NatCen Social Research
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| NatCen Social Research | |
|---|---|
| Name | NatCen Social Research |
| Type | Research institute |
| Founded | 2011 (successor to NatCen) |
| Headquarters | London |
| Key people | Helen Barnard; Ben Page; Julia Stone |
| Services | Social research, surveys, evaluation |
NatCen Social Research is a British independent social research organisation conducting large-scale quantitative and qualitative studies for public policy and social science. It carries out population surveys, longitudinal studies, evaluation, and methodological research for clients across the United Kingdom and internationally. Its work intersects with public bodies, academic institutions, and third-sector organisations to inform debates on welfare, health, employment, education, housing, crime, and social attitudes.
History
Founded as the successor to predecessor organisations in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the organisation emerged amid changes in public sector commissioning and advances in survey methodology. Over time it engaged with landmark initiatives and national inquiries, collaborating with bodies such as the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department of Health and Social Care, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and the Office for National Statistics. Its historical trajectory reflects interactions with major debates represented by figures and institutions like Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Theresa May and policy forums such as the Social Exclusion Unit, the King's Fund, and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Organisation and Governance
Governance structures have involved boards, executive teams, and committees akin to those at comparable institutions such as the British Academy, the Economic and Social Research Council, and the Wellcome Trust. Leadership has included directors and chairs who engaged with networks spanning the Cabinet Office, the House of Commons', parliamentary select committees, and international organisations including the World Health Organization and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Staffing and professional development drew from training pipelines linked to universities like the London School of Economics, the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and research councils such as the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
Research Methods and Methodology
The organisation pioneered and refined survey and mixed-methods approaches comparable to those developed by the British Social Attitudes survey, the Understanding Society study, and the European Social Survey. Methodological strands include probability sampling, longitudinal tracking, face-to-face interviewing, computer-assisted interviewing, and qualitative ethnography used by research groups at institutions such as University College London and the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Work on questionnaire design and measurement validity aligned with standards promoted by the American Association for Public Opinion Research, the International Statistical Institute, and the Royal Statistical Society.
Major Surveys and Publications
It conducted and contributed to flagship surveys and reports resonant with publications like the Labour Force Survey, the Health Survey for England, the English Housing Survey, and the Crime Survey for England and Wales. Outputs included monographs, briefing papers, and peer-reviewed articles in journals associated with the British Medical Journal, The Lancet, Sociology (journal), and Population Studies. Key topics addressed mirrored policy agendas overseen by organisations such as the National Health Service, the Ministry of Justice, Ofsted, and the Department for Education.
Impact and Influence
Findings have informed policy reviews, parliamentary inquiries, and public debates alongside evidence used by think tanks like the Institute for Public Policy Research, the Centre for Social Justice, the Resolution Foundation, and the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Research influenced interventions implemented by local authorities, combined authorities such as the Greater London Authority, and national programmes administered by agencies like NHS England and the Civil Service. Academic uptake saw citations in work produced by scholars at the University of Manchester, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Glasgow, and international centres such as Harvard University and Yale University.
Funding and Partnerships
Funding streams have come from government departments, charitable foundations, and international agencies including the European Commission, the National Lottery Community Fund, the John Lewis Foundation, and foundations like the Wellcome Trust and the Nuffield Foundation. Partnerships spanned academic collaborations with universities such as the University of Southampton, policy partnerships with organisations like the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and commissioned work for bodies including the British Red Cross, Age UK, and Citizens Advice.
Recognition and Criticism
The organisation received recognition through citations in reports by the House of Commons Library, awards linked to methodological innovation from groups like the Market Research Society, and peer commendations from the Academy of Social Sciences. Criticism and scrutiny have arisen in public commentary published in outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, and The Times, and in debates within professional forums including the Royal Statistical Society and the Society for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies concerning sampling, response rates, and interpretation of socially sensitive findings.