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Current Research Projects

  • Young students conduct a planting experiment in science laboratory class

    Evaluating Primary Science Quality Mark

    21 Dec 2018

    A randomised controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the impact of PSQM aims to understand the impact of the intervention on pupils and teachers. The study will also examine how the intervention is implemented.

  • Dance4Life participants

    Evaluation suggests next steps for Dance4Life

    21 Nov 2018

    Dance4life, an international youth initiative to raise awareness and promote prevention of HIV/AIDS, developed and piloted a new programme and implementation model. An evaluation of the pilot found many successes but also areas where improvements could be made.

  • Children reading in a park

    Evaluating the impact of a program to promote early childhood development

    20 Nov 2018

    RAND Europe is undertaking a three-year independent evaluation of the impact of a philanthropic ECD programme in France. Researchers will assess the extent to which the programme-level objectives have been achieved, and understand how and why they were achieved.

  • British judge with gavel and justice scales

    Follow-up evaluation of the health and justice outcomes of L&D services

    12 Nov 2018

    The Department of Health and Social Care commissioned RAND Europe to undertake a second study on the UK's new model for Liaison and Diversion schemes. This study aims to investigate whether the new model has an impact on reconviction, the length of court processes, diversion from the criminal justice system, and the use of A&E and mental health services.

  • Silhouette of helicopter with soldiers conducting rescue operation

    Exploring collaborative investment in military multirole helicopters

    07 Nov 2018

    Researchers are examining the potential value of cooperation among European Defence Agency member states developing, acquiring, operating, and supporting light-weight and medium-weight multirole helicopter programmes.

  • Chemotherapy medication

    Making outcome-based payments a reality in the NHS

    23 Oct 2018

    Researchers are testing out a new approach to paying for cancer drugs in the UK on the basis of the outcomes they achieve, known as outcome-based payment (OBP) schemes. The project aims to help improve patient outcomes and drive value for the National Health Service.

  • The winding road to Brexit

    British people prefer a soft Brexit, if any

    11 Oct 2018

    A longitudinal study of British people finds they reject a no-deal scenario even more firmly than in 2017, and even Leave voters are shifting to a ‘softer’ Brexit. Membership in the European Economic Area remains the most popular option.

  • Yoga mat, mobile phone, dumbbells, bottle of water and measuring tape

    Evaluating the Wellbeing Premium Programme

    01 Oct 2018

    Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) often find it hard to invest in the health and wellbeing of their employees, or do not invest at all. Researchers are evaluating a randomised controlled trial of a financial incentive programme to improve employee health and wellbeing in SMEs in the West Midlands.

  • People sitting together in a discussion

    Evaluating the development of the Q initiative from 2016-2020

    14 Sep 2018

    RAND Europe is conducting a four-year, independent evaluation of the second phase of the Q Initiative to help guide the learning of the Q project team and wider stakeholders as they continue their implementation of Q across the UK. The research will support strategic decision-making and inform the ongoing design and management of Q and also assess the initiative's impact.

  • Women wearing pink for breast cancer and putting their hands together

    Societal impacts of treating breast cancer early

    05 Sep 2018

    Treating breast cancer early does not prevent its recurrence, but doing so can have implications for future research, policy, and practice. Researchers are exploring the evidence base on the broader health, societal and economic impacts from early breast cancer treatment and the wider costs to society of the progression of breast cancer.

  • Sign indicating desire to work

    Evaluating individual placement and support for alcohol and drug dependence

    03 Sep 2018

    IPS is an evidence-based programme that helps people with mental health challenges find employment. Public Health England is conducting a trial that expands the programme to help people in treatment for substance misuse. Our researchers are conducting a process evaluation of the trial.

  • School children perform a chemistry experiment

    Evaluating 'Aspire to STEM'

    14 Aug 2018

    Researchers are evaluating an intervention aimed at improving STEM teaching and learning in UK schools in disadvantaged areas. The project aims to understand what impact the intervention has on children’s learning and teacher retention.

