GSR publications

Government Social Research publications

Professional guidance

Ethical assurance for social research In government – GSRU, HM Treasury, 2006(PDF) (GSR Professional Guidance)

 Ethics in social research: the views of research participants – GSRU, 2007
GSRU, with financial contributions from Department for Transport, HM Revenue and Customs, Scottish Executive, Department for Communities and Local Government, and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, commissioned the National Centre for Social Research to undertake a qualitative study to explore research participants’ perceptions and experiences of ethical issues in social research. The findings of that study have now been published in the attached documents, these being the report itself and a technical report containing information about the conduct of the study.

Framework agremeent guidance for GSR, GSRU August 2009  This document provides information about setting up and managing social research Framework Agreements in government.

Publishing Research in Government: GSR publication guide (PDF 213KB) January 2010.This guidance contains principles for the publication of GSR research aimed at ensuring clarity and openness.

Recruitment guidance part one (PDF 226KB) September 2010.  This guidance contains the overarching GSR recruitment principles.

Recruitment guidance part two (PDF 35KB) September 2010. Applying the GSR recruitment principles in practice.

Methodological guidance

Behaviour change: practical guide (PDF 308KB) summarises the key elements of behaviour change theory and provides guidance on selecting and using models.

Behaviour change: reference report (PDF 971KB) presents over 60 social-psychological models and discusses in more depth the issues around designing interventions to bring about change in individuals’ behaviour. It also contains an electronic bibliography to aid the navigation of the huge amount of literature in this area.

Designing a Demonstration Project: An Employment, Retention and Advancement Demonstration in Great Britain
2nd edition, GCSRO, Cabinet Office Strategy Unit, 2004. (Occasional Paper Series 1) Provides a detailed description of the research design for evaluating the Employment Retention and Advancement (ERA) Demonstration Project.

Employer Perspectives on the Recruitment, Retention and Advancement of Low-Pay, Low-Status Employees (PDF 186KB) GCSRO, Cabinet Office Strategy Unit, 2003. (Occasional Paper Series; 2) Reports on research carried out by the Institute for Employment Studies into UK employers attitudes, strategies, practices towards, and perceptions of, people they employ in respect of their ability to retain work, and the potential for advancement within their organisation.

The Magenta Book   Guidance for policy evaluators and analysts (links to the HM Treasury website and opens in a new page).

The Magenta Book 2007 edition (PDF 2.96MB). The previous edition of the book is retained here for reference. Opens in a new page.

Quality in Qualitative Evaluation: A Framework for Assessing Research Evidence(PDF 750KB) GCSRO, 2003.  Reports on the findings of a programme of work commissioned by the Government Chief Social Resercher’s Office to improve the quality of qualitative evaluations.  Using a methodological review of quality standards in qualitative evaluation methods, provides a framework for assessing the credibility, rigour and relevance of individual research studies.

Quality in Qualitative Evaluation: a framework for assessing research evidence(PDF 172KB) GCSRO, 2003 – presents a framework for appraising the quality of qualitative evaluations, with particular reference to evaluations concerned with the development and implementation of social policy programmes and practices.

Trying it out (PDF 271KB) GCSRO, Cabinet Office Strategy Unit, 2003. 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.

Research and analysis in government

Analysis for Policy 2007. This report presents findings from an investigation into the use of evidence-based policy in practice.

Analytical structures – the structure of analytical support in government 2007. This report reviews different ways of organising analytical support within government departments.

Research and analysis in government (PDF 175KB), GESR and others, December 2011 – Describes the role of all the various government analytical services and is aimed at a general civil service audience. Opens in a new window.