Scottish Government Social Research Five Year Plan 2026-31 Summary Edition

In summary

This strategy is about impact. It sets out how Scottish Government social research will help improve decisions over the next five years by being more influential, more inclusive, more skilled, more digitally confident and more collaborative. It recognises the pressures facing government and society, but it also starts from a position of optimism: the profession has strong foundations, trusted expertise and a clear public purpose.

The next five years will demand careful choices. Resources will remain tight. Public expectations will remain high. Technology will continue to move quickly. In that context, robust and people-centred research is not a luxury; it is essential. Scotland needs evidence that is rigorous, transparent and grounded in real lives. It needs professionals who can test claims, explain complexity and support better outcomes. It needs researchers who are supported, resilient and able to perform at their best over the long term.

This plan is intentionally practical. It keeps the long-term vision in view, but it also focuses on what the profession will actually do: strengthen decision making, improve representation, invest in people, use technology responsibly and work more effectively across disciplines. That combination of ambition and practicality is what will help the strategy make a real difference.

By 2031, we want social research in Scottish Government to be recognised not only for the quality of its methods, but for the difference it makes: helping government understand society more deeply, act more wisely and serve the people of Scotland more effectively.