Cluster analysis in policy studies

Social science has a range of methods that can provide evidence-based policy insights. The purpose of this book is to make the case that the social sciences are more relevant than ever in helping solve the problems of public policy. We provide a critical showcase for new forms of discovery drawn from the social sciences that can be applied in policy-making and do so by drawing on the insights of some of the world’s leading authorities in public policy analysis. There are many forms of social science discovery that draw from beyond the established or most prominently used tools. They include making more use of Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs), the analysis of Big Data, deliberative tools for decision-making, design thinking, qualitative techniques for comparison using Boolean and fuzzy set logic, the practice of citizen science, applying design thinking, learning from narratives used by policy makers and citizens, policy visualisation, spatial mapping, simulation modelling and various forms of statistical analysis (such as cluster analysis). So the heart of the book is an attempt to expand the awareness of both researchers and policymakers to the contribution that the social sciences can make.