2002. This document complements the above toolkit. It sets out the background to the agenda for regional involvement in policy making and the components of an improved approach to involving the regions in some detail.
International Comparisons in Policy Making Toolkit CMPS, 2002. The toolkit is intended to provide practical help to policy makers in the use of international comparisons in policy making
International migration outlook 2007 - OECD, 2007
Involving front-line staff in policy making (pdf, 169kb) Strategy Unit, 2002. Examines the involvement of the 'front-line' in policy making and includes case studies that have been used to identify and disseminate effective practice.
Is Free School Meal status a valid proxy for socio-economic status (in schools research)? - Department for Education and Skills, 2007
Jobs and Enterprise in Deprived Areas, Social Exclusion Unit, September 2004
Journal of European Social Policy - provides coverage of issues including ageing and pensions, family policy, gender, health care, migration, poverty, unemployment, voluntary sector. Has a digest of the latest European legislation and research. Comparative information covers developments outside of the EU.
Journal
of Social Policy - "high quality articles on all aspects of social
policy in an international context" [publisher].
Learning to listen: core principles for the involvement of children and young people (566kb) Children and Young Person's Unit, 2001. (Provides policy makers with a framework to ensure that children and young peoples have opportunities to be involved in the design and delivery of policy).
Lessons from the Development of Cross Cutting Units This is a working paper commissioned by the CMPS as part of the Better Policy Making programme which seeks to address problems and capture achievements in policy development and delivery, and to identify and encourage good practice.
Libraries and community cohesion / John Vincent, SEMLAC, 2005 - contents include Community Cohesion; Social Inclusion and Social Exclusion; Measuring the impact of Culture; The national context; The South East
Living
apart together: British Muslims and the paradox of multiculturalism.-Policy
Exchange, 2007
Local delivery of central policy: report by the Better Regulation Task Force (pdf) Cabinet Office, 2002. This report contends that the effective local delivery of services is impeded by too much control and rigidity at the centre. It sets out a series a recommendations to achieve the alignment of strategies, objectives and geographic areas between agencies.
Long-term Strategic plans
See:.
Low income diet and nutrition survey - Food Standards Agency, 2007
Making a difference to disadvantaged families? Qualitative case studies, Social Exclusion Unit, September 2004
Making policy in theory and practice edited by Hugh Bochel and Sue Duncan. - Policy Press, 2007 - combines academic and practitioner perspectives to provide critical consideration of contemporary policy-making and highlight examples of good practice at all levels of government.
Making social policy work edited by John Hills, Julian Le Grand and David Piachaud. - Policy Press, 2007 - a distinguished panel of leading social policy academics discuss questions on social policy, now central to political debate in Britain.
Making the connections: transport and social exclusion, Social Exclusion Unit, 2003
Managing risks to the public: Appraisal Guidance HM Treasury, 2005 - supplementary guidance to the Green Book, Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government. It provides guidance for developing and assessing proposals that affect the risk of fatalities, injury and other harms to the public in line with the Government's Principles of Managing Risks to the Public - openness and transparency, involvement, proportionality and consistency, evidence and responsibility. The guidance also contains a tool to help structure and make explicit the evaluation of concerns that may exist about risks of fatality and harm.
Measuring performance of Government Departments - international developments: a report for the National Audit Office Modern policy-making: ensuring policies deliver value for money.-National Audit Office, 2001.-(HC 289 Session 2001-2002)
Mental Health and Social Exclusion, Social Exclusion Unit, 2004
Migrants, integration and local neighbourhoods - Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2007
Millenium Cohort Study: second sweep - University of London. Centre for Longitudinal Studies, 2007
Modern policy making: ensuring policies deliver value for money. TSO, 2001. (134kb) (HC 289, 2001-02). This National Audit Office report examines how departments can better integrate considerations of risk and value for money into the design, implementation and maintenance of policies.
Modernising Government (pdf, 1398kb) TSO, 1999 The Modernising Government White Paper included important recommendations for the modernisation of policy making. It argued that policy making needed to be better informed by evidence and analysis and needed to be both more forward and outward looking. It proposed a programme of action to ensure that policy making delivered 'creative, robust and flexible policies' based on outcomes. Warning: this report make take a few minutes to download.
