The Importance of Researchin Government
Authors: MTHOMBOTHI SOLANI ISAAC 
Published: February 2025

This article seeks to demonstrate the importance of scientific research to improve governance in the
Public Service. The main focus of this article would be on the South African (SA) government's contribution
towards research initiatives. Research is defined as the systematic investigation into and study of materials and
sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions (Oxford Dictionary & Western Sydney University,
2023).It follows a systematic process to gather new concepts, knowledge and understanding are generated
(Oxford Dictionary& Western Sydney University, 2023). The article demonstrated the importance of scientific
research in improving governance in the public sector. Research plays an important role in informing
government policies and decision-making and assists the government to understand complex issues, evaluate the
effectiveness of existing programs and policies, and identify new opportunities for addressing social and
economic challenges (Quora, 2024). Research can provide the government with the evidence it needs to make
informed decisions about key issues (Lindsay, 2024; Quora, 2024 and Universal Teacher, 2024). Additionally,
the article explained the processes that government can utilise to conduct research that will inform policy
development, programme and project design and implementation (Lindsay, 2024; Quora, 2024 and Universal
Teacher, 2024). Research plays an important role in eliminating poor governance and making an impact on
service delivery(Lindsay, 2024; Quora, 2024 and Universal Teacher, 2024). It identifies shortcomings that
jeopardise well researched programmes by eliminating such impediments for good(Lindsay, 2024; Quora, 2024
and Universal Teacher, 2024). Additionally, this article depicts research as a science that can be utilised by
government to develop mandates, adjudicate mandates, develop policies and legislation, harness plans and
objectives for adequate service delivery and good governance(Lindsay, 2024; Quora, 2024 and Universal
Teacher, 2024). Another reason which prompted this article was to refute the myths (especially by public
servants) that everyone can do researchhence research is ascientific discipline that require skills (Quora, 2024).
This article or the researcher takes cognisance that most public servants especially implementors, Service
Delivery Officers (SDOs) or fieldworkers have a tendency of operating and conducting their programmes and
projects without the guidance of research and research recommendations conducted by their internal research
units.
METHODOLOGY: This article relies heavily on secondary data (qualitative research method) as a method of
acquiring useful and important information to achieve its objectives and address the issue statement at the
centre of the topic.Desktop research was utilised for gathering information by analysing and synthesising
existing data and sources (March 2022).Desktop relies on data that has already been collected and published by
others, and its sources include public libraries, websites, reports, surveys, journals, newspapers, magazines,
books amongst others (March 2022).The article utilised thematic analysis by coding phrases to make sense of
the qualitative data collected (Braun & Clarke, 2006).