How To Write A Research Briefing University Of
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Write a research briefing This guide will help you to structure a research briefing. It provides a set of questions and prompts to consider before you start writing, a suggested structure and practical tips
1. What is the purpose of a research briefing? Research Briefings provide a concise summary of your research and its relevance to policy and/ or practice, in plain English. You can use them to present information impartially and map out options; or, alternatively, you can advocate a particular option based on your findings. Which is most appropriate will depend on your project and stakeholders
Printed copies are useful as a ‘calling card’ at meetings and to share at events, in delegate packs or on a stand. If you have a website, blog or social media presence, think about how you can use them to engage your audiences. They may also provide a hook for media coverage or be useful as the basis for an opinion piece in a relevant publication. If you have a Communications Officer, they will be able to provide advice, as will the Press Office
2. Who is your target audience? You are writing for non-academics: policymakers, analysts, practitioners and others who formulate, influence or implement policy. Your reader is not a specialist in your area, and is likely to be very busy. 3. When should I write a research briefing? S/he is interested in the substantive issue and Policymakers and practitioners are interested how it relates to the current context, rather than in policy relevant research as it progresses. You the methodology. You will need to situate your can write a briefing at any stage in a project; in research within the current policy and practice fact you may want to plan a number of briefings context and make clear links for them. throughout a project
Ask yourself how you can generate conversation around your Research Briefing(s). Speaking with research users during a project allows you to hear what would be most useful to them and usefully inform the direction of the research
Knowledge Exchange 'How to' guides for the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences 4. How should I structure my research briefing? A Research Briefing is generally between 2 and 8 sides of A4. There are many ways to structure the content; have a look around and see what peers or competitors are doing. Here is one suggested structure (see boxes on page 3 for more detail): Title Summary Key points, findings or recommendations for policy or practice Introduction The body (the main text) In addition, you should include some of the following: boxes and sidebars, cases, tables, graphics, photographs, quotations from a source credible to your audience
5. How to use boxes, tables, graphics and images effectively Boxes are useful for definitions, explanations, lists, and examples to illustrate points in the text. They should have a clear title and be understandable on their own. Consider using 1 or 2 boxes of 100-150 words. Remember to reference them in the text
Tables need to be simple. Would a graph be better? Make the title talk, e.g., ‘irrigation boosts yields’ rather than ‘comparison of yields on irrigated and non-irrigated land’. Give the source of information
If using diagrams/graphs/maps, choose the type of graphic that best suits the information you are presenting e.g., a bar/pie to compare figures and a line graphs for time series. Give it an explanatory title. Don’t clutter your graphic. What is most important to show? Remember that most people printing in an office will print in black and white
Images make your Research Briefing more eye-catching and therefore more likely to be read. Use them, and the captions, to illustrate your findings, recommendations or conclusions
Look around for examples you like and borrow the elements that work for your briefing: Research findings from I’DGO http://edin.ac/24eNuOi Research briefing from AQMeN http://edin.ac/24eNkGv Evidence Note from ESPA http://edin.ac/1OjLb0AKnowledge Exchange 'How to