Our impact is far reaching across many areas of social science research from childcare, education and families to immigration and ethnicity and ground-breaking work on social science research methods such as measuring probability expectations.
Emerging impact
Our most recent research programme has already had direct policy impact, including on early years education and care policy, campaigns around free school meals provision, and vaccination decisions during Covid, based on the effect of school closures on children’s mental health.
In addition, we have been working with policy analysts and third-sector organisations to highlight inequalities in higher education, ethnic and immigrant differentials in school and political life, and issues arising from housing insecurity for renters.
Our current research programme will provide new evidence for a raft of contemporary policy issues, from evaluation of breakfast clubs in schools to the effectiveness of debt advice. Our engagement and communication activities are led by a strategy which formally engages key stakeholders to shape the content of the research and help us translate research findings into clear policy messages, while at the same time pursuing channels for wider dissemination and impact.
Impact case studies
Bringing robust new evidence of the prevalence and mental health consequencesof ethnic and racial harassment
Free childcare and child development:the free childcare policy in England
Disability benefits and social care for older people
