commissioned research report meaning

Commissioned research

Can we trust research findings that stem from projects commissioned by particular users who have defined the themes and paid the bill? Will the relationship to a commissioning body jeopardise the independence of research and lead to biased results? Will the researchers be able to safeguard their professional integrity vis-à-vis clients and keep intact the fundamental values of research endeavours? These are critical questions in all commissioned research.

There is no unequivocal definition of commissioned research. Much of the research that is undertaken puts the interests of various users at the centre of attention and most research projects are carried out with funding from external sources. Does it make any difference whether the funding sources are private or public? What is the difference between research that takes general user needs as its point of departure as distinct from research based on contracts with particular users who foot the bill?

A report on commissioned research published by the Norwegian National Research Ethics Committees discussed these issues (Kaiser et al. 2003). The report's definition of commissioned research emphasised four salient elements:

• Research financed mainly by clients as the external sources of funding;
• The client determines the theme of the research to be conducted and the attendant research problems, but not the approach and the methods;
• The findings are expected to benefit the client and other user groups specified by the client;
• The client retains certain rights to the use of the generated research results after project completion.

This definition remains valid and is wide enough to cover both research for innovation and marketing in industry and the private sector, as well as research generating evidence to inform public policy-making and implementation.

So-called programme research is a grey zone between research initiated by researchers and commissioned research in a narrow sense. Programme research means that certain themes are accorded priority over others and that money is allocated for that purpose in a defined programme. Such programmes imply an element of thematic control of the research agenda, but cannot be characterised as commissioned in a strict sense.

An important aspect of research ethics concerns the rights to the use of the findings that the client retains contractually after project completion. How exclusive may those rights be? Will exclusive rights for the clients preclude public access and insight into the research process and its results? If so, for how long? These are questions often raised in connection with the patenting of research results. Deferred publication pending the granting of patents may impede other research and weaken the interests of the public.

The basic values of research may be in jeopardy when research institutions are highly dependent on one client, e.g. a ministry. It might mean a risk that researchers 'internalise' the expectations of the clients and that the research process is unduly influenced. The researchers may thus be induced to discard alternative methods or the testing of alternative hypotheses.

The public and private sectors alike appear to assume similar attitudes in their roles as clients. Attempts at undue interference in the research process or in the concluding reporting generally occur when the purpose of research assignments is to inform political processes and decisions. The private sector is generally interested in research results of high international standards, but there are exceptions. For example, clients in pharmaceutical research is sometimes perceived to be bothersome. However, the main findings of the 2003 report was nevertheless that commissioned research as a rule does not compromise established quality criteria; commissioned research is better than its reputation.

Notwithstanding basically sound research ethics in commissioned research, challenges remain that warrant vigilance. It is common to distinguish between three main phases in commissioned research: (a) inception; (b) implementation; and (c) dissemination.

The inception phase

An increasing number of research projects is subjected to tendering procedures, based on descriptions that define themes and research problems. Sometimes approach and methodology are also prescribed, even though such an obfuscation of roles is unacceptable in terms of research ethics. However, in order not to distort competition between various tenderers the text of the invitation to tender is fixed. Prior to the submission of tenders, only questions of clarification are allowed. The winner of the tender, judged by stipulated criteria such as competence, approach and method, have very limited opportunities to negotiate an adjustment of the assignment, purportedly because it would be tantamount to a violation of existing legislation and rules governing the procurement of services. This formalistic and rigid tendering regime involve problematic aspects of research ethics in terms of the respective roles of clients and tenderers.

A fair number of research institutions lacks good procedures and routines for entering into contracts with clients. This applies in particular to units at universities and university colleges, but also to some degree to the institute sector. Therefore, the Ministry of Knowledge has elaborated a standard contract for research and consultancies (see reference below). To the extent it is actually being used (it is entirely voluntary) the standard contract largely clarifies the relationship between the parties involved and can be adjusted to differing circumstances.

The overriding principle applies that commissioned research shall be conducted in accordance with recognised scientific and ethical standards, including academic freedom. This means inter alia that the clients cannot dictate to the researchers that the projects will lead to pre-determined conclusions or results. As a rule, the research findings should be made publicly available after the projects are concluded. Choice of method and approach to the research assignments shall be set out in their descriptions. The researchers shall ensure that scientific quality standards are upheld and that the assignments are conducted with ethical integrity. It is the right and the duty of the researchers to direct the assignments throughout their implementation.

The implementation phase

Disputes may also arise during the implementation phase, especially about the use of methods, interpretation and analysis of the data. The fact that a research project has been commissioned and paid for by a client who has defined its theme and research problems, does not mean that approach and methodology may be determined by the client as well. Scientific approach and choice of method are the prerogative of the researchers, the encroachment into which by the client is indefensible in terms of research ethics. Such a behaviour would jeopardise the independence of research and prevent the researchers from being entirely accountable and responsible for the findings.

It is always the responsibility of the researchers to ensure that a research assignment is conducted with adequate methods and data. While the clients determine theme and research problems, they have no right to interfere in scientific and professional assessments. It is important that the researchers maintain their independence vis-à-vis the clients and that this principle be set out clearly in the contract.

The dissemination phase

Like in the preceding phases, the dissemination phase may also produce conflicts after the research process itself has been concluded. Such disputes often centre on the publication of findings. Should the research reports be made publicly available at all? If so, who shall determine when to publish? Is it defensible in terms of research ethics to edit and amend the text of the reports? In what format, where and through what publication outlets should the findings be published? Who owns the results, and who holds the copyright to the reports? Disputes over these matters and other questions are often central in the dissemination phase.

