The Social Sciences Reference Group (SSRG) first reported in 2001 on how social research can better inform social policy advice. The group was reconvened to review action since 2001, and to recommend ways of further improving the social sciences contribution to New Zealand’s social, economic, environmental and cultural goals.
The potential contribution of social sciences research to New Zealand’s wealth and wellbeing is considerable. While international collaboration is essential, New Zealand also needs to enhance the knowledge of its own culture and changing social structures in order to inform debate and the development of effective policy. Within the policy environment, ‘Managing for Outcomes’ and evidence-based policy emphasise the need for supporting research and evaluation.
The social sciences research and evaluation community is diverse and shows evidence of high quality research activity. Indigenous research and scholarship is providing international leadership in indigenous research and evaluation methodologies.
A significant proportion of the social sciences research funding base is through government agencies ($40-60 million) and tertiary education ($50-120 million). Social sciences research funding through public good funding agencies1 is estimated at between $13.0 million to $19.1 million (representing approximately 2.3% to 3.0%. of science system funding). Estimates vary as to the indirect attribution of social research within other science outputs, and are unlikely to exceed $18 million.
Considerable progress has been made since 2001, including the positive gains from formation of the Social Policy, Evaluation and Research interdepartmental committee (SPEaR) and the Building Research Capability in the Social Sciences (BRCSS) initiative in the tertiary sector. There is now a biannual Social Policy Research and Evaluation Conference.
The SSRG identified some gaps and potential risks to the current state and future development of New Zealand’s social sciences research and evaluation capability. These include:
- The diverse social science community and the lack of a ‘front door’ for government and other sector liaison;
- The embryonic state of interdisciplinary research in which the social sciences play a full role in conjunction with the physical sciences;
- The limited investment for investigator initiated research, needed to underpin a strong social sciences research sector;
- The need to strengthen the policy and research/evaluation interface;
- Inconsistent adoption of true cost funding, particularly in government department contracts;
- Limited growth in capability especially in Maori, Pacific and evaluation; and
- The need to place greater emphasis on strategic planning for research and dissemination reducing the over reliance on short term projects.
The SSRG considers that the following new initiatives and improvements to current practice will provide a firmer foundation for the future of the social sciences contribution to the wealth and wellbeing of New Zealand.