Raising the profile of a parliamentary research service – a checklist of methods

The following methods have been identified from professional experience and from detailed returns by several parliamentary research services. The original list of 40 items used in the ongoing survey is being added to. (They are marked ‘new’ in the list below)

Further information, including results from the survey, will be added progressively, including pages on particular methods.

1. Intranet site/pages dedicated to the research service
2. External website/pages dedicated to the research service [UK – House of Commons library & research service]
3. Social media (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok etc) [List of parliamentary library & research services & people on Twitter ; A blog on WordPress by a specialist research service for European Parliament committees ]
4. Promotional emails – newsletters, adverts etc
5. Promotional videos [European Parliamentary Research Service YouTube channel ; The history of POST (UK)].
6. Promotional audio clips, podcasts [European Parliamentary Research Service podcasts]
7. Promotional gadgets, clothing, bags etc
8. Research products published/accessible externally [Ghana – research papers ; Knesset – research papers translated into English ; New Zealand ]
9. Press releases and/or actively generating coverage in mainstream media
10. Permanent displays of hard-copy research reports
11. Special Products – e.g. condensed research reports [example from the European Parliament]
12. Special publication with an overview of policy issues for a newly-elected parliament [example from the UK parliament, also available as a video with sign language]
13. Publishes practical guide(s) for Members on how parliament works
14. Branding on all research products
15. Common visual identity for all products and promotional materials – same ‘look and feel’
16. Presentation of services to groups of Members
17. Presentation of the service in Committee meetings
18. Presentation of the service to Members individually, interviews with Members
19. Presentation of the service to party (research) staff [New]
20. Account managers designated for relations with individual Members. [New] [There is a post about the ‘account manager’ concept – in general, not about the New Zealand case – here].
21. ‘Floorwalking’ to meet Members and their staff. [New]
22. Social events on service premises (‘morning tea’) to encourage contact with Members’ staff [New]
23. Training/induction for Members in how to use the research service, benefits of research
24. Training/induction for staff of Members in how to use the research service, benefits of research
25. Physical presence of service where Members gather (e.g. desk in a lounge area)
26. Knowledge-based events (seminars, conferences, workshops etc) around research themes
27. ‘Open Day’ or ‘Research week’ events
28. Personal meeting with Member when they request research
29. Request for feedback by form when research is delivered to a Member
30. Propose in-person discussion to get feedback when research is delivered to a Member
31. Presence of research staff in Committee meetings
32. Workshops with Committee Members or their staff to identify research priorities
33. Formal Committee decisions on research topics
34. Relevant research products proactively circulated to Committee Members
35. Surveys of Members
36. ‘Focus group’ meetings to discover client views of the service [New]
37. Publication of performance data for the research service
38. Publication of service standards for the research service or ‘Service Charter’ or ‘rules’ of the service
39. Advisory board with Members [UK – the Board of POST] or similar advisory body [The ‘evidence caucus in Kenya]
40. External engagement/publication by staff research experts
41. International cooperation with other research services, engagement with international professional bodies [For example, at the global level, IFLAPARL]
42. Provides parliamentary strengthening support to other parliaments
43. Engagement of the service with wider research & professional networks
44. Engagement in general inter-parliamentary activities, IPU events etc
45. Internships for young people offered in the research service