Research

The Research Department within Electoral Reform Services has been established since 1991 and specialises in stakeholder research and social policy research. We also offer a research scrutinising service for organisations that need to check that the research submitted to them by thirds parties is robust and accurate (for example, when local authorities are given research findings in support of planning applications).

ERS Research now works for a wide range of organisations including local authorities, health authorities, charities, trade unions and professional bodies. Our research helps them to gain a better insight into the needs and attitudes of their members, customers, employees, opinion leaders and other important stakeholders. We have many long term clients who depend on us to deliver accurate results, in a variety of formats, to tight deadlines on a regular basis.

We believe we can offer clients the best value for money and the most responsive service by combining our own staff and facilities with specialist bought-in resources. Our experienced researchers and analysts therefore use our extensive in house resources for postal and online surveys but out-source telephone and face to face interviewing to IQCS or ISO 20252 accredited data collection companies that we work closely with. Similarly we have the expertise to buy-in the best data collection, sophisticated statistical analysis, data modelling and specialist moderators that any job requires. This keeps our overheads low and our response times fast.

Close cooperation with our balloting department ensures that, where appropriate, research and balloting work is integrated. This means an organisation only pays for distribution costs once, and its membership has only one mailing to respond to. Furthermore the ERS reputation for integrity and impartiality encourages high response rates and honest answers.

For more details about our research services, please see our Research Brochure.