Social research in government provides empirical evidence and analysis to help understand and explain the nature of human behaviour, social structures and cultures, and it examines the social impacts of government policies. This evidence can be crucial in informing policy choices and understanding and managing any risks associated with these choices.
Social research in DECC adheres to the GSR Code - the over-riding framework for both people and products to adhere to – to ensure the research and advice in this area is the best quality possible.
Customer insight in DECC supports policy colleagues to develop and deliver effective policies by understanding customer behaviour, needs, beliefs, experiences and circumstances. This is done by using a variety of evidence sources, pulling together information from across the analytical disciplines.
Social research and customer insight are key elements, alongside other analytical activities, in providing the evidence base needed to inform departmental strategy, policy making and delivery. They provide the department with:
- research reviews, syntheses and briefings of existing social science evidence to inform strategy, policy development and policy delivery
- new primary research to develop the short-, medium- and long-term evidence base to ensure the department meets its challenging targets
- advice on monitoring and evaluation – evidence of how policies are delivered in practice and whether they meet their objectives
This research work complements and informs other analytical work across DECC, for example by providing data to inform the economic modelling and appraisal conducted by the department.
It is essential the evidence base used to make policy and delivery decisions is well-rounded and builds on an understanding of individuals, groups, organisations and communities and how they function and interact. Social research and customer insight groups a wide range of disciplines that can bring a broad understanding to an issue. By understanding the social elements of DECC’s agenda, it is more likely we will successfully meet our ambitious aims and effectively target our policies to achieve maximum impact.
The findings from DECC social research and customer insight studies are published on the publications page of this website.
Energy Behaviour
This paper introduces the reader to different ways of thinking about the way that people use energy. It draws on evidence from behavioural economics, social psychology and sociology to examine different ways of changing ‘energy behaviour’. The paper draws on some of the key models and theories of behaviour change, in relation to energy, and presents them in a way that policies can take them into account.