OECD health data 2007 - OECD, 2007
Online carbon footprint calculator - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 2007
Our shared future - Commission on Integration and Cohesion, 2007
Overcoming disadvantage through the engaging classroom - Education Foundation, 2007
Participatory approaches to research on poverty Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2004 Gives an overview of 'participatory' approaches to research and inquiry into poverty in the UK. 'Participatory' approaches respect the expertise of people with direct experience of poverty and give them more control over the research process and more influence over how findings are used. The researchers examine the issues involved when principle turns into practice.
Policy & Politics - established and highly reputable international journal focusing on cross-cutting themes to explore the the origins, impact and evaluation of public policy across a wide range of policy areas.
Policy Action Team Approach (See The Social Exclusion Unit's Policy Action Team Approach to policy development: the views of participants)
Policy Evaluation in the United Kingdom/ Philip Davies, Prime Minister's Strategy Unit. Government Chief Social Researcher's Office, 2004 paper presented at the KDI International Policy Evaluation Forum, Seoul, Korea 19-21 May 2004; reviews the types of evaluation that are used by the UK Government, including impact evaluation, implementation evaluation, economic evaluation, and the use of descriptive and inductive statistics for evaluation purposes. The use of Performance Management for the allocation and accountability of resources by the UK Government is described, as is the machinery that has been developed in the UK to deliver better public services. Concludes by considering the role of factors other than evidence and policy evaluation in the UK policy making process.
The power and potential of well-being indicators: measuring young people's well-being in Nottingham. New Economics Foundation, 2004 Looks at two measures of well-being in over 1,000 youngsters' life satisfaction and personal development. Personal development is related to being curious, and engaging in challenging and absorbing activities. Previous studies have only focused on life satisfaction, but this other dimension of well-being is important for people's overall ability to cope well with life's challenges and is directly related to physical health, particularly in later life.
Predictive Factors for Illicit Drug use Among Young People: A literature review.-Home Office, 2007 (PDF format, 370 Kb)
Professional policy making for the twenty first century (pdf, 321kb) Cabinet Office Strategic Policy Team, 1989 This report provides a descriptive model of policy making based around nine features and suggests levers for changing policy making).
Progress in achieving Government on the Web House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, 2002. Assesses the progress of Departments in introducing e-services.
Public accountability in practice: the need for public scrutiny, PMPA, 2004 (argues that public accountability appropriate to the modern social and political context is a major challenge facing representative government in the UK today. She says that the government's failure to engage is resulting in a despondent electorate, which has lost faith in the way it is represented, is unclear about forms of accountability, with the effects manifesting in low voting turnouts. A summary can be viewed at http://www.pmpa.co.uk/)
Public space and interaction between diverse communities - Demos, 2007
Quick But Not Dirty: Rapid Evidence Assessments as a Decision Making Support Tool in Social Policy / Gavin Butler, Stuart Deaton, James Hodgkinson, Elizabeth Holmes and Sally Marshall. 'APSAC Advisor', Volume 17, Number 2, Spring 2005 - Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, USA article describes a new approach to harnessing robust research evidence for policy makers in a more focused and timely way than many other secondary research methods, namely the Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA). An REA orders and filters research evidence in a similar way to a systematic review, but meets the urgent timescales of decision makers at national or local level.
This article describes the background to the first two REAs conducted and introduces the methodology. It then considers the case study examples in detail, the first focused on the development of the methodology and the second considering research utility and how REAs can be used with a policy and practitioner audience. The article concludes by discussing challenges and future implications for the REA approach
Reaching out: the role of Central Government at regional and local level. Performance and Innovation Unit, 2000. (This report examined how Central Government can provide better and more efficient delivery of policy and services to people and organisations at local and regional level. It led to the establishment of the Regional Co-ordination Unit).
Reader-friendly writing - 1:3:25. CHSRF, 2001 - guidance for communicating research evidence from the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation. It is called the 1:3:25 method and refers to the need to publish:
This approach has been used by government departments and agencies in Canada, Australia, the USA, the UK and other countries. Other guidance notes for communicating research results to non-research audiences is available at on the CHSRF website (pdf)
Reforming our public services: principles into practice (pdf, 4082kb) [No 10 website] Prime Minister's Office of Public Service Reform, 2002. (Sets out the Government's overall strategy for public services reform and describes the four principles of Public Service Reform that need to underpin the modernisation programme)
Regulatory Impact Assessment Guidance Cabinet Office, updated 2005 - provides background information on the meaning and purpose of RIAs and step by step guidance on the procedure for preparing and presenting them.