  • Cyber security concept with computer screen requesting authentication credentials

    Taking stock of local government cybersecurity in England

    14 Aug 2018

    RAND Europe is carrying out a stocktake of existing cybersecurity arrangements within all councils in England. The study will cover areas beyond IT security, such as leadership, governance, technology arrangements and training.

  • Little girl blows and brings out letters of words

    Evaluating NELI, the evidence-based Nuffield Early Language Intervention

    13 Aug 2018

    RAND Europe is conducting a randomised controlled trial into the effectiveness of NELI, a language support programme designed to improve children’s vocabulary, listening and narrative skills. The study aims to understand both the impact of the intervention and how effectively it is implemented.

  • Businessman and businesswoman discussing hanging paperwork in office

    Developing tools to assess research evidence for policymakers and practitioners

    10 Aug 2018

    Researchers are developing recommendations for the College of Policing and the Education Endowment Foundation on how to assess evidence from research studies and make evidence-informed recommendations for practitioners and policymakers.

  • Engineer showing apprentice how to use drill in factory

    Building evidence on defence-related skills

    16 Jul 2018

    RAND Europe and the Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini are building the evidence base on shortages, gaps and mismatches in defence-related skills. The research aims to deliver a sectoral skills strategy that is agreed and validated by stakeholders.

  • British money surrounded by pills, tablets and capsules

    Exploring Funding Options for the NHS and Social Care in the UK

    11 Jul 2018

    Research on the public acceptability of different health and social care funding models examined other countries' funding schemes and found there is no single, commonly preferred solution to achieving sustainable revenues. The second stage of this research will assess the popularity of different funding approaches among the UK public.

  • The word 'hate' on a keyboard

    Linking hate speech online and hate crime

    06 Jul 2018

    RAND and Cardiff University are analysing online hate speech data to see if it can be used to identify areas where offline hate crimes are most likely to occur. The research aims to inform strategies to prevent and address hate crimes.

  • Healthcare icons and medical innovation concept

    BRACE-NIHR rapid service evaluation centre for healthcare in England

    06 Jun 2018

    The Birmingham, RAND and Cambridge Evaluation (BRACE) Centre is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to conduct rapid evaluations of promising new services and innovations in healthcare.

  • Young adults using smartphones at university college backyard break

    Tackling the challenges of algorithm-driven online media services

    21 May 2018

    Researchers from RAND Europe and Open Evidence are using state-of-the-art knowledge and data to understand the media literacy and online empowerment issues raised by algorithms in online media services and platforms.

  • Robot butler leads hotel guest to room

    Game-changing technologies in European services sectors

    19 Apr 2018

    New and potentially ‘game-changing’ technologies such as advanced robotics, autonomous transport devices, blockchain, virtual and augmented reality, and wearable devices, will inevitably impact the EU's services sectors. Researchers are exploring their applicability and wider socio-economic implications.

  • Human hand holding MRSA colonies on blood agar plate

    Using historical foresight to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

    16 Apr 2018

    Researchers are examining complex and enduring policy issues that have implications for public health (climate change and tobacco control) to gain a new perspective on how to tackle AMR. The team will look at how historical analysis can be used in future approaches to scenario planning and policymaking, with a particular focus on AMR policy.

  • A classic brownfield site

    Estimating the external impacts of development on previously developed land

    04 Apr 2018

    Previously developed land (PDL), also known as brownfield sites, could be useful for new housing in the UK. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has asked RAND Europe to estimate the external benefits of developing on PDL.

  • Senior scientist observes new breed of cress sprouts optimized for consumption in greenhouse

    Using foresight to examine the global food system

    28 Mar 2018

    The UK Food Standards Agency commissioned RAND Europe to conduct foresight exercises to gain a long-term perspective on the global food system.

  • Boys at the skateboard park in the West End of Glasgow

    Economic evaluation of the MCR Pathways PSP initiative

    16 Mar 2018

    Using data from ScotCen's evaluation of the MCR Pathways mentoring programme, RAND Europe is conducting a cost-benefit analysis to determine the economic value accruing from MCR participants' achievement of educational outcomes.