A key question is what is being reported, how and to whom. The findings and the conclusions are the responsibility of the researchers, but some clients may attempt to influence the substance of the reports, often with the pretext of quality assurance. Some clients even try to prevent publication. However, the quality of reports that end up in a drawer cannot be ascertained adequately and violates the ethos of science.

Publication of research findings is desirable for at least two significant reasons. First, important societal interests may be addressed that extend beyond the narrow purpose of the clients. The norm of compliance with the rules dictates that the researchers' ties of loyalty to the clients must be reduced and that the researchers' responsibility to society at large must be respected. Restraining the researchers in this regard would not accord with research ethics. Publication of research results and the opportunity for researchers to take part in public debates while drawing on their research insights serve their overarching ethical responsibility. Research results are, as a matter of principle, public goods. Second, the publication of results is a critical means of quality assurance. A practice not acknowledging publication of findings as a main rule does not deserve the status and label of research. In other words, it is in the own interest of implementing research units to ensure adequate and appropriate publication of their research findings, precisely to assert their status as research institutions. The standard contract for research and consultancies stipulates the publication of research results as a main rule.

Concluding considerations

An important question is to what extent research in general ought to be commissioned. Would dependence on external clients lead to the deterioration of research quality over time? It seems reasonable to assume that increasing dependence on external funding sources is likely to be a source of concern in the research community. These issues are related to the increasing commercialisation of all research. When certain large clients become dominant in the research market (or segments of that market) to the extent that the entire research agenda and priorities are affected, it may threaten the independence of research. For example, recently critical voices have been raised about the commissioning of research by oil and gas actors in favour of fossil fuels to the detriment of research on renewable energy. Turning knowledge into a commodity on a market and increasing dependence on that market are trends that – if unchecked – may threaten the fundamental norms of research. It is important, therefore, that the commercial dependence of research, its impartiality and societal responsibility be subjected to continuous debate.

Commissioning articles for the journal

Commissioning leaders in the field and experts in particular areas to submit articles is a great way to get your journal noticed and to declare that it has an interest in publishing in a particular subject area. Commissioning can be highly instrumental in increasing the readership and overall impact of a journal.

Why commission?

• Commissioning reviews or commentaries from well-respected experts in the field can increase the journal’s credibility and attract other authors to submit
• Commissioning articles in a topical or emerging area indicates that the journal is up to speed with the field and may attract more research articles from this area
• If you would like to attract more research submissions on a particular aspect of the journal's scope, commissioning a review on this area helps indicate to your audience that the journal is interested in publishing in this area and may, in turn, attract more research. You could also consider running a thematic series to highlight a particular area
• For new journals, commissioning is crucial for ensuring that the journal has sufficient high-quality content for consistent publications

Generating ideas

As Editor or Editorial Board member you may have a number of ideas for review or commentary articles that you would like the journal to commission and we’d love to hear your suggestions (both the topic area and author).

For Editors-in-Chief/Section Editors we recommend regularly asking your Editorial Board for commissioning suggestions, as well as keeping an eye on the latest 'hot' topics at conferences and commissioning articles on these.

Commissioning

When inviting an author to write for the journal, make sure you provide them with:

• Guidelines on the title or scope of the proposed article, as well as the expected format of the article (we recommend pointing them to the instructions for authors)
• Background information on the journal, so that they can tailor their article to the journal's audience
• A clear deadline of when you would like to receive the article (we recommend three months)

Once received, all articles should be fully peer reviewed, in line with the journal's policies. For any questions regarding commissioning, your main contact at BMC will be more than happy to assist.

• Tes Explains

How does research get commissioned?

Research studies are carried out for various reasons. Some are conducted in an academic setting, either for publication in an academic journal or as part of a PhD.

However, research can also be commissioned by third parties, such as the government, a company, a charity or other non-governmental organisation.

Where can I see research commissioning in action?  

There are many examples of commissioned research studies; here are two that have recently been covered by Tes .

In June 2018, the Department for Education commissioned and published a review of the Return to Teaching pilot programme.  

Researchers from the National Foundation for Educational Research , Jack Tattersall, Ruanne Fensham, Kathryn Hurd and Neelam Basi were commissioned to run the study. The project also received funding and assistance from the National College for Teaching and Leadership, which provided data, encouraged participation, and commented on research instruments and reports. 

In 2019, Now Teach, a charity that supports career changers into teaching, commissioned Timewise (a social consultancy aimed at creating a fairer workplace for all) to conduct research into the viability of flexible-working practices in education. Timewise interviewed members of staff in two academies to identify the benefits and barriers to flexible working, and analysed their responses to provide practical advice on how schools can make these practices work. 

Further reading

• DfE to pilot schemes to tempt teachers back into the classroom after career break
• How do we know interventions are worthwhile?
• Will teachers ever have flexible working?
• How do we find time for teachers to engage with research?

The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) is an independent charity dedicated to breaking the link between family income and educational achievement.

To achieve this, it summarises the best available evidence for teachers; its Teaching and Learning Toolkit, for example, is used by 70 per cent of secondary schools.

The charity also generates new evidence of “what works” to improve teaching and learning, by funding independent evaluations of high-potential projects, and supports teachers and senior leaders to use the evidence to achieve the maximum possible benefit for young people.

Example sentences commission research

When a company spots a trend, it should commission research to test consumer opinions, she advised.

We need to commission research to pilot new teaching methods in schools that better reflect the developmental profile of young people.

Over the past 15 years, the government's main response has been to commission research .

It will use academic literature, commission research and take evidence from the public.

That money was to be used to commission research into gaming, for education and treatment.

