Research & Evaluation
Our social research and evaluation teams combine rigour with depth to explore what is happening in human systems.
Theory of Change
We've developed Theories of Change for national Just Transition frameworks and complex social interventions in EU industrial settings, always treating them as living documents that evolve with learning.
Measuring and evaluating success in the Scottish Just Transition
Drabble, D. and Simeone, L. (eds.) (2021). Strategic Thinking, Design and the Theory of Change. London: Routledge
Scenario building
We've used scenario approaches to support strategic planning in rapidly changing policy environments, including Europe's labour market trends aligned with the European Commission's Strategic Foresight process.
Realist evaluation
We ask: what works, for whom, in what circumstances, and how? We build and test context-mechanism-outcome configurations iteratively, using mixed methods to understand generative causation in real-world complexity.
We're currently applying theory-based realist evaluation to understand AI tool implementation across European labour markets.
AI implementation research across European labour markets
HM Treasury (2020). Magenta Book Supplementary Guide: Realist Evaluation
Mixed methods research
Numbers tell part of the story, and the views and experiences of individuals tell another. We integrate quantitative methods (surveys, statistical analysis, validated measurement tools) with in-depth qualitative work (interviews, focus groups) to understand what's happening and why it matters.
We've combined large-scale surveys across global tech companies with focus groups and systematic literature reviews and have the experience and capacity to launch projects rapidly when clients need.
Developmental evaluation
Developmental evaluation is part of the innovation process, not a judgement delivered afterwards.
We have conducted developmental evaluations with international social change organisations, the EU clothing industry and with children's service organisations, amongst many others.
Participative research
We co-design questions, methods and interpretation that bring collective knowledge to life.
We've co-produced evaluations with young people with lived experience of mental health issues, women affected by domestic violence, industry partners struggling to weigh up change.
Contribution analysis
When your intervention is emerging amidst interacting systems, responding to constantly evolving contexts, traditional evaluation won't tell you what works. We use contribution analysis to build a credible story of what's shifting, working with the uncertainties. Through iterative inquiry with stakeholders and those affected, we trace how your activities contribute to change across complex, shifting environments where simple cause and effect doesn't apply.
We've used this to evaluate large-scale transformation change processes across multiple sectors.
Junge, K., Cullen, J., & Iacopini, G. (2020). Using contribution analysis to evaluate large-scale, transformation change processes. Evaluation, 26(2), 227-245
What is our approach to evaluation?
Action learning
Action learning for our clients
Action learning sets can run as a stand-alone intervention or as part of a wider programme of consultancy, leadership development or evaluation, and are designed around your organisation's purpose, membership and circumstances from the outset.
Action learning sets are particularly valuable when:
- senior teams keep becoming caught in the same conflicts
- technically accomplished managers are struggling with the human demands of leadership
- a merger or restructure has left groups working as rivals
- authority and accountability have become unclear
- staff are leading change under real uncertainty
- collaboration across professional or organisational boundaries is difficult
- you want learning to continue after a piece of consultancy has ended.
What is Action Research?
Menzies, I. E. P. (1960). A Case-Study in the Functioning of Social Systems as a Defence against Anxiety
Socio-Technical Systems
Innovations in Socio-Technical Systems theory
Recent scholarship has extended socio-technical systems theory, developing an approach called balanced optimisation, which treats demands from the wider ecosystem as equally pressing. Another recent development is called adaptive autonomy, recognising that in human-AI systems, autonomy is not fixed but distributed and renegotiated as tasks and contexts shift.
Lawlor, D., Sher, M. with C. Child (2023), ‘Socio-ecological: Working with Large Complex Collaborative Partnerships (Whole Systems)’, Systems Psychodynamics: Innovative Approaches to Change, Whole Systems and Complexity , D. Lawlor, M. Sher, New York, London.
Trist, E.L. and Bamforth, K.W. (1951). Some social and psychological consequences of the longwall method of coal-getting. Human Relations, 4(1), pp.3–38.
Emery, F.E., Marek, J., Miller, E.J. and Murray, H. (1960). Analysis of automation: a preliminary statement. Tavistock Institute of Human Relations.
Designing effective labour market policy in Europe
Creative Digital Futures Lab
