Areas of research interest

Introduction

Evidence and analysis are at the heart of policy making in the Scottish Government. Ministers and officials rely on different types of evidence to inform decision making, drawing on a range of expertise from across professions and fields.

In line with the recommendations of the 2015 Nurse Review of Research Councils, the UK Government and devolved administrations publish their areas of research interest (ARI) to set out research themes or topics, and related questions, integral to the achievement of their medium to long term objectives.

By publishing areas of research interest, the Scottish Government wishes to drive knowledge creation and mobilisation for evidence-informed policy making. This will build a culture of innovation, collaboration and transparency so that government policy continues to be shaped and supported by the best evidence from the research community in Scotland and beyond.

Context and approach

Evidence-informed policy making will help to achieve the vision for Scotland set out in the National Performance Framework and reflected in the National Outcomes.

To support this, and in line with Scotland’s Equality Evidence Strategy, across all its areas of research interest the Scottish Government especially welcomes evidence and analysis that sheds light on inequalities – including through an intersectional lens – so that policies can be designed and delivered for the benefit of all the people of Scotland.

The Scottish Government champions person-centred, participatory approaches that benefit from lived experience perspectives and insights. The Open Government commitment means researchers are expected to follow open science principles. Using the wealth of public sector data available in Scotland is strongly encouraged.

Publications and engagement

ARI publications from various policy areas will be listed on this page. They will cover a broad range of scientific, technological, social and economic research topics and methods. Each publication will set out topics and questions representing priority interests over a medium term horizon. The topics and questions will also be added to a UK-wide searchable database.

We welcome engagement from across the research community to facilitate learning from a diverse range of perspectives. Our officials will collaborate with academic and public policy networks to enable discussion of the published ARIs and facilitate relationship building between researchers and policy makers. Each ARI publication will include contact details and information about initial engagement plans.

ARI publications are not statements of policy. ARI publications do not constitute an invitation to tender for research or consultation services. Any research commissions arising from ongoing evidence needs will be advertised via Public Contracts Scotland in the usual way.

Related content for the UK Government's ARI and for Scottish Parliament ARI are available on their websites.

2024

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