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Commissioned Research and Other Assignments for External Clients

• First Online: 28 February 2023

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• Dag Slotfeldt-Ellingsen 2  

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Many researchers are particularly motivated by the proximity to specific issues in society that research collaboration with the business sector or public bodies provide. In many such collaborations, the researchers then work on commission for a client. In this chapter, an introduction is first given to different types of assignments and how they are initiated and planned. Then a broad review is given of ethically related issues to be addressed in the assignment agreement between the parties. In the context of research ethics, the provisions on confidentiality versus publication are particularly important here. Many issues relating to the relationship between contractor and client are also discussed.

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Slotfeldt-Ellingsen, D. (2023). Commissioned Research and Other Assignments for External Clients. In: Professional Ethics for Research and Development Activities. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25484-0_9

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Types of journal articles

It is helpful to familiarise yourself with the different types of articles published by journals. Although it may appear there are a large number of types of articles published due to the wide variety of names they are published under, most articles published are one of the following types; Original Research, Review Articles, Short reports or Letters, Case Studies, Methodologies.

Original Research:

This is the most common type of journal manuscript used to publish full reports of data from research. It may be called an  Original Article, Research Article, Research, or just  Article, depending on the journal. The Original Research format is suitable for many different fields and different types of studies. It includes full Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion sections.

Short reports or Letters:

These papers communicate brief reports of data from original research that editors believe will be interesting to many researchers, and that will likely stimulate further research in the field. As they are relatively short the format is useful for scientists with results that are time sensitive (for example, those in highly competitive or quickly-changing disciplines). This format often has strict length limits, so some experimental details may not be published until the authors write a full Original Research manuscript. These papers are also sometimes called Brief communications .

Review Articles:

Review Articles provide a comprehensive summary of research on a certain topic, and a perspective on the state of the field and where it is heading. They are often written by leaders in a particular discipline after invitation from the editors of a journal. Reviews are often widely read (for example, by researchers looking for a full introduction to a field) and highly cited. Reviews commonly cite approximately 100 primary research articles.

TIP: If you would like to write a Review but have not been invited by a journal, be sure to check the journal website as some journals to not consider unsolicited Reviews. If the website does not mention whether Reviews are commissioned it is wise to send a pre-submission enquiry letter to the journal editor to propose your Review manuscript before you spend time writing it.  

Case Studies:

These articles report specific instances of interesting phenomena. A goal of Case Studies is to make other researchers aware of the possibility that a specific phenomenon might occur. This type of study is often used in medicine to report the occurrence of previously unknown or emerging pathologies.

Methodologies or Methods

These articles present a new experimental method, test or procedure. The method described may either be completely new, or may offer a better version of an existing method. The article should describe a demonstrable advance on what is currently available.

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Commissioned and Partnered Research

Our access to more than 70,000 commercial and contract professionals provides an unparalleled ability to gather data. We work with business, government, academia, software providers and top consultancies to deliver up-to-the-minute market information and intelligence. 

Sometimes this is commissioned and sometimes done in partnership, for example when applying for research grants. 

Our approach

Why research is so important .

Having access to accurate data has always been important but until recently, in the fields of commerce and contracting, it was hard to obtain.

Many commercial decisions relied on instinct, guesswork, or very limited sources. Business cases struggled to gain acceptance, decisions were delayed — and in worst cases —  organizations took a wrong direction and were left behind. 

How we can help 

Drawing from our member organizations, individuals, and specialist groups, we can target the right people to assist in your research.  

Interviews, online surveys, roundtable discussions and workshops are among the many ways our members are supported to gather data.

What are we asked to do? 

We conduct research on a wide range of commerce and contract topics.

• Commissioned research is usually requested by member companies.
• Partnered research is mostly with universities, business schools, consultancies and can attract funding through research grants. 

Recent examples

Commissioned research.

We undertake a range of research projects for enterprises and corporations. Examples include:-

• Trends in payment terms and the use of supply chain finance  
• Supply Management: organizational models and norms 
• Benchmark of Financial and Risk Terms in Energy Industry Contracts 
• Digitizing the Commercial Function

Contact us for more information on commissioned research

Partnered research

Partner with us for better research

Need to gather information that is critical to your business? Or looking for a partner to support a research program? 

Our team of researchers and analysts will be delighted to advise on how we can help.

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Commissioned research.

HSC R&D Division supports Needs-led commissioned research derived from an on-going systematic process to identify and prioritise research needs, and  Opportunity-led commissioned research derived from ad-hoc opportunities to exploit partnership funding.

Needs-Led Commissioned Research

For Needs-Led research the Health & Social Care Research and Development Division of the Public Health Agency (HSC R&D Division) works with users of research (policy-makers, practitioners and commissioners), generators of researchers, patients, clients, carers and others to determine priority research areas. In response, HSC R&D periodically issues calls for Commissioned Research on specific topics, and a call in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is now closed. 

For detail on previous Commissioned Research Calls (now closed)  click here>>

Opportunity-Led Commissioned Research

Applications for Opportunity-Led Awards can take many forms and often require differing levels of input from HSC R&D Division.  In all cases the study should be a co-funded study requiring a lower level of input from the HSC R&D Division. There should already be evidence of a peer-review/evaluation process (in most cases undertaken by the co-funder).

The process for opportunity-led commissioned research is intended to be flexible, inclusive and priority driven, and maximise the potential for partnership:

• Contact : Researchers, potential funders and other interested stakeholders should contact HSC R&D Division at the earliest opportunity to discuss potential opportunity-led commissioned proposals.
• Follow-up : A range of activity (varying in scope, intensity and duration) is undertaken to obtain sufficient information to support the subsequent decision stage.
• HSC relevance/benefit - is there political imperative to support the proposal? - does the proposal address a service priority? Will the proposal improve health & wellbeing?
• HSC R&D Portfolio - does the proposal add breadth or depth to the existing research portfolio?
• Funding leverage - does the proposal lever external funding from an existing or potential funding partner?
• Decision :  HSC R&D Division must satisfy itself that appropriate steps have been taken to ensure the scientific rigour of the opportunity-led research that it funds through a robust peer-review/evaluation process. The decision process is not an evaluation process and does not consider the scientific merits of a proposal since this should have already been organised.

