Mapping
Improving the Knowledge Base (IKB) for social policy is an important component of SPEaR’s work programme. In order to identify priorities – and discover gaps – in the social policy knowledge base, we use our unique cross-agency mandate to monitor social research and evaluation activity.
One way we do this is by recording, and aggregating, social policy research and evaluation expenditure across all government agencies. We refer to this process as “mapping”. We undertake a mapping exercise every year.
How is mapping undertaken?
Government agencies’ research and evaluation expenditure is mapped against the IKB framework, which comprises Key Theme Areas (KTAs) and Key Knowledge Questions (KKQs).
KTAs are those aspects of social policy that have been identified as key priority research areas now and into the future. These KTAs overlap and are interrelated. The KTAs are:
- the changing nature of work
- developing human capabilities – knowledge and skills
- disparities between groups – how to change the picture
- enhancing positive social outcome
- developing risk and protective factors
- measuring and understanding social wellbeing
- social connectedness
- social and cultural identities.
There are also five Key Knowledge Questions (KKQs) that we consider when undertaking our mapping. These KKQs are:
- describing and monitoring variation in social outcomes
- understanding the multiple causes of variation in social outcomes
- monitoring key causal factors
- analysing what works to change variation in social outcomes
- design, delivery and impact of policy;
- anticipating the likely impact of future social, socio-demographic technological trends on social outcomes.
For more information and examples on KTAs/KKQs, visit the Ministry of Social Development website.
A report that presents indicative findings from our mapping analysis for the 2001-2004 period is available below.
