Research strategy

Building evidence for better land policy and practice

On this page

Our research underpins everything we do.

It helps us understand how Scotland’s land is owned, used and governed, and provides the evidence needed to shape fair, practical and forward-looking land reform.

The Scottish Land Commission’s Research Strategy sets out how we plan, deliver and share research to make sure our work is based on sound evidence and open collaboration.

The role of research in our work

Research is central to the Commission’s role as an independent body providing advice and analysis to government and others.

We use research to:

Understand how land policy and practice affect people, communities and the economy
Fill evidence gaps on key land reform issues
Test practical approaches and evaluate what works
Build trust and credibility in our recommendations

Research is one part of a wider evidence mix that also includes casework, consultation and real-world experience, but it plays a vital role by offering independent, transparent and robust findings.

Our research priorities

Our aim is to provide a strong evidence base for advice to policymakers and practical guidance for landowners, managers and communities.

To achieve this, our research focuses on four key areas:

Staying up to date

We keep pace with the latest evidence from Scotland and beyond, sharing learning through networks, partnerships and internal briefings.

Generating new evidence

We commission and conduct research to fill key knowledge gaps and to inform our long-term priorities, guided by our Strategic Plan.

Building capacity and partnerships

We work collaboratively with universities, research bodies and others to strengthen capacity across the sector and open up new funding opportunities.

Sharing knowledge and impact

We make our findings accessible and useful through briefings, webinars and publications, to ensure they reach the people who can put them into practice.

How we work

Our research is designed to be practical, high quality and transparent.

Depending on the project, we:

Conduct research in-house, using our policy expertise and casework experience;
Commission external research when specialist or independent input is needed; and
Collaborate with partners on shared priorities and joint funding bids

We follow clear policies on research ethics and quality assurance as outlined in our guide to commissioning and carrying out research, to ensure rigour, fairness and integrity in everything we publish.

Working with us

We welcome collaboration with academics, practitioners and other organisations who share our interest in fair, productive and responsible land use.

This includes:

Joint research projects or funding bids
Student placements and PhD supervision

If you’re interested in working with us, please get in touch by emailing info@landcommission.gov.scot

Sharing and using evidence

We want our research to make a difference. That means making it easy to find, use and share.

Our publications are available in the research and reports section of this website, alongside summaries, infographics and recordings of research briefings. We are also developing new ways to make our data and methods more open and accessible.

Visit our research and reports library

Explore our full collection of research and evidence

Visit the library

Measuring progress

We regularly review how our research is working, tracking both impact and learning.

This includes:

Monitoring the uptake of our findings in policy and practice
Reviewing research partnerships and outputs
Tracking how we help build research skills and connections through student placements, collaborations and events

The strategy itself is reviewed every three years to make sure it continues to support the Commission’s wider objectives and reflects emerging priorities in land reform.

Explore connected policy areas

Further advice and information