The application and guidance notes can be downloaded by clicking on the relevant link below:

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Businesses, organisations and public sector institutions can requisition specialised analyses or small research projects done by the University of Copenhagen's experts with access to the latest knowledge and technology for measurements and analyses.

The assignments can either be solved as commissioned research, where you enter into an agreement with the university itself, or as consultancy services, where you enter into an agreement with the individual researcher.

Commissioned research (incl. analyses)

Commissioned research is sometimes called contract research. It is characterised by the fact that a company, authority or organisation orders an analysis, a measurement or another specialised service from a researcher.

Agreements on commissioned research are concluded with the University of Copenhagen. The university's laboratory facilities and academic networks must therefore be used to solve the task.

Commissioned research is typically a clearly defined project, such as a specific statistical analysis or a sequencing of a DNA string.

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If a company, organisation or public body wants to buy consultancy services from a researcher, they must contact the researcher or research team directly. Consultancy services are typically clearly scientifically defined and have a clearly definde timeframe.

The agreement is with the researcher personally, not the University, The researcher cannot, therefore, make use of the university's equipment or materials to solve consultancy tasks.

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• Research Report: Definition, Types + [Writing Guide]

One of the reasons for carrying out research is to add to the existing body of knowledge. Therefore, when conducting research, you need to document your processes and findings in a research report. 

With a research report, it is easy to outline the findings of your systematic investigation and any gaps needing further inquiry. Knowing how to create a detailed research report will prove useful when you need to conduct research.  

What is a Research Report?

A research report is a well-crafted document that outlines the processes, data, and findings of a systematic investigation. It is an important document that serves as a first-hand account of the research process, and it is typically considered an objective and accurate source of information.

In many ways, a research report can be considered as a summary of the research process that clearly highlights findings, recommendations, and other important details. Reading a well-written research report should provide you with all the information you need about the core areas of the research process.

Features of a Research Report 

So how do you recognize a research report when you see one? Here are some of the basic features that define a research report. 

• It is a detailed presentation of research processes and findings, and it usually includes tables and graphs. 
• It is written in a formal language.
• A research report is usually written in the third person.
• It is informative and based on first-hand verifiable information.
• It is formally structured with headings, sections, and bullet points.
• It always includes recommendations for future actions. 

Types of Research Report 

The research report is classified based on two things; nature of research and target audience.

Nature of Research

• Qualitative Research Report

This is the type of report written for qualitative research . It outlines the methods, processes, and findings of a qualitative method of systematic investigation. In educational research, a qualitative research report provides an opportunity for one to apply his or her knowledge and develop skills in planning and executing qualitative research projects.

A qualitative research report is usually descriptive in nature. Hence, in addition to presenting details of the research process, you must also create a descriptive narrative of the information.

• Quantitative Research Report

A quantitative research report is a type of research report that is written for quantitative research. Quantitative research is a type of systematic investigation that pays attention to numerical or statistical values in a bid to find answers to research questions. 

In this type of research report, the researcher presents quantitative data to support the research process and findings. Unlike a qualitative research report that is mainly descriptive, a quantitative research report works with numbers; that is, it is numerical in nature. 

Target Audience

Also, a research report can be said to be technical or popular based on the target audience. If you’re dealing with a general audience, you would need to present a popular research report, and if you’re dealing with a specialized audience, you would submit a technical report. 

• Technical Research Report

A technical research report is a detailed document that you present after carrying out industry-based research. This report is highly specialized because it provides information for a technical audience; that is, individuals with above-average knowledge in the field of study. 

In a technical research report, the researcher is expected to provide specific information about the research process, including statistical analyses and sampling methods. Also, the use of language is highly specialized and filled with jargon. 

Examples of technical research reports include legal and medical research reports. 

• Popular Research Report

A popular research report is one for a general audience; that is, for individuals who do not necessarily have any knowledge in the field of study. A popular research report aims to make information accessible to everyone. 

It is written in very simple language, which makes it easy to understand the findings and recommendations. Examples of popular research reports are the information contained in newspapers and magazines. 

Importance of a Research Report 

• Knowledge Transfer: As already stated above, one of the reasons for carrying out research is to contribute to the existing body of knowledge, and this is made possible with a research report. A research report serves as a means to effectively communicate the findings of a systematic investigation to all and sundry.  
• Identification of Knowledge Gaps: With a research report, you’d be able to identify knowledge gaps for further inquiry. A research report shows what has been done while hinting at other areas needing systematic investigation. 
• In market research, a research report would help you understand the market needs and peculiarities at a glance. 
• A research report allows you to present information in a precise and concise manner. 
• It is time-efficient and practical because, in a research report, you do not have to spend time detailing the findings of your research work in person. You can easily send out the report via email and have stakeholders look at it. 

Guide to Writing a Research Report

A lot of detail goes into writing a research report, and getting familiar with the different requirements would help you create the ideal research report. A research report is usually broken down into multiple sections, which allows for a concise presentation of information.

Structure and Example of a Research Report

This is the title of your systematic investigation. Your title should be concise and point to the aims, objectives, and findings of a research report. 

• Table of Contents

This is like a compass that makes it easier for readers to navigate the research report.

An abstract is an overview that highlights all important aspects of the research including the research method, data collection process, and research findings. Think of an abstract as a summary of your research report that presents pertinent information in a concise manner. 

An abstract is always brief; typically 100-150 words and goes straight to the point. The focus of your research abstract should be the 5Ws and 1H format – What, Where, Why, When, Who and How. 

