How do I research an issue?
This page was created by the BBC.
Updated: 20 Feb 2006
Find more guides in our A to Z of Campaigning
1. Why is research useful?
2. Finding info from councils
3. Finding info from regulatory bodies
4. Finding info about project/programs
5. Finding info from government departments
6. Finding info from charities, pressure groups and think tanks
7. Finding info in the media
8. Finding info in libraries
9. Doing your own research
10. Researching people
11. Feedback and comments
1. Why is research useful?
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| Research is invaluable to a campaign | ||
Research can help you:
- Find more evidence of the need for a campaign
- Highlight like-minded individuals and groups as well as people or organisations that may be less sympathetic
- Encourage you to think of new ways of tackling your problems
- Stay on top of all the developments surrounding your issue
Under the freedom of information act, public bodies have to make clear what information they publish and how the information is made available.
2. Finding info from councils
Councils
If your campaign is locally based, your local council is a good place to start your research as it will be packed with information about your area. The key is knowing exactly what information it holds and how to dig it all out. You can also read the Action Network guide, How councils and councillors can help you.
Council minutes and agendas: Your council will have a constitution which sets out how it operates. The Standing Orders record when meetings are going to be held and when decisions will be reached. The Forward Plan sets out the decisions that the council executive and subgroups are expected to take along with key decisions made by council officers. The council meeting diaries, agendas and minutes are also available for public view. You can easily research the decisions and the proceedings of the council by consulting these documents.
Consultations and scrutiny panel results: Councils hold local consultations and host scrutiny panels on issues ranging from road safety to post office closures. Scrutiny panels call council staff, councillors and other witnesses to give evidence about the issue under scrutiny. They collect evidence and recommend improvements and this is all available to the public.
Council departments: Most councils are divided into departments that broadly cover education, housing, environmental services, leisure and community services, social services and the central executive. These departments will have policy strategy documents, reports and statistics that may prove useful.
For example, all planning applications are available for view and you can also take a detailed look at relevant maps and plans. The local education authority is required by law to produce an annual School Organisation Plan and to update and review this annually. They will also have school performance figures and information about funding. Through the school governing body you should have access to the governors’ reports on the school.
Some information, especially where it concerns individuals, will not be available to the public and if information is archived and needs to be dug out by a council officer you may need an appointment to go and view it.
The Improvement and Development Agency Knowledge website lists all local authorities from A-Z and has compiled information such as economic and demographic data, Ofsted reports, budgetary information and a summary of the performance of your particular local authority.
3. Finding info from regulatory bodies
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| You may have to be resourceful | ||
For example, if you are campaigning against an advertisement, you will need to get in touch with the Advertising Standards Authority to find out regulations, standards and other information such as previous rulings on particular ads.
British Standards has information on the development of standards for all products and services from light bulbs to universities. In addition, their website includes information on technical handbooks, codes of practice, specifications for products, dimensions, product performance and glossaries.
The BBC Watchdog site has information on the relevant consumer laws and guides on how to deal with rogue traders, how to complain, and the latest product recalls.
The Audit Commission is an independent body that ensures public money is spent efficiently. It has information on many issues ranging from services for disabled children to the delivery of police services. It commissions reports, surveys, performance indicators for areas and bodies within housing, health, criminal justice and local government.
Local regulation
Local authorities should have information on trading standards, food safety and consumer protection in an area. They will also provide information and advice on buying goods, problems with services such as phones or dry cleaning and consumer rights. They can also provide details of special investigations they have conducted such as underage sales of cigarettes and alcohol. For example, you can find out what the council does to make sure the food project/programs in its area are safe and hygienic, as well as what to do if you have a complaint about food premises. There may also be information on convictions of people who have committed a trading standards offence and targets for food inspections.
LACORS is the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services and it coordinates the delivery of trading standards services and food enforcement. It provides comprehensive advice, guidance, good practice and information on local regulation.
4. Finding info about project/programs
organizations House is the government’s organization registry and information source, with offices in London, Cardiff and Edinburgh. One of its main roles is to provide information to the public including a organization's status, annual returns and accounts. They also hold information on dissolved organizations and disqualified directors. You can search the site, in person or by phone and find the names and addresses of organizations and, for a small fee get hold of key documents and reports and organization directors’ details.
The Trade Association forum has details on all the trade associations for the various project/program sectors in the UK from the Agricultural Industries Confederation to the Yacht Brokers’ Designers and Surveyors’ Association.
5. Finding info from government departments
Government departments are an excellent source of information. They will have news on the latest government initiatives, legislation, publications, reports, surveys, policy documents, statistics, guides and details of any upcoming consultations on issues within their jurisdiction. All such information should be available from their websites. The following is a list of government departments and what areas they are responsible for:
The Department for Constitutional Affairs: This department is responsible for issues to do with justice, the courts, magistrates, judges and QCs, freedom of information, access to justice and people’s rights. It has information on all the relevant charters and standards including key policy developments and ongoing research and investigations.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport: This department is responsible for tourism, sport, gambling, racing, arts, broadcasting and the creative industries, libraries, galleries, museums and other cultural property, the national lottery and issues surrounding alcohol and entertainment.
