 |
Research
We are committed to using research to ensure that our work is evidence-based. Visit our publications area to view our research reports.
Research Team
Our Research Team operates from within the Deputy Chief Executive's Directorate and is responsible for delivering our research programme and for providing research advice and support across the Commission and to the devolved offices.
We manage and deliver research projects to support policy reviews and voter awareness campaigns in support of our corporate objectives.
As well as ensuring that our policy reviews and public awareness campaigns are evidence-based, the Research Team also has a key role to play in ensuring that we understand public attitudes to electoral participation and modernisation.
Latest research news
- Professor David Denver collected and analysed a range of data, including results, turnout and rejected ballot papers, for the 2007 Scottish Parliamentary and local government elections on our behalf. He has written two reports for us and you can download the overall report and a report on rejected ballot papers.
- Professors Rallings and Thrasher of the LGC Elections Centre at Plymouth collected and collated data relating to the 2007 local elections in England on our behalf. You can view spreadsheets containing figures for turnout, levels of rejected ballot papers and postal votes. There is one spreadsheet showing overall figures for England and also sheets covering each authority for metropolitan boroughs, unitary authorities and district authorities.
- Professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher from the LGC Elections centre at Plymouth, in conjunction with GfK NOP social Research, were commissioned to undertake public opinion analysis around the 2007 English local elections. The focus of this research report is electors' knowledge about and engagement with the electoral process in England. The report considers issues such as political interest and motivation, opinions about different voting procedures, and awareness of and reaction to changes brought in by the Electoral Administration Act (EAA) 2006.
- Thirteen local authorities piloted new electoral arrangements at this year's local elections. We commissioned ICM Government and Social Research to undertake public opinion research into the general public's perceptions of these schemes. The full research report is now available to download.
- GfK NOP conducted a public opinion survey after the 2007 Scottish Parliamentary and local government elections, looking into the views and knowledge of people in Scotland on various aspects of these elections and elections generally. You can download GfK NOP's report on public opinion at the Scottish elections.
- GfK NOP conducted a public opinion survey after the 2007 National Assembly for Wales elections, looking into the views and knowledge of people in Wales on various aspects of these elections and elections generally. You can download GfK NOP's report on this research.
- We now have available a range of data, including results and turnout, for the 2007 National Assembly for Wales elections. This data has been collected and collated on our behalf by Professors Rallings and Thrasher at the LGC Elections Centre at the University of Plymouth. You can download the following tables: full constituency results including all candidate names, constituency results by party (which also includes postal voting data), regional results (which also includes postal voting data), the change in turnout from 2003 to 2007 and a full list of constituency candidates' names. The full research report can also be downloaded.
- In March 2007 we published An audit of political engagement 4, which explores the public's relationship with politics beyond the ballot box. You can download the full report or the shorter pocket findings.
- Ipsos MORI undertook deliberative day-long workshops with participants in York, London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast in August, September and October 2006 on the issue of party funding. Their final report which provides an in-depth understanding of current public attitudes to party political funding can be downloaded here.
- Research reports to inform the Commission's public awareness campaigns for the 2007 devolved elections in Scotland and Wales can be downloaded here: Scotland - Poll Position and Wales - Poll Position
- Professors Rallings and Thrasher from the University of Plymouth have produced a report of the analyis of the 2006 local election data. Their report can be download here along with the data tables.
- The findings from our 2006 local elections survey of Returning officers are now available to download
- BMRB conducted public opinion research on the Commission's behalf at the 2006 local elections on a number of issues surrounding the local elections in May. Their report can be downloaded here. A quick Summary of the main findings from this research is also available. BMRB also conducted a study which explored the benefits and disbenfits of multi-member wards.
- The research report Compulsory voting around the world has now been launched. This research report provides information on how compulsory voting operates in different countries. It is intended as a useful reference source analysing the international experience, rather than considering the merits or otherwise of compulsory voting in the UK.
- The Audit of political engagement 3 research report has been launched. This is the third annual audit of political engagement undertaken by ourselves and the Hansard Society. You can also access the report which MORI produced for us to inform the Audit.
- MORI also conducted research for our Winter public opinion research programme. Their report can be downloaded here.
- Accessibilty review. As part of our 'Findings' series we have published a summary of research conducted on the Commission's behalf into the accessibility of the 2005 general election for electors with disabilities. You can also download the full report by Disability Alliance, Capability Scotland and Scope
- The Research paper on the survey of (Acting) Returning Officers at the 2005 general election is now available to download
- Electoral registration - time for change. This article written by Ben Marshall and Douglas Stewart of the Electoral Commission has made the latest edition of Political Quarterly, a well know political journal which (in its own words) 'acts as a bridge between policy-makers, commentators and academics.' The article presents new research from the Commission, reviews the case for reform of electoral registration arrangements, considers the current policy debate and outlines some of the challenges involved in maximising registration rates.
- Election 2005: engaging the public in Great Britain has been launched. This report was infomed by a Campaigns analysis conducted by a team of academics including Dr Justin Fisher (Brunel University), Professor David Denver (Lancaster University) Professor Edward Fieldhouse and Dr David Cutts and Dr Andrew Russell (University of Manchester) and a Media content analysis by the Communication Research Centre at Loughborough University.
- On 15 December 2005 we published a report, Election 2005: Northern Ireland, about the UK Parliamentary and Northern Ireland local government elections held on 5 May 2005. The report was informed by a large number of sources including public opinion research, analysis of the media's coverage of the elections and the views of the political parties and candidates who contested the elections. Full details can be found on Election 2005: Northern Ireland.
- Social exclusion and political engagement - This research paper was published on 30 November. The paper brings together research on the challenge of political disengagement among socially and economically disadvantaged groups. It explores how and why those experiencing social disadvantage tend to also be the most politically excluded in society.
- The 2004 North East regional assembly and local government referendums report was published on 4 November to mark its one year anniversary. The report provides a detailed analysis of the administration of the referendum and sets out a series of reccomendations for the future conduct of referendums in the UK. Outsourced research projects can be accessed via the North East referendums page.
- Election 2005: turnout - was published on 19 October 2005. This report investigates this year's 61% turnout across the UK and explores the reasons for it. Outsourced research projects and general election data can be accessed via our general election page
Commissioning and undertaking research
As a public organisation, we are required to conduct a competitive tendering exercise for most research projects. This involves issuing an Invitation to Tender to relevant institutions and agencies. Tenders are assessed against criteria specified in the Invitation to Tender and, in line with guidelines produced by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), we must consider the 'value for money' being offered by each tenderer before awarding a research contract.
We also conduct a number of research functions in-house. We also assist local authorities piloting new electoral arrangements in designing the research components of their evaluation exercises.
|
|