• Introduction

Here, the researcher highlights the aims and objectives of the systematic investigation as well as the problem which the systematic investigation sets out to solve. When writing the report introduction, it is also essential to indicate whether the purposes of the research were achieved or would require more work.

In the introduction section, the researcher specifies the research problem and also outlines the significance of the systematic investigation. Also, the researcher is expected to outline any jargons and terminologies that are contained in the research.  

• Literature Review

A literature review is a written survey of existing knowledge in the field of study. In other words, it is the section where you provide an overview and analysis of different research works that are relevant to your systematic investigation. 

It highlights existing research knowledge and areas needing further investigation, which your research has sought to fill. At this stage, you can also hint at your research hypothesis and its possible implications for the existing body of knowledge in your field of study. 

• An Account of Investigation

This is a detailed account of the research process, including the methodology, sample, and research subjects. Here, you are expected to provide in-depth information on the research process including the data collection and analysis procedures. 

In a quantitative research report, you’d need to provide information surveys, questionnaires and other quantitative data collection methods used in your research. In a qualitative research report, you are expected to describe the qualitative data collection methods used in your research including interviews and focus groups. 

In this section, you are expected to present the results of the systematic investigation. 

This section further explains the findings of the research, earlier outlined. Here, you are expected to present a justification for each outcome and show whether the results are in line with your hypotheses or if other research studies have come up with similar results.

• Conclusions

This is a summary of all the information in the report. It also outlines the significance of the entire study. 

• References and Appendices

This section contains a list of all the primary and secondary research sources. 

Tips for Writing a Research Report

• Define the Context for the Report

As is obtainable when writing an essay, defining the context for your research report would help you create a detailed yet concise document. This is why you need to create an outline before writing so that you do not miss out on anything. 

• Define your Audience

Writing with your audience in mind is essential as it determines the tone of the report. If you’re writing for a general audience, you would want to present the information in a simple and relatable manner. For a specialized audience, you would need to make use of technical and field-specific terms. 

• Include Significant Findings

The idea of a research report is to present some sort of abridged version of your systematic investigation. In your report, you should exclude irrelevant information while highlighting only important data and findings. 

• Include Illustrations

Your research report should include illustrations and other visual representations of your data. Graphs, pie charts, and relevant images lend additional credibility to your systematic investigation.

• Choose the Right Title

A good research report title is brief, precise, and contains keywords from your research. It should provide a clear idea of your systematic investigation so that readers can grasp the entire focus of your research from the title. 

• Proofread the Report

Before publishing the document, ensure that you give it a second look to authenticate the information. If you can, get someone else to go through the report, too, and you can also run it through proofreading and editing software. 

How to Gather Research Data for Your Report  

• Understand the Problem

Every research aims at solving a specific problem or set of problems, and this should be at the back of your mind when writing your research report. Understanding the problem would help you to filter the information you have and include only important data in your report. 

• Know what your report seeks to achieve

This is somewhat similar to the point above because, in some way, the aim of your research report is intertwined with the objectives of your systematic investigation. Identifying the primary purpose of writing a research report would help you to identify and present the required information accordingly. 

• Identify your audience

Knowing your target audience plays a crucial role in data collection for a research report. If your research report is specifically for an organization, you would want to present industry-specific information or show how the research findings are relevant to the work that the company does. 

• Create Surveys/Questionnaires

A survey is a research method that is used to gather data from a specific group of people through a set of questions. It can be either quantitative or qualitative. 

A survey is usually made up of structured questions, and it can be administered online or offline. However, an online survey is a more effective method of research data collection because it helps you save time and gather data with ease. 

You can seamlessly create an online questionnaire for your research on Formplus . With the multiple sharing options available in the builder, you would be able to administer your survey to respondents in little or no time. 

Formplus also has a report summary too l that you can use to create custom visual reports for your research.

Step-by-step guide on how to create an online questionnaire using Formplus  

• Sign into Formplus

In the Formplus builder, you can easily create different online questionnaires for your research by dragging and dropping preferred fields into your form. To access the Formplus builder, you will need to create an account on Formplus. 

Once you do this, sign in to your account and click on Create new form to begin. 

• Edit Form Title : Click on the field provided to input your form title, for example, “Research Questionnaire.”
• Edit Form : Click on the edit icon to edit the form.
• Add Fields : Drag and drop preferred form fields into your form in the Formplus builder inputs column. There are several field input options for questionnaires in the Formplus builder. 
• Edit fields
• Click on “Save”
• Form Customization: With the form customization options in the form builder, you can easily change the outlook of your form and make it more unique and personalized. Formplus allows you to change your form theme, add background images, and even change the font according to your needs. 
• Multiple Sharing Options: Formplus offers various form-sharing options, which enables you to share your questionnaire with respondents easily. You can use the direct social media sharing buttons to share your form link to your organization’s social media pages.  You can also send out your survey form as email invitations to your research subjects too. If you wish, you can share your form’s QR code or embed it on your organization’s website for easy access. 

Conclusion  

Always remember that a research report is just as important as the actual systematic investigation because it plays a vital role in communicating research findings to everyone else. This is why you must take care to create a concise document summarizing the process of conducting any research. 

In this article, we’ve outlined essential tips to help you create a research report. When writing your report, you should always have the audience at the back of your mind, as this would set the tone for the document. 

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• The Commissioners
• Commission Team
• Participants
• Research Advisory Board
• What are Foundational Documents?

What are Commissioned Reports?

• Community Engagement
• Roundtables
• Public Submissions

Foundational Documents

• Research and Commissioned Reports
• Procedural Documents and Decisions
• Final Report
• What Happened

Exit website

• Proceedings

The Commission has engaged independent researchers and report writers to prepare Commissioned Reports to explore issues in its mandate.

