An examination of the various sources of information available and the ways in which they are used to inform policy. This includes methods of social research, both quantitative and qualitative, the production of official statistics and social indicators, case studies and documentary research; the locations in which such information is produced (universities, think-tanks, government bureaux, etc) and the nature of the information produced (basic research, strategic research, intelligence and monitoring, etc). The political, ethical, social and economic context in which information is produced and used in policy is examined through the analysis of examples from a range of policy areas.