Glossary

A

Appraisal - The process of defining objectives, examining options and weighing up the costs, benefits, risks and uncertainties before a decision is made.

B

Baseline - A description of existing conditions (for example, extent of homelessness in Wales) to provide a starting point against which progress can be assessed or comparisons made.

Benchmarking - The establishment of a standard or reference point against which to establish targets and measure progress.

C

CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing) - Face-to-face interviews where the questionnaire is a computer program loaded on to a laptop computer that an interviewer takes out into the field. Respondents’ answers are entered into the laptop and interviews transmitted back to the office via modem.

CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) - Interview that is conducted over a telephone call rather than face-to-face. The questionnaire is accessed via a computer terminal located in a centralised telephone unit.

Census - The process of seeking to obtain information about every member of a population. This is different from sampling, where information is only sought from a subset of a population.

Cohort - A group whose progress is followed by means of measurements at different points in time.

Consultancy - A service which looks at a particular situation or problem with the intention of producing advice on possible options.

Cross-cutting research - Research that looks at issues relevant to more than one policy area.

D

Dissemination - The sharing of information. 

E

Evaluation - Analysis of a project, programme, or policy to assess how successful or otherwise it has been, and what lessons can be learnt for the future. Typically, evaluations are interested in addressing "what works for whom in what context".

Evidence-based policy making - An approach to policy development and implementation which develops a robust evidence base from which policy options are produced, monitored and evaluated. The key benefit of evidence-based policymaking is more effective policy and delivery.

Ex-ante evaluation - Evaluation or appraisal of a programme before it is implemented.

Ex-post evaluation - Evaluation of a programme or project when it has reached the end of its life.

F

Focus group - A method of research that involves groups discussing specific ideas or topics, guided by a moderator. 

G

Government Social Research (GSR) service - GSR is the professional organisation for approximately 1,000 social researchers in central government departments and the devolved administrations. GSR contributes to the evidence that underpins government strategy, policy and delivery by providing analysis and research-informed policy advice.

L

Literature review - A comprehensive survey of publications in a specific field of study or related to a particular line of research.

Living in Wales survey - An annual survey carried out for the Welsh Assembly Government. It was the main source of information on households and the condition of homes in Wales between 2004 and 2008. The successor to Living in Wales, running annually from 2009-10 onwards, is the National Survey for Wales.

N

National Survey - The National Survey for Wales is one of the main ways in which the Welsh Assembly Government aims to find out what issues are important to the people of Wales. The survey is based on face to face interviews in a randomly chosen sample of households across Wales.

M

Meta-analysis - A statistical practice of combining the results of a number of studies that address a set of related hypotheses. Analysing the results from a group of studies can allow more accurate estimation of effects.

N

National Survey - The National Survey for Wales is one of the main ways in which the Welsh Assembly Government aims to find out what issues are important to the people of Wales. The survey is based on face to face interviews in a randomly chosen sample of households across Wales.

O

Omnibus - Surveys conducted regularly by a research agency, but which can be sponsored by a number of clients who do not share the same data but who buy access to survey questions to meet their individual needs.