An important part of the Mass Casualty Commission’s work is to explore the causes, context and circumstances giving rise to the April 2020 mass casualty in Nova Scotia. To support this work, the Commission has commissioned two kinds of reports: Technical Reports and Expert Reports.

• Technical Reports provide factual information about matters such as the structure of policing in Nova Scotia. These reports will support the Commission’s work by providing an objective and factual account of some of the key government and policy structures that are relevant to its mandate . In selecting report writers for Technical Reports, the Commission focused on the independence and relevant experience of the report writers.
• Expert Reports gather and analyze public policy, academic research and lessons learned from previous mass casualties. These reports will help further the Commission’s mandate by analyzing matters such as policing, emergency services responses, communications with the public and how best to support individuals and communities following a mass casualty. In selecting writers for the reports, the Commission focused on the Canadian legal criteria for expert witnesses including independence, the suitability and reliability of research methods, depth of knowledge and the necessity of a report written on the matter.

Commissioned Reports will be shared with Participants first to allow them to prepare for the Commission’s public proceedings. The reports will then be made public as part of the Commission’s proceedings.

To read published Commissioned Reports, click here .

Steps to create Commissioned Reports

Report writers are engaged to write independent reports about issues in the Commission’s mandate. Topics include:

• Police resources & decision-making
• Public communications
• Understanding mass casualties
• Supporting communities after a mass casualty
• Gender-based and intimate partner violence
• Access to firearms

Commissioned Reports are shared with Participants so they can prepare for public proceedings and make submissions.

Commissioned Reports are shared publicly on the Commission’s website and discussed during public proceedings. Report authors and other experts may be invited to take part in public proceedings such as roundtables.

Commissioned Reports help to inform the Commissioners’ findings and recommendations.

Phase 2 Commissioned Reports

A list of the Commissioned Reports for the Commission’s Phase 2 work (exploring the broader context and issues) is below. Additional Commissioned Reports may be prepared to respond to questions raised by Participants and to assist the Commissioners as they draft recommendations to help make communities safer.

This report explains the structure of police services in Nova Scotia. It provides a snapshot of how policing was structured and resourced to function in April 2020, including the role of the RCMP and municipal police services. The report explains the role of other government agencies such as Canada Border Services Agency and the Criminal Intelligence Service Nova Scotia. It also looks into governance and oversight, operations, resource allocation, and strategic planning, integrated policing and information sharing.

Author: Barry MacKnight

Read the Report:   The Structure of Policing in Nova Scotia

This report explains the Canadian Communications Interoperability Continuum and the Alert Ready system as it has been designed and implemented. Specifically, the report explains what communications interoperability means, how efforts to pursue communications interoperability are governed, and how interoperability systems are designed in Canada. In addition, the report describes Alert Ready, explain how it works, how it is governed and designed, as well as its capabilities and limitations.

Author:  Chris Davis, Cheryl McNeil & Peter Gamble

Read the Report:  Communications Interoperability and the Alert Ready System

This report explains what constitutes a mass casualty event. It also evaluates the published research about other mass casualty events by identifying gaps within the scholarly and policy literature. The authors describe their work to establish a register of mass shootings in the United States of America and their own research on mass casualty events, including research into the relationship between masculinity and mass violence.

Authors:  Tristan Bridges and  Tara Leigh Tober, UC Santa Barbara

Read the Report: Mass Shootings and Masculinity

This report explores the relationship between mass casualty events, family violence and gender-based violence. It describes trends within research and policy with respect to these kinds of violence, and explain how expertise in family violence and gender-based violence may help researchers and policy actors to better understand, prepare for, identify warning signs for, and respond to mass casualty events. The authors also attend to research that documents how other forms of inequality and marginalization such as Islamaphobia and racism, are also implicated in the perpetration of mass casualty events.

Authors:  Jude McCulloch and JaneMaree Maher, Monash University

Read the Report: Understanding the Links between Gender-Based Violence and Mass Casualty Attacks: Private Violence and Misogyny as Public Risk

This report describes key research conclusions about police culture and efforts to effect change to police culture. The report explains the methodology of ethnography, and set out the value of ethnography to policing research. The author supplies a definition of the phrase “police culture” and explain the key components of police culture, to the extent that these emerge from research over time. The report identifies some standard strategies used by police services to change aspects of their culture, the success and failures of these strategies, and explain what research suggests about why these strategies are successful or unsuccessful. Where possible, the report addresses attempts to influence police culture with respect to family violence, gender-based violence, and the provision of equitable policing services to racialized groups, and the success and failures of these initiatives.

Author:  Bethan Loftus, Bangor University

Read the Report:   Police Culture: Origins, Features, and Reform

This report addresses crime prevention and community safety in rural communities. The author explains the concept of urban bias in policy making, and how this concept applies to crime prevention and community safety in rural communities. The report describes how responsibility for rural crime prevention and community safety is effectively delegated to municipal and local governments and civil society and the resource implications of this allocation for those communities. Community resilience within rural communities is also considered.

Author:  Karen Foster, Dalhousie University

Read the Report:   Crime Prevention & Community Safety in Rural Communities

This report provides a legal history of firearms regulation in Canada. The report explains the strategies that have been used to address the dangers associated with firearms (in particular semi-automatic long guns) and address the debates that have played out within Canadian public policy about these strategies. This report addresses the enforcement of firearms regulation and the smuggling and illegal trafficking of firearms and associated paraphernalia. Where possible, the author identifies the strength and shortcomings of past legislative approaches and of plausible alternative approaches. Where possible, the report identifies what (kinds of) weapons have been implicated in mass casualty events in Canada, with reference to specific examples and the legislative or policy response, if any, to these events.

