Introduction

Welfare policy in Britain – defined to include bothcontribution-based social security and means-tested socialassistance – was born in its current form at the turn of the 20thcentury as the twin of systematic social enquiry. Research evidencehas continued to shape policy ever since although it has seldom beenthe dominant influence, outweighed by ideology, political ambitionand expediency (Bulmer, 1987).

The chapter begins with a brief account of the origins ofevidencebased welfare policy before focusing on the role andlimitations of welfare research at the turn of the 21st century. Theprimary focus is on the research that is most closely integratedinto the policy process, namely that which is undertaken andcommissioned by the Department of Social Security (DSS), since itbest reveals the various purposes to which research is put. It isimportant, however, not to deny the importance of other types ofresearch especially in helping to define new policy problems andagendas (Thomas, 1987). Pressure groups, exemplified by the ChildPoverty Action Group, commission much secondary and some primaryresearch that tends to focus on the failures of current policy. TheJoseph Rowntree Foundation is also a key player, funding thestrategic, blue-sky research that government seldom commissions, andother major research charities also play a role. Think-tanks arecomparatively new entrants to the policy arena but are increasinglyinfluential, typically spinning new ideas from pre-existing researchevidence and offering variable doses of rhetoric and ideology. Quiteoften the same researchers and research organisations appear indifferent guises conducting research for government and researchtrusts and writing for pressure groups and think-tanks.

Notwithstanding the range of other research stakeholders, thischapter focuses on the bilateral relationship between the DSS andits research contractors. The process of commissioning researchwithin the DSS is briefly discussed and the types of evidencegenerated are described. Examples of specific research projects areprovided to illustrate the range of research and its growingsophistication before discussing innovations demanded by newapproaches to policy making. While evidence-based policy may be moredeveloped in welfare than in some other areas of public policy, thechapter nevertheless concludes with a downbeat assessment of thesignificance of research evidence.