Stephen is a leading light in quantitative-led evaluation. He was responsible for some of the very earliest uses of randomised field trials in policy evaluation in the UK. He has designed and/or led some of the key studies in these fields over the last two decades including the Study of Early Education and Development, evaluation of the Employment Retention and Advancement Demonstration and the DWP Innovation Funds. Stephen is currently Head of Evaluation Research at NatCen Social Research. He has held various posts in central government and was until 2011 Principal Research Fellow at the Policy Studies Institute where he remains a visiting fellow.

Professor Chris Fox, Director of PERU said:

“Steve Morris is influential in quantitative evaluation in the UK and beyond. PERU has always concentrated on policy and programme evaluation and the innovative use of quantitative methods. Steve will take a leading role in developing this work across a range of sectors in the UK and Europe. I am excited at the prospect of working with him.”

Dr. Sharon Handley, Dean of the Humanities, Languages and Social Science Faculty said:

“I am delighted that Professor Steve Morris will be joining us in February. He has an outstanding track record of successful bids for contracts, a great sense of collaborative working and an exciting vision for policy evaluation in the faculty and the university. He is joining an excellent team and in the Policy Evaluation Unit and I look forward to seeing where PERU will go over the next three years with such a strong team.  I think it’s a case of, ‘Watch this space!’ “