Author:  Blake Brown, St. Mary's University

Read the Report:   The History of Gun Control in Canada

This report describes the key research findings that emerge from the authors’ research and that of others into the psychiatric and social impacts of surviving a mass casualty on survivors and families, with a particular focus on the research and findings that emerge from the Utøya mass casualty event and its aftermath. The report describes the immediate, medium term and long term supports offered to survivors of Utøya and their families, and the gaps that the researchers’ studies have identified in those supports, identify the supports needed by survivors and families of victims of mass casualty events and the timescale on which these supports are necessary, and share insights or recommendations emerging from their research about how institutions and communities can prepare for and respond well to mass casualty events when they occur and in the medium- and long-term after such events.

Grete Dyb, University of Oslo

Ingebjørg Lingaas, Norwegian Center for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies

Dr Kristin Alve Glad

Dr Synne Øien Stensland

Read the Report:   Survivors and the Aftermath of the Terrorist Attack on Utøya Island, Norway

This report provides a literature review of rural policing, addressing topics including community relationships, the nature of rural policing, and challenges in rural policing including with respect to culture and local/centralization dynamics.

Author:   Dr. Anna Souhami, University of Edinburgh

Read the Report :  A Systematic Review of the Research on Rural Policing

This report addresses the needs of survivors and communities in the wake of mass casualty events. The report draws from the author’s empirical research with survivors and communities to provide recommendations about how survivors’ and communities’ needs should be understood, how these needs may change over time, and how they may change with the context of a given event and the community in which it occurs. The report also explains how needs for support may be distributed within a community beyond the circle of those most directly affected by the events.

Author:  Jaclyn Schildkraut, SUNY Oswego

Read the Report:  Supporting Survivors and Communities after Mass Shootings

The report considers police and first responder decision-making during mass casualty events. This report describes the author’s research on decision-making in conditions of threat and uncertainty, and draws on other literature where relevant. It also addresses the challenges of preparing police and first responders for mass casualty events, community and policing resources that will be drawn upon within crisis response, and the role played by civilians within critical incident response. The author draws on lessons learned from events that have parallels to those being considered by the Mass Casualty Commission, for example, the Utøya massacre of 2011 and the subsequent review of police responses to those events.

Author:  Bjørn Ivar Kruke, University of Stavanger

Read the Report:   Police And First-Responder Decision Making During Mass Casualty Events

This report provides a critical examination of the scholarly literature on the nature of police discretion, focusing on how the working culture and organization of law enforcement agencies fundamentally structures the exercise of police discretion and associated powers, such as the powers of arrest, detention, and use of force. In particular, this report highlights some of the key barriers to making police discretion more transparent, information sharing more routine, and oversight more effective. The report attends to comparative examples from non-Canadian jurisdictions to identify some best practices and promising approaches to ensuring that police services are subject to meaningful legal oversight and accountable to the diverse communities they serve.

A uthor:  Benjamin Goold, University of British Columbia, Allard School of Law

Read the Report:   Exercising Judgment: Understanding Police Discretion in Canada

This report provides a psychological review of critical incident decision-making by emergency personnel. The report considers the personal attributes that support sound decision-making, the role of training, the impact of stress on decision-making, and common cognitive processes during critical incident response. The report draws on analogous examples of critical incident decision-making.

Author:  Laurence Alison, University of Liverpool and Neil Shortland, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Read the Report:  Critical Incident Decision Making: Challenges of Managing Unique and High-Consequence Events

This report addresses the phenomena of intimate partner violence, gender-based violence, family violence and coercive control. The authors define these phenomena and explain what is known from empirical studies of how these phenomena manifest in Canada and, to the extent possible, specifically in Nova Scotia. The report addresses research regarding police perceptions of and responses to these phenomena, identifies barriers to reporting these harms and barriers to other non-state responses such as leaving relationships.

Authors:  Carmen Gill and Mary Aspinall, University of New Brunswick

Read the Report:   Understanding Violence in Relationships

The report addresses inter-agency communications, interoperability, and cooperation among police services, and between police and other emergency services. The report identifies mechanisms and structural measures that can be put in place to mitigate against failures in inter-agency coordination, and points to case studies and best practices where these exist. This report refers to relevant research literature, and attends particularly to Canadian case studies and those in peer jurisdictions.

Author:  Curt Taylor Griffiths, Simon Fraser University

Read the Report:  Interagency Communication, Collaboration, and Interoperability within Police Services and between Police Services and Other Emergency Services

This report defines the field of forensic psychological assessment and draws upon decades of research and scholarship from and about fundamental basic science and forensic science, as well as clinical and forensic psychology, to lay out eight best practices that may be used by law enforcement agencies and courts to evaluate the rigor and value of a psychological evaluation. We review the scientific and evidence basis for techniques used by psychological evaluators, and describe best practices for and limitations of psychological assessments in a manner that is generalizable to various kinds of psychological assessments, including psychological autopsies and behavioral profiling as used by law enforcement agencies. Although both psychological autopsies and behavioural profiling depart somewhat from typical forensic psychological practice, both can be considered forms of forensic psychological assessment, and as such we opine that the norms, values, and expectations for best practice in forensic psychological assessment should apply to these techniques. This report will aid the Commission in assessing the extent to which the "Psychological Autopsy" and "Behavioural Profiles" produced with respect to the perpetrator of the April 2020 mass casualty that took place in Nova Scotia reflects evidence-based techniques and best practices in forensic psychology.