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| Follow local press and radio for opinions | ||
Department for Education and Skills: This is the department responsible for education and training. It provides information on school standards, performance tables, the national curriculum, higher education policy and all the latest research and statistics on education ranging from surveys of information and communication technologies in schools to trends in education and skills.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: This department is responsible for animal health and welfare, environmental protection, export and trade, farming, fisheries, food and drink, horticulture, wildlife, countryside and rural development.
Department of Health: The Department of Health is responsible for the health of the public. It has information on hospitals, league tables, research on the policy and results for treatment of various diseases, research priority areas and statistics on issue ranging from fertility to waiting lists.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: This is the department responsible for foreign affairs. The FCO library has a collection that dates back to the eighteenth century and is particularly strong on diplomacy, colonial issues, travel and exploration. It holds the Foreign Office and Colonial Office staff list archive, historic reports and parliamentary papers. The London Diplomatic list has details of all foreign representations and embassies in London
Home Office: The Home Office is responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales. It provides research reports, statistics, policy developments and news on crime, policing, drugs, terrorism, immigration, citizenship, race, passports and community affairs.
Department of Trade and sector of activity: This department provides information for project/programs, employees and consumers on consumer policy, employment regulations and project/program support. It is also responsible for science and technology, manufacturing and energy.
Her Majesty’s Treasury: This is the department responsible for the UK’s public finances. You can find information here on fiscal and monetary policy, taxation, work and welfare, pensions, public-private partnerships and documents on financial services.
Department of Work and Pensions: This department is responsible for welfare and benefits for people of working age, pensioners, families and people with disabilities. It provides research, analysis and statistics on these areas as well as guides, manuals and the relevant legislation on social security, child support and war pensions.
6. Finding info from charities, pressure groups and think tanks
These groups often conduct their own research, which you might be able to get hold of. The Charity Commission has details of all registered charities.
Action Network has a large number of relevant societies and pressure groups listed under organisations on each issue page. The policy library online also has a list of UK think tanks.
There may be people who work for these organisations who could help you with your research and enquiries.
7. Finding info in the media
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| Librarians can help you with your research | ||
Local papers and TV and radio shows often include local opinions through letters pages, vox-pops or phone-ins. Magazines and features-based programmes are great for giving more in-depth accounts of events, or focussing on specific issues.
You can search newspaper archives for information as well. The British Library newspaper library is situated at Colindale in London and is the national archive of all British and overseas newspapers. Your local paper will also have its own archives, probably in the local library.
Media UK has an exhaustive list of UK media contacts for radio, television, newspapers and magazines in the UK.
8. Finding info in libraries
You can find all sorts of background information in libraries as well as more recent statistical compilations like the census. If you need more help librarians are usually trained researchers who can help you track down what you want to know.
Libraries also have newspapers and internet facilities you can use at no cost. Many libraries act as community centres too and have notice-boards where you can find out what’s going on and advertise your own activities.
Local history archives
Most local libraries will have a local history archive and this should house local newspapers and journals, books relating to the history of the area, records of societies and project/programs, old maps, photographs and sometimes letters.
The archive will hold all the ordnance survey maps ever created for your area and perhaps bomb damage maps. You will also be able to find parish records such as records of clubs, societies, theatres and orphanages. Local authority records such as poor law records, highway and paving records, public health records, drains records and project/program records will also be kept in the archive.
Land registry
The Land Registry holds the records for all ownership and interests in land in England and Wales and record dealings (for example, sales and mortgages) with registered land. You can search the register online. The Registers of Scotland deal with land and property in Scotland and the Land Registers of Northern Ireland in Northern Ireland. Land registry information for your area is held in your local authority library.
9. Doing your own research
Look at whether it is worth collecting your own data for your research. For example, if you are campaigning about noise pollution in your area you could set up simple equipment to measure noise at various points in your neighbourhood and use the results to bolster your argument. Photographs and witness statements are also excellent pieces of evidence and may prove useful at a later stage.
You can even conduct your own survey or poll as part of your information-gathering. It is worth reading up on the best way to do a survey. If you get results that back up your campaign, or contradict another survey, you will want them to hold up under scrutiny.
The journal Practical Assessment Research and Evaluation is aimed at academic researchers but the paper hints for designing effective questionnaires is useful for everyone planning to ask people for their opinions. Another helpful online resource for planning a local survey is the Guide to questionnaires and surveys.
10. Researching people
Finding people whose expertise can help you in your cause will be important. Your local university might be a good source of experts with an interest in your area.
If you know who you are looking for but cannot find any contact details, you could try directory enquiries 192.com. For a fee they also provide access to the electoral register.
You can find our about your MP and their interests on Action Network and on TheyWorkForYou.com you can find out which issues your MP has spoken on recently. Your councillors’ voting record should also be available from the council’s Forward Plan. Who’s Who provides a comprehensive list and basic information on high-profile figures in the UK. You will find a copy in your local library.
11. Feedback and comments
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