| Organisation | Title | Purpose | Date |
| Scottish Government | Research with parents of children who are in S1-S6 at school | Working with Skills Development Scotland to commission some research with parents of children who are in S1-S6 at school. Looking to identify a panel of parents from a national survey that could be used as opposed to approaching schools individually and contacting parents via their kids. | April 2017 |
| Ipsos Mori | Consumer Participation in Energy Policy | The Consumer Futures Unit (CFU) uses evidence generated from consumer research, as well as within the Citizens Advice network, to challenge and shape policy to ensure that it reflects the needs of consumers. The purpose of the research is to explore which deliberative research methods are most effective, and why, at engaging with Scottish consumers; and through use of deliberative methods, establish what incentives and new regulation would be most likely to encourage home owners in Scotland to invest in improving the energy efficiency of their homes? The objective is to use the research to improve the way in which consumers are engaged in policy and strategy decisions, and to influence the development of the Scottish Government energy efficiency programme (SEEP). | Jan 2017 |
| Ipsos Mori | Drivers and Barriers to Uptake of Early Learning and Childcare amongst 2 year olds | The entitlement to free Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) was increased from 475 to 600 hours per year through the Children & Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, and the Scottish Government has pledged to increase this entitlement to 1140 hours per year by the end of the this Parliament – (around 30 hours per week if delivered during term time). Currently, free provision of early learning and child care is offered to all 3and 4 year olds, as well as 2 year olds who will benefit most (around 27 per cent). Local authorities are fully funded to provide this addition and secure it through both their own services and partner providers in the private and not-for-profit sectors. The entitlement to 2 year olds is based upon children who meet any of the following criteria: Are looked after, subject to a kinship or guardianship order Have a parent on qualifying benefits Have a parent on low income The Scottish Government’s annual School Statistics published in December 2015 showed that both the number (4,321) and proportion (7.3%) of 2-year olds registered within census week were lower than expected. The Scottish Government is commissioning research to inform how they might improve and support access. The aim of the work is to understand the practical issues that influence uptake rates amongst this cohort (i.e. eligible 2 year olds) so that policy can be tailored accordingly. In particular, the research will seek to identify the key barriers which restrict uptake, the positive factors and actions which encourage and facilitate uptake, and provide lessons for key partners to increase uptake. | Sept 2016 |
| Loughborough University | Refurbishing UK Housing Stock | To evaluate the Green Deal Final Impact Assessment, with respect to the UK’s domestic sector, to assess the sustainability of the modelling including its predictions of carbon abatement and to provide an updated estimate of uptake with an associated level of uncertainty. | April 2016 |
| Mackintosh Environmental Architecture Research Unit (MEARU) | Fuel Poverty, Indoor Air Quality and Health Indicators | A new investigation of fuel poverty (FP) would find an association between indoor air quality (IAQ) and certain indicators of health risk – respiratory in particular. In this regard, IAQ includes CO2, temperature, humidity, air movement, airborne mould spores, surface mould spores, dust mite populations, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde and other particulates. Air pollution particularly affects population groups that are vulnerable due to their health status or age. This study aims to compare homes that have been recently identified as being in FP with those that are non-FP. The objectives are to answer the following research questions posed by the hypothesis: a) How have key physical comfort and recognised health indicators of FP changed with time and raised building standards since the mid-1980s? b) Which aspects of IAQ are of concern vis-à-vis potentially adverse health impacts? c) Is there now any evidence of an association between high levels of indoor CO2 (as an indicator of poor IAQ) and reported comfort dissatisfaction or general malaise? d) How do the physical findings related to IAQ in homes classed in fuel poverty* by the most recent Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) fit with other SHCS data? e) How do the physical findings related to IAQ in homes classed in FP compare with non-FP homes; and is a broader term ‘environmental poverty’ (EP) often justifiable in either case? f) What are the techno-economic implications, and how should dissemination be structured to maximise industrial impact? | Dec 2015 |
| Ipsos Mori | Citizens Advice Scotland - Poverty Premium | Poverty premium” is the term used to describe the occurrence of low income consumers having to pay more than those on higher incomes for essential goods and services such as gas and electric, etc. Previous research found that those on a low income can pay more for certain goods and services, due to poor credit ratings or difficulty affording direct debit deals etc, than consumers with higher income levels. Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has commissioned the research to enable them to order to address the effects of the poverty premium. The aims of the research are to: -
to examine the consumer behaviour and purchasing decisions of low income consumers in Scotland -
to compare behaviour of low income and high income consumers in Scotland -
to explore any barriers that low income groups may face when attempting to access the best deals in the markets -
to look at how companies (in the relevant sectors) interact with low income consumers, assessing if there are any areas of concern from the consumers point of view. -
to explore the extent to which consumers are aware of a poverty premium -
