We have an exceptional track record in carrying out evidence based research to support policy and strategy development and evaluation especially for government, regulators and agencies. Employing a wide range of both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including literature reviews, surveys, focus groups and interviews, we help identify issues and conceive and develop policy and strategy options. We can provide evaluation of both new and established initiatives, regulations and schemes.
Closer scrutiny of government activity has increased the need for policies and initiatives to be developed from robust, evidence based research and to be evaluated for effectiveness. Traditional approaches such as public surveys are often inadequate to explore complex issues, attitudes and behaviours within diverse community and business sectors that may be hard to reach. We bring together expertise in psychology, social research, communications and technical knowledge to develop innovative and effective research to address these issues.
The success of initiatives depends on understanding issues and concerns and addressing underlying attitudes and behaviours as well as practical problems. Robust, targeted and cost effective research methods are essential.
We develop and implement qualitative and quantitative research to gather information and evidence to develop an understanding of peoples’ perceptions, attitudes and information needs.
We provide:
As a specialist consultancy we can provide robust policy oriented interpretation of findings, providing added value to the research.
Our research and analysis creates a solid foundation for developing and assessing policy and strategy options and conceiving new initiatives and regulatory interventions. We assist clients in developing practical initiatives and interventions aimed at changing attitudes and behaviours in the areas of health, safety and environment. Initiatives can be targeted at businesses, the public, employees or other specific stakeholder groups.
Effective implementation requires a strategy that fosters ‘buy in’ from stakeholders. We advise on implementation strategies for new initiatives, policies or regulations and can organise and evaluate pilot schemes. We provide guidance and support for stakeholder engagement activities and effective communications campaigns.
Evaluation not only helps to assess the impact and effectiveness of pilot schemes, new initiatives and regulations but can also provide an evidence base for decisions on whether or not to continue with a scheme or initiative and how best to improve it.
We undertake both qualitative and quantitative baseline and tracking surveys to evaluate initiatives. We can assess costs and benefits, levels of uptake or penetration, impact on attitudes and behaviours and lessons learnt.
Our research benefits from the application of specialist expertise in areas such as psychology and social research and subject matter knowledge of policy and strategy. This enables us to develop a fuller understanding of peoples’ attitudes and behaviours.
Our long experience in the fields of health, safety, environment and risk management means we have a knowledge of past and current research and expertise in how best to develop initiatives and policies to promote behaviour change in these fields.
We have a solutions oriented and evidence based approach to developing truly effective solutions. We undertake robust research, we pilot initiatives to ensure they work before being launched and help evaluate schemes to guide future policy and strategy. We can draw on our extensive private and pubic sector experience to ensure policies and strategies are practical and realistic.
Our broad experience of working with public sector organisations means we understand the objectives and constraints of those responsible for developing policy initiatives and regulations.