Research plays an important role in shaping the policies of the Scottish Government. It helps develop new and better ways of doing things and provides new understandings and discoveries that benefit our society. The Government funds a very wide range of research programmes which contribute to a wider knowledge base and help to inform and assess policies.
There are three main types of research funded and / or carried out by specific parts of the Scottish Government - environmental/agricultural research, social research, and health research (Chief Scientist Office). Details of research projects funded under these categories can be accessed from the three core research areas web-pages:
- Environment Biology and Agriculture Research
- Social Research
- Chief Scientist Office
If you do not have access to the website please contact the Central Enquiry Unit on 08457 741741 (see section 6 on 'Accessing information under the Scheme') who can provide a single print-out free of charge.
The final outputs from projects which have been funded and/or carried out as social research (final reports and Research Findings) are published on the Scottish Government web pages within 12 weeks of the outputs being approved for publication. Paper copies of the Research Findings documents are also usually produced. The findings of research projects funded by the Chief Scientist, and the Environment Biology and Agriculture Research team are usually published independently by the research contractor and copies of the outputs can be obtained directly from them.
Information that will be made available
Environment, Biology and Agriculture Research
Information on the research funded by us is available is provided under the topic area of Research - Environment, Biology and Agriculture Research on the Research Topics page or through one of the alternative routes described under section 5 of this scheme.
The Scottish Government Rural and Environment Research and Analysis Directorate (RERAD) funds strategic research in environmental, agricultural and biological science. These programmes of research form a significant part of the UK science base in this area.
The research is conducted primarily through RERAD's Main Research Providers (MRP) which are the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, the Moredun Research Institute, the Rowett Research Institute, the Scottish Crop Research Institute, the Scottish Agricultural College and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. The MRPs are supported by specialist support and research on mathematics and statistics from Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland.
Information available under this scheme includes:
Research Strategy 2005-2010 : This includes information on the current Research Strategy for Rural and Environment Research and Analysis Directorate. It contains descriptions of the four Programmes of research and their constituent Work Packages commissioned on 1 April 2006.
Main Research Providers :This contains information and details of each of the Main Research Providers including Moredun Research Institute, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Rowett Research Institute, Scottish Agricultural College and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Research Opportunities : This includes details of new Research Opportunities within Rural and Environment Research and Analysis Directorate.
Future Research Strategy: This describes the progress towards the next research strategy in rural, environment and marine research for the Scottish Government.
Strategic Science Advisory Panel : Information about the Strategic Science Advisory Panel including minutes and papers of all meetings. The final report from SSAP will be published when it becomes available.
Completed Research Projects: Details on projects completed by our various research providers dating back to 2003 onwards.
Marine Research - Information about programmes and projects that are centred around Fisheries and Marine Science.
Social Research
Research which is published by the Scottish Government is categorised under the following research topic headings:
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Affairs
- Arts and Culture
- Business and Industry
- Children and Young People
- Crime and Justice
- Education and Training
- Environment
- Equalities
- Health and Community Care
- Housing, Regeneration and Planning
- International
- Labour Market
- Poverty
- Public Services and Government
- Sport
- Tourism
- Transport
- Voluntary Issues
The majority of Social Research projects are advertised and commissioned from external contractors. Most of the documentation from these tendering exercises can be made available on request. Social Research will shortly be introducing individual web-pages for all projects commissioned by them. The pages will proactively publish information on the projects ranging from contractor details, cost of project, interim and final outputs and datasets from the project.
Contact details
Social Research
Enquiries in regards to Social Research projects should be directed to srinternet @scotland.gsi.gov.uk, 0131 244 7560 or 08457 741 741 (for local rate throughout UK).
Health Research
Enquiries in regards to health research projects funded by the Scottish Government should be directed to Nick Gosling: nick.gosling@scotland.gsi.gov.uk (0131 244 2248)
Environmental / Agricultural research
Enquiries in regards to environmental / agricultural research projects funded by the Scottish Government should be directed to srg@scotland.gsi.gov.uk, or 0131 244 6042.
Charges
All final outputs from social research projects are routinely published on the Scottish Government website. We are able to provide free of charge a limited number copies of Research Findings document if paper versions of the document have been produced. A paper copy (if produced) of a Social Research Final Report will also be made available free of charge. Additional paper copies of the report (if available) can be obtained at £5 each from Blackwell's Bookshop:
Blackwell's Bookshop
53 South Bridge
Edinburgh
EH1 1YS
Telephone orders and enquiries 0131 622 8283 or 0131 622 8258. Email orders
business.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk
Where the information within this class can be located
This class of information can be located within the ' Research' section of the Scottish Government website or through one of the alternative routes described under section 5 of this scheme.