The Policy Unit

Understanding Society provides independent, up-to-date evidence to decision makers in the UK and across the world.

We believe long-term studies can make a positive difference to the lives of people living in the UK. Our Policy Unit works with organisations to enhance their understanding of longitudinal research, facilitate knowledge exchange, shape new thinking and inform policy.

Policy Fellowships

Policy Fellowships support researchers who undertake a social science research project which has the potential to make a substantial contribution to informing and influencing public policy using Understanding Society data.

Data Notes

The Understanding Society Data Notes series gives brief snapshots of data on key issues.

Calls for evidence

13 Aug

Managing the impact of social media on young people's mental health and wellbeing

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Media and Young People's Mental Health and Wellbing has been established to drive...

How we work

The Policy Unit works with researchers and data users to provide analytical support and build partnerships and networks.

Generating Impact

Information, advice and guidance on generating impact from research.

Research Vouchers

Third sector organisations with innovative research ideas can benefit from research worth up to £10000.

Get in touch

Contact the Policy Unit.

Projects More

Children's mental health in the transition from childhood to adolescence

Investigating the different trajectories of mental health among adolescents to better understand which factors are associated with better mental health.

The financial and subjective impact of transitions into parenthood

Understanding the impact of parenthood on measures such as income, hours worked and childcare.

Young, female and forgotten?

The Young Women's Trust worked with Understanding Society to look at why economic inactivity is disproportionately high amongst young women.

Latest case studies More

How well are older people doing?

Age UK use Understanding Society to create an Index of Wellbeing in Later Life.

Tackling worklessness and its consequences for children

Understanding Society has been used to investigate the consequences of disadvantage for families, analysing parents’ work situations and its impact on children – particularly in terms of their education outcomes.

Housing developments: Measuring social sustainability

A new case study from Understanding Society looks at how the style of housing developments can affect community wellbeing.

How does ethnicity and gender play a role in addressing poverty?

New research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) shows that without understanding the role of ethnicity and gender it is difficult to address poverty effectively to raise living standards.