to explore ways in which the poverty premium burden may be lessened -
to suggest creative solutions by providing a better understanding of the root causes of the poverty premium The overall objective of the research is to allow CAS to influence key stakeholders and gain commitment to working toward changing business practices. | Nov 2015 |
| Ipsos Mori | Parenting in Scotland 2015 | Parenting Across Scotland (PAS) have commissioned Ipsos MORI to undertake a survey of parents. The survey will assess the state of family finances in Scotland and what impact this is having on family life. We have conducted similar surveys for PAS in 2007, 2008 and 2010 which used SHS as the basis for the sample. | July 2015 |
| Ipsos Mori | Electoral Commission and Voting Age Forms | The voting age for Holyrood and local elections in Scotland has been lowered to 16 years of age, the Electoral Commission has adapted its Household Enquiry Form (HEF) and Invitation to Register (ITR) form to reflect the reduced age and also to include 14 and 15 year olds, to ensure that they are registered to vote once they are 16. Although the HEF and ITR forms were recently tested, the revised versions for Scotland have not been. The Electoral Commission has therefore contracted Ipsos MORI Scotland to undertake qualitative research to test the new draft forms. The purpose of the testing is to: establish if the forms are clear; find out whether people understand what information is being requested from them, relating to 14-17 year olds in their household and to explore possible improvements to the forms | April 2015 |
| Scottish Government | Housing aspirations | To inform the development of policy and practice by collecting and analysing information on what types and tenures of housing that people in Scotland want to live in. | February 2015 |
| Ipsos MORI | Testing the Canvass Form for Registration of Young Voters | The ultimate aim of the project is to enable 16 and 17 year-olds to be registered and therefore have the opportunity to vote in the referendum on independence in 2014. This will be done by carrying out cognitive testing of the proposed form, to ensure that it is easy to understand and to complete correctly. | February 2013 |
| Transport Scotland | The Use and Value of the Blue Badge Scheme for Disabled People | The Blue Badge Scheme has been in operation for 40 years, and is currently undergoing a process of legislative and administrative reform. However there is a significant evidence gap over the use of the badge, and related issues. To address this evidence gap, we are undertaking research to: 1) understand Blue Badge holders transport needs; 2) understand the use of the Blue Badge, and if and how it enhances people's lives; 3) explore how the Blue Badge fits as one element of transport provision for disabled people; and 4) answer questions about the scheme administration and capture any early feedback on scheme changes from 1 January 2012. | January 2012 |
| University of Aberdeen | Paediatric Pharmacovigilance Studies | The overall aim of the project is to identify the attitudes and opinions of parents/guardians and young people with the linkage of routinely held data for signal generation in paediatric pharmacovigilance studies, with a particular view to identifying biomedical ethical arguments, and suggesting pragmatic solutions to identified barriers. | June 2011 |
| Ipsos MORI | Parenting in Scotland | Survey of parents to look at sources of support and advice for parents, child discipline, impact of the recession on family life, and childcare arrangements. | March 2010 |
| Transport Research Institute | Private Car Use | The research focuses upon the potential for 'green' fiscal policy to alter driver behaviour: gauged by changes in vehicle ownership and usage. Centring on private passenger vehicles and their associated carbon-footprint, the main focus will be on taxation instruments and their potential to promote behaviour with a lesser environmental impact. | December 2009 |
| Ipsos MORI | 2011 Census Question Testing | GROS has commissioned Ipsos MORI to carry out cognitive testing of the questionnaire to be used in the 2011 census. In particular, the testing aims to: Better understand how people will respond to a new question on national identity; Test how the questionnaire works as a whole; and, test the 'Household questions - People' and question routing. | July 2009 |
| Scottish Centre for Social Research | Bus Perceptions | The main aim of the research is to explore in more depth the reasons why people do not use buses (more) and what might encourage them to do so. | June 2009 |
| Ipsos MORI | Home Appreciation Loan | This involves modelling the potential size of the market for a Home Appreciation Loan, market segmentation to understand the characteristics of potential recipients of the HAL and primary research to gauge potential recipients' views of the scheme. | February 2009 |
| Ipsos MORI | Tenants' Priorities in Scotland | The Scottish Government has commissioned Ipsos MORI to carry out a telephone survey of 500 tenants of social housing. The study aims to establish the priorities of tenants of social landlords in order to help government ministers set objectives against which the performance of Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) can be measured. | December 2008 |
| Hayton Consulting | Child Poverty | Hayton Consulting has been commissioned by the Scottish Parliament to undertake research to form an input into the Local Government and Communities Committee's inquiry into Child Poverty in Scotland. The work was to undertake a series of interviews with parents and carers in households that were defined as being in child poverty. | August 2008 |
| Ipsos MORI | Scottish Property Managing Agents | Ipsos MORI has been commissioned by the Office of Fair Trading to carry out a survey of property-owners as part of a market study of Scottish property managing agents. The study will look at how well the market in services provided by property management agents (factors) for maintaining and repairing common areas of multiple occupancy buildings in Scotland is working. | August 2008 |