ABARES Social Sciences undertakes applied social research and analysis, to support the strategic program and policy goals of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, other government agencies, research and development corporations, and industry bodies.
ABARES social sciences research
ABARES social research capabilities
The team has the following research capabilities:
- application of frameworks for supporting behaviour change, systems thinking, vulnerability and resilience, and understanding social, cultural and institutional dimensions of change
- development of decision support tools and materials
- Bayesian network analysis and integrated assessment
- community engagement theory, processes and practice
- demographic analysis
- design and facilitate focus groups and workshops
- design, delivery, data capture and statistical analysis of sample surveys
- ethics advice on research proposals and projects
- institutional analysis and design
- monitoring and evaluation of programs and policies
- multidisciplinary research
- policy analysis and design
- qualitative and quantitative research and analysis
- social impact and structural adjustment assessment
- social network analysis
- teaching and capability building.
Affiliations
- General Surveillance Community of Practice: a cross sector community of people working on different aspects of general surveillance programs to learn, network and collaborate
- Australian Centre for Evaluation (ACE): Community of Practice
- The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University
- Innovation Policy Forum: a diverse community of experts exploring how to achieve an agrifood innovation system that proactively adapts to changes in the demands placed on it, in particular, relating to grand societal challenges
Current projects
Some key current projects and clients include:
- Agricultural innovation policy
- Community vulnerability to drought
- Design, measurement and evaluation of General Surveillance programs
- Human and social dimensions of vertebrate pest animals and weeds in Australia
- Monitoring landholder pest and weed management practices (Wave 3) (Environmental Biosecurity Office, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry)
- State of The Forests Reporting 2023: Community resilience
- Trends in the Australian agricultural workforce (Agricultural Policy, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry)