The research programme meets the information needs of Ministers, the Department and its Agencies. Priorities are reviewed annually and a programme is devised to assist the Department in the development, implementation and evaluation of policy.
Research also plays a role in assessing the effectiveness of service delivery.
As well as addressing immediate information requirements, the programme seeks to anticipate emerging needs and ensure that information is available to inform future decision making. The research programme is tied closely to the Secretary of State's priorities for the social security system. Many projects in the research programme relate to more than one priority, and the balance between different areas in the programme is meant to mirror the overall priorities of the Department. Some projects are conducted by research staff within the Department but most are carried out by external contractors, with close involvement from in-house researchers throughout the life of each project. Contractors include commercial survey organisations, universities, research institutes and the Social Survey Division of the Office of National Statistics.