Commissioned Research Reports

Key features in a nutshell

• commissioned or contract research allows policymakers to receive the scientific expertise to assess policy issues
• commissioned research reports can include evaluations, fact-finding, surveys, feasibility studies, or forecasting exercises; commissioned research reports vary in length and scope

How does the format work?

Commissioned research reports are an established format for policymakers to receive scientific expertise. For example, policymakers can commission research (or contract research) to

• evaluate a law, funding programme, or other policy initiatives (e.g., questions like “Did the legal regulations reduce carb emissions in transport?” “Why did only a few companies apply for state subsidies to introduce energy-efficient technologies in their production facilities?”)
• find facts and conduct surveys (e.g., “What are the effects of microplastics on fish populations in rivers?” “How satisfied are citizens with public transport?”)
• conduct feasibility studies (e.g., “Is it technically possible and economically feasible to change the accounting software in government agencies?” “Which mines can nuclear waste be stored in?”)
• carry out forecasting exercises (“How many elderly people will be living in care homes in 20 years?” “How will climate change affect food security?”)

Commissioned research projects vary in scope, duration, and budget. They can range from small-scale projects, which an individual scientist can complete in a week, to large-scale projects that require the participation of dozens of scientists over several years. They can also vary with respect to their scientific “publishability”: depending on the academic discipline and type of research, commissioned research reports can be standard scholarly publications scientists write. Or scientists may have to adjust to unfamiliar types of research regarding research questions, structure, and format.

All state bodies and political parties can commission research reports. A common way to do that is to publish a call for tenders, which outlines the aim and budget of the commissioned research. Depending on the type of research, scientists might compete with think tanks, consultancies, NGOs, law firms, and other businesses when submitting a bid proposal.

There are numerous models for agreements between scientists and policymakers. If the following issues for tenders have not been covered by the calls, scientists should address them before applying or signing a contract:

• Will the commissioned research report be published? If so, will it be published immediately or after a retention period? Can you list the reports on your website?
• Who owns the research findings and data? Can they be used for other research projects?
• Who owns the copyright? Do you have permission or the authority to publish the commissioned research reports or sections of the reports in scientific publications?
• How detailed and strict are the terms of the agreement? Can you alter them during the project? For example, are you allowed to adjust the research question or methodology? Can you add additional questions to a survey?
• What happens if you cannot make the deadline?
• Do your clients in the policymaking institution expect you to present interim results/reports, or are they happy to receive the final research report eight months later?
• Who is going to read the commissioned research report?
• Do you have to provide policy recommendations?
• What items does the budget cover? Is there also a budget for travel, workshops, and other events?

Address these questions before starting the research project! Commissioned research is a significant source of income for many scientific institutions. But many scientists refrain from conducting commissioned research if they know that the research report will not count as a scholarly publication. This issue might be resolved if the research is conducted with two research outputs in mind: the commissioned research report and an academic journal (e.g., a peer-reviewed article). Discuss these issues with your client before starting the research project.

Suppose you conduct commissioned research for the first time and are unsure about structure, writing style, layout, and visualisations. If publicly available, check published commissioned research reports. Ask the clients if they can recommend reports regarding structure, writing style, and layout.

Also, keep your audience in mind: Did a unit in a government body commission a research report on a technical issue, which will most likely only be read by a few experts in the respective unit? Or did a committee in parliament commission an extensive study on a contested policy issue, which will be debated in a plenary session and result in media coverage? For example, suppose you are a chemist, and you are going to write a research report for some policy officers with a background in chemistry or a related subject. In that case, you will not have to explain every technical term and invest much time in a non-technical summary. But you should certainly do so if your report will be read by members of parliament or other policymakers who do not have a background in your discipline.

Please remember that commissioned research reports can provide the opportunity to connect with policymakers and is not limited to submitting reports. Even if your clients do not require the submission of interim results/reports, offer personal or virtual meetings to discuss their progress.

Also, if your resources allow, offer to organise a policy workshop or other policy event to discuss the results of the final research report. If your clients agree, think about inviting policymakers from other units or organisations who might be interested in the results. Senior policymakers are more likely to participate in a short event than to read a 200-page report. (CHECK our chapter on policy events.)

Tasks and resources

Scientists

In addition to preparing a funding bid, scientists have to conduct the research and prepare the research report. Depending on the contract, they might also have to prepare interim reports or present their research results at a policymaking institution. Scientists must invest weeks or months in the commissioned research project, which could take time away from their regular work.

Knowledge exchange managers and research managers (Support Stuff)

Support staff can regularly check newsletters, tender portals, and similar websites and inform the scientists at their institutions about relevant tenders.

They can share good examples with scientists and help with the structure or writing style for scientists unfamiliar with contract research.

Policymakers

Policymakers must provide information on the aims, scope, and budget. A list of Frequently Asked Questions and guidelines is very helpful for scientists.

Sources and further reading

European Commission. No date., Funding, Tenders, accessed on 28 August 2024.

Institute for Government. 2024. Using and commissioning research in government, accessed on 23 August 2024.

Hodges, Dan; Rahman, Syahirah Abdul. 2022. Commissioned research, in Tim Vorley et al. (ed.), How to engage policymakers with your research, Edwar Elgar Publishing, pp. 175-183.

Do you want to know more about the policy engagement toolkit?

Do you want to share your experience in policy engagement? Do you think about contributing to the policy engagement toolkit? Feel free to contact Tome Sandevski via science-policy@pvw.uni-frankfurt.de