What role does research have in understanding and interpreting social change? Can the profession measure social impact and help decision makers understand what they need to do? Where and how can research help build a better society?
This paper analyses the growth of research commissioned by local authorities in Britain and how these have been used to stimulate changes in working practices within the relevant authority. It looks at the political and financial background against which this development of research has been set, before moving on to examine changes introduced by a number of authorities following research. The paper then goes on to examine examples from other councils, contrasting these with Richmond's use of research. Overall, the paper shows clearly how survey research can be put to practical use by local authorities and play a valuable role in the field of social policy.
Existing doubts about the viability of applied social science notwithstanding, systematic, empirical analyses of the utilization of social research are virtually absent. Based upon data from interviews with social researchers and policymakers about 120 projects of social policy research in The Netherlands, this paper analyses and evaluates the cognitive, communicative and diagnostic functions of social policy research in organizational decisions.
Social research can be seen as one way of establishing a closer link between public views and the decisions of policy makers. Its main advantage over other kinds of public participation in policy formulation is its ability to reflect a more representative range of opinions. For this to be achieved some means must be found to assist members of the public to express their views on policy options of which they have little knowledge or to which given little thought. This often involves informing them about the issues being investigated. Experiences in a variety of social research projects illustrate the pitfalls which lie in the path of the researcher attempting to select an appropriate approach to educate survey respondents. Fundamental research is required on the communication effectiveness of the different approaches available, and their likely influence upon response to policy options. In the meantime, success in drawing meaningful conclusions from this type of social research will depend heavily upon the interpretive skills of individual researchers.
This paper examines the role of the research worker in the formation of social policies. It explains the background to this by stressing that, in the UK at least, social policies, unlike economic policies, have no unifying framework. It also stresses that, so far, research directed at helping the decision maker has tended to be not basic but applied. This, together with certain conceptual problems has limited the value of some government research. There have also been, and still are, difficulties in studying small groups whose size cannot be reliably estimated from sample surveys.
The purpose of this paper is to use the New Jersey Experiment (NJE) as a case study context in which to discuss the special problems social policy experimentation poses for the survey research community. Section I presents a brief overview of the NJE's purposes, design, and operations. Section II discusses problems and issues in measurement strategy and instrument design. Section III discusses issues in field operations, and Section IV discusses issues in response error, including validity, reliability, experimental effects and other methodological problems. Section V presents a summary and conclusion.
This paper is concerned with a study commissioned by a local authority in London to check reactions of residents to a scheme by which traffic re-routing eased congestion on most roads at the inevitable expense of increased congestion on some. Pressure groups, mainly representing the residents adversely affected, had presented evidence of opposition at a higher degree of intensity than that shown by a representative sample. The paper continues with a discussion of the dangers of "amateur" research which does not used those aware of research procedures and problems. But it stresses, too, the fundamental dilemma of a survey concerned with an issue on which (unlike most of those in market research) everybody is involved whether or not they are aware of it. To inform the ignorant in the sample makes them no longer representative of the relevant universe. An experimental survey is described in which, before answering certain questions, respondents were given the opportunity to study in great detail the reasons behind the scheme under study. Results would appear to indicate that such a technique creates more problems than it solves. In conclusion, a plea is made for more continuous research in local government. A problem can then be studied at all stages rather than simply at a single point in time.