Resources for Methods in Evaluation and Social Research - links to free on line books, manuals, articles on how to do social research, including surveys, interviews, observations and more. Also links to research about research methods, free software, and sites on how to present data. This site also has a review of free statistical resources
The "ripple effects" of sexual assault - Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2007
Risk, Protective Factors and Resilience to Drug Use: Identifying resilient young people and learning from their experiences.-Home Office, 2007 (PDF format, 664 Kb)
Risk: Improving government's capability to handle risk and uncertainty Strategy Unit, 2002. This report identifies the ways in which government needs systematically to develop its capacity to handle risk and makes proposals for improving the way government handles and communicates about risk to the public.
Risk Management of Everything, Demos and Institute of Chartered Accountants, 2004. Describes the development of a new risk management culture within professions, companies and governments. The obsession with managing risk is creating organisations which are not so much risk averse as 'responsibility averse'.
Risk Programme.-HM Treasury and NAO - highlights how early risk assessment and management can help to ensure policies can be successfully delivered. A tool for policy makers (doc) identifies ten main areas where departments need to pay particular attention from the outset of policy development, if they are to deliver successfully. The Risk Management Assessment framework (pdf) is a useful tool in this process.
The risks of not taking risks (NAO) This is an article included in the November 2000 issue of Focus produced by the NAO. It describes the work of the NAO in developing a risk management strategy.
The role of external review in improving performance. HM Treasury, Public Services Productivity Panel, 2001. Reports on an external review of public sector performance that aims to improve performance across all public services.
Running on empty: Transport, social exclusion and environmental justice edited by Karen Lucas, Policy Press, 2004
Rural-proofing policy makers checklist Countryside Agency, 2002 Describes 14 characteristic features of rural communities, rural economies and rural environments, which need to be taken into account in achieving more effective policy outcomes.
Science of violence.-Academy of Medical Sciences, 2007
The Social Exclusion Unit's Policy Action Team Approach to policy development: the views of participants. Centre for Management and Policy Studies; Social Exclusion Unit, 2002. This report looks at the experiences and perceptions of some of those involved in the Policy Action Teams.
Social Inclusion and Transport - 84 of the 100 most deprived neighbourhoods are in PTE (Public Transport Executive) areas, and their group, pteg, is fully committed to playing a key role in tackling social exclusion. The Social Inclusion and Transport good practice guide - published on 26 January 2005 - is part of that process.
Social Inclusion Strategy: 2005-2007. SEMLAC, 2005 - outlines the national situation regarding social inclusion and the position of museums, libraries and archives within this. Challenges and actions relating to the museums, libraries and archives sector in the South East are positioned with regional and local agendas.
Social
Policy and Society
Social Return on Investment: valuing what matters. New Economics Foundation, 2004 (pdf) An approach to SROI that is guided by stakeholders and provides different levels for organisations to use depending on their starting point, capacity or resources. It is of use for organisational management and delivery in the social economy; public expenditure and investment; grant giving and financial investment; and corporate responsibility.
State of the cities: a progress report ODPM, 2006 - sets out empirical evidence on the conditions in English cities, the opportunities and challenges they face, and the policy steps needed to build on progress made in recent years.
Strategic Audit: progress and challenges for the UK, Prime Minister's Strategy Unit, February 2005 - commissioned by the Prime Minister to benchmark the UK's performance since the first Strategic Audit, published at the end of 2003.
Strategy Survival Guide - aims to support strategy development and promotes strategic thinking across government. The guide encourages a project-based approach to developing strategy and describes four typical project phases. It discusses a range of skills and useful tools and approaches that will help to foster strategic thinking across government. It is offered as a resource and reference guide, and not intended as a prescription or off-the-shelf solution to successful strategy work.
Studies
in sexual assault.-ACSSA, 2007
Supporting innovation: managing risk in Government departments (pdf) TSO, 2002 This report draws on an National Audit Office survey of all government departments. It sets out examples of good practice in risk management from public and private sectors, including the approach to countering risks involved in implementing innovative approaches to the early release of prisoners and crime reduction in schools.
Systemic action research: a strategy for whole system change Danny Burns. - Policy Press, 2007 - shows how Systemic Action Research can be integrated, in any context, to the process of social and organisational development and change.
Tackling Social Exclusion, Social Exclusion Unit, 2003 - achievements, lessons learned and the way forward.
Tipping point or turning point? Social marketing and climate change - Ipsos Mori, 2007
Transnationalism, citizenship and the 'shadow state'.-ESRC, 2007 - experiences of voluntary organisations working to support refugees
Trying it out: the role of 'pilots' in policy-making: report of a review of government pilots. GCSRO, 2003 (271kb) (The Government Chief Social Researcher's Office carried out a review of government pilots. The review was chaired by Professor Roger Jowell, City University, and supported by a panel of senior figures from inside and outside of government. The report is intended to stimulate debate on the use of pilots in policy development, and to provide guidance on the effective use of pilots across government. It makes 27 recommendations about the role of pilots in policy making, pre-conditions and key properties, methods and practices in pilots, and the use of results.)
Understanding
health and social care,
Understanding
health policy,
Understanding
immigration and refugee policy,
Understanding research for social policy and practice: Themes, methods and approaches. Policy Press, 2004. Aims to enable policy makers and practitioners engaged in social policy related fields, to understand the importance and place of research and how to interpret and use research findings. Also covers how to effectively carry out and report good quality research of their own.
Understanding social citizenship: Themes and perspectives for policy and practice. Policy Press, 2004. Aims to a clear sense of the history of citizenship and also of the key theoretical debates that have informed contemporary understandings of the concept. It outlines competing perspectives and considers the influence that factors such as class, gender, ethnicity and disability have on social rights and citizenship.
Understanding social security: Issues for policy and practice. Policy Press, 2004. Provides an up-to-date and comprehensive critical analysis of the impact of major changes in policy and administration, directly affecting the lives of millions of people and raising important issues of equity and social justice and their impact.
Understanding the finance of welfare: What welfare costs and how to pay for it. Policy Press, 2004 Reviews the economic case for public social services, and examines the economic and political limits to taxation; analyses the limits to markets as a way of meeting basic human needs; explores in detail the practical ways in which hospitals, schools and other social agencies are funded. In each case the UK's position is contrasted with funding arrangements in other advanced economies; devotes a chapter to the theory and practice of rationing scarce resources and to the public expenditure process.
Understanding the policy process: Analysing welfare policy and practice. Policy Press, 2004. Focuses on the policy making process as the key to change. Uses core concepts of policy analysis to build up a fully worked explanation of policy change and to equip readers with knowledge that can be applied to any aspect of welfare policy and public and social policy more generally.
Viewfinder (pdf, 209kb) Strategy Unit, 2002. Practical resource to help policy makers at all levels improve policy design through undertaking public involvement initiatives. It introduces policy makers to the issue of public involvement and provides practical advice on principles, planning activities and selecting methods.
Watching, wanting and wellbeing: exploring the links - National Consumer Council, 2007
What counts?: Interpreting evidence-based decision-making for management and policy. Report of the 6th CHSRF Annual Invitational Workshop by Dave Clements, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canadian Health Services Research Foundation, 2004 - '....During the past decade, evidence-based decision-making has evolved from an appealing concept to a generally accepted principle by which we should operate our healthcare systems. Yet despite the current acceptance of these concepts, key questions remain largely unanswered: What is evidence, and evidence based decision-making, in the context of health services management and policy?
To begin to answer the questions, the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation called together more than 150 health services researchers, managers, and policy makers in spring 2004 to discuss and debate the issues. Their discussions were informed and guided by some key individuals who have spent a lot of time thinking and writing about these issues. This report tries to capture the fruits of their discussions....' Content: What is Evidence? What is Evidence-Based Decision-Making? Evidence-based decision-making has a high level of transparency; Evidence-based decision-making is a reliable process and can be used in many situations; Evidence-based decision-making includes many voices and many types of information; Evidence-based decision-making must be explicit; Conclusion
What works?: Evidence-based policy and practice in public services Edited by Huw T.O. Davies, Sandra M. Nutley and Peter C. Smith. Policy Press, 2000
Wiring it Up: Whitehall's management of cross-cutting policies and services Performance and Innovation Unit, 2000. This report recommends action to improve the formulation of cross-cutting policies and services.
Working Fathers: earning and caring (pdf) Equal Opportunities Commission, 2003. This report examined work-life balance practices for fathers.
Your Delivery Strategy: a practical look at business planning and risk (pdf - 160kb) Cabinet Office, 2001