Bespoke Evaluation and Social Research Services alongside Informing Policy and Strategy
Our services
Evaluation Services
Whether looking for an evaluation partner for a funding bid or seeking an independent evaluator for your programme, the Social Research Unit offers a bespoke package to meet your needs.
Informing Policy and Strategy
The Social Research Unit’s research provides clients with the knowledge to make informed decisions. Supported by robust intelligence, it enables the development of effective policies and strategies, rooted in credible evidence.
Bespoke Research Services
The Social Research Unit offers customised social research services and combines established research methods with innovative approaches to inform effective decision-making.
Evaluation Services
Tailored Evaluation Frameworks
We develop an evaluation framework tailored to your specific requirements and refine it through consultation and co-design with you and your programme stakeholders.
Evidence-Based Approach
We use a wide range of research methods, along with academic expertise and publicly available data to evidence impact and assist in future planning.
Comprehensive Evaluation Services
We provide both impact and process evaluation services and excel in capturing whole system change.
The team at the Social Research Unit are skilled in:
• Monitoring data analysis
• Identifying what works
• Gathering credible evidence bases to demonstrate success
• Providing agile data for continuous improvement
• Articulating best practice
• Carrying out social return on investment analyses
Client-Centric Collaboration
We collaborate closely with clients at every stage of the research process to ensure our final outputs align with your organisational objectives and can be easily translated into actionable steps or used for advocacy.
Bespoke Social Research Services
The Social Research Unit offers customised social research services and combines established research methods with innovative approaches to inform decision-making effectively.
Key Features:
Diverse Research Methods: We employ a wide range of tried and tested social research methods, as well as innovative approaches, to generate comprehensive insights.
Tailored Research Solutions: Our team are experts in selecting the most appropriate research methods, whether quantitative, qualitative, or a combination of both, to address the unique needs of our clients.
Efficient Data Collection: We work closely with clients to ensure that relevant evidence and information is collected in the most cost-effective manner.
Project Management Expertise
From project design and inception to analysis and customised reporting, we oversee every stage to present intelligence in a manner suitable for its target audience.
Ethical and GDPR Compliance
All social research carried out by the Social Research Unit adheres to University ethical guidelines and is fully GDPR compliant, ensuring the highest standards of data protection.
Informing Policy and Strategy
At the Social Research Unit, our research helps you make big decisions. We provide solid information so you can create effective plans and policies with confidence.
Key Expertise:
• Community Consultation and Stakeholder Engagement: The Social Research Unit excels in community consultation, partnership working, and stakeholder engagement to gather intelligence from various sources, providing a comprehensive view for informed decision-making.
• Best Practice Guidance: We collaborate with clients to define best practice and utilise it as a cornerstone for shaping strategy and influencing policy change.
• Contextual Foundation: Our researchers are skilled in reviewing and distilling existing policy and research in diverse social, economic, and political environments, establishing a solid contextual foundation for clients to build upon.
• Dissemination Strategies: We work closely with clients to develop effective dissemination strategies for their research commissions, identifying key lessons, target audiences, and the most appropriate channels for sharing insights..
“We worked closely with colleagues at the Social Research Unit (formerly SERIO) for two years on the external evaluation of our Plymouth Pathfinder work. The surveys and interviews, both at the outset and completion of the work resulted in a comprehensive report that proved insightful in identifying the future direction of this work. Collaborating in the way we did enabled us to understand how best to engage with vulnerable young people and the adults they come across in future.’’
Dr. Ruth Harrell, Director of Public Health, Plymouth City Council
Get in touch
We would love to hear from you and assist with any enquiries about how we can work together on future projects.
You can send us an email at sru@plymouth.ac.uk or fill in the form.
All of our team are contactable directly on the Team page.