Authors:  Kristy Martire, University of New South Wales and Tess Neal, Arizona State University

Read the Report:  Rigorous Forensic Psychological Assessment Practices Part I ,  Rigorous Forensic Psychological Assessment Practices Part II  

This report defines mass casualty events and surveys the scholarship and policy work that has been completed in Canada with respect to mass casualty events. It identifies the key lessons that can be drawn from scholarly studies about mass casualty events in Canada and some of the key gaps within the policy and scholarly attention. It also addresses the social context of perpetrators of mass violence and debates about “lone-actor” events. Authors:

David Hofmann, University of New Brunswick

Lorne Dawson, University of Waterloo

Willa Greythorn, University of New Brunswick

Read the Report :  Core Definitions of Canadian Mass Casualty Events and Research on the Background Characteristics and Behaviours of Lone-Actor Public Mass Murderers

Dr. Campeau draws on policing studies literature but also on the sociology of culture and organizational culture to define and understand culture, and specifically police culture. Her core argument is that culture is a resource or repertoire of tools that police can draw on in a given situation, rather than being a set list of beliefs or values that fully determine how a given police officer will act in a given moment. She also explores the differences between the cultural resources drawn upon front line members and those used by police officers who serve in management roles. Finally, Dr. Campeau draws on her own ethnographic research with police officers in Ontario to describe how this understanding of police culture as a resource aids interpretation and understanding of police work.

Author:  Holly Campeau, University of Alberta

Read the Report:  Culture in Police Organizations: Definitions, research and challenges  

Phase 3 Commissioned Reports

Below is a list of Commissioned Reports for Phase 3 on the basis of the Commission’s present understanding of the facts and issues emerging from the investigation so far. Additional phase 3 reports may be added if the Commission identifies a need for them on the basis of its continuing work in phase 2, or on the basis of Participant submissions.

This report reviews research on IPV interventions and presents a vision for a comprehensive system of specialized interventions for IPV perpetrators that prompts involvement as early as possible, through as many doors as possible, in a “web of accountability” for keeping perpetrators in view while working to promote victim safety and perpetrator change. Scott's report is divided into four sections. To help guide readers, she begins by describing the overall vision for this web of accountability, which she then describes in more detail with relevant research evidence.

Author:  Katreena Scott, University of Western Ontario, Faculty of Education

Read the Report:  When We Know Something is Wrong: Secondary and Tertiary Intervention to Address Abuse Perpetration

This report focuses on concepts of masculinity, the harmful effects of traditional understandings of masculinity, and options for building healthier concepts of masculinity. The authors identify the ways in which traditional masculinity may contribute to problems with men and boys’ mental health and their understanding of gender roles and gender-based conflict. The report explores the connection between violence and masculinity, including gender-based and intimate-partner violence, bullying and intimidation, and mass shootings. The authors also examine the barriers men often face in seeking help for physical and mental illness and the effects of trauma through traditional therapeutic approaches. Finally, the report identifies and evaluates other options for treatment and interventions which are aimed at helping men building healthier expressions of masculinity.

Authors: Brian Braganza & Nick Cardone, Free Range Therapy

Read the Report:   Conceptions of Masculinity and Violence Towards a Healthier Evolution of Men and Boys

This report explores contemporary organizational and operational attempts at police reform and change in the RCMP, and barriers to implementing reform, with a focus on the response and implementation of community-based policing services at the local municipal and rural level. The report also identifies relevant community-based and community engaged models and strategies for delivering policing and public safety services at the local level. The paper concludes by offering some alternative policing models for responsive and engaged local police services in Nova Scotia.

Chris Murphy, Dalhousie University Cal Corley, Chief Executive Officer Community Safety Knowledge Alliance Inc., former Assistant Commissioner, RCMP and former Director General, Canadian Police College Read the Report:  Community-Engaged Rural Policing: The Case for Reform and Innovation in Rural RCMP Policing

This report investigates the health and safety of survival sex workers in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and in rural areas of the province by examining 1) how sex workers experience community safety in Nova Scotia; 2) how they ensure their own safety; and 3) their relations with community agencies such as the police, the health care system, and other community service providers. Our investigation also looks at barriers to reporting victimization, including distrust of the provincial health care system and distrust of the police. Throughout, this report centres and addresses the experiences of sex workers who are marginalized due to Indigeneity, racialization, because they are 2SLGBTQ+ (or engage in sexual activity with 2SLGBTQ+), or for other reasons.

Author:  Gayle MacDonald and Meredith Ralston, Mount Saint Vincent University

Read the Report :  The Health and Safety of Survival Sex Workers in Halifax and Truro, Nova Scotia

This report addresses the Australian approach to firearms regulation including the context of the Port Arthur massacre and public policy responses to it, the form that the regulation took and how its successes and failures have been (and should be) assessed with the benefit of 20+ years of experience. The authors also consider the purposes of firearms regulation, the means that best achieve those purposes, and the measures of success that are most appropriate to firearms regulation.

Authors:  Joel Negin, Philip Alpers & Rebecca Peters, University of Sidney

Read the Report:   Firearm regulation in Australia: Insights from international experience and research

The details of the mandate are written in official documents known as Orders in Council (OICs) which provide the guidelines and boundaries for the Mass Casualty Commission to proceed with its work.

View documents related to the Commission's work and independent investigation including Foundational Documents and Procedural Rules and Decisions.

Review Foundational Documents and their source materials, Investigations Supplementary Reports, Policy Documents and additional exhibits.

Content Warning: The following video contains scenes including the discharging of firearms causing death. There is a “quick exit” button at the top of the website if you need it, and Wellness Supports are also listed.

Some of the information within this website may be disturbing or upsetting for some visitors. This website deals with information about events that include gun and other violence, including gender-based violence and intimate partner violence. If you need to leave at any point, there is a “quick exit” button at the top of the website. This website also includes some suggested resources, should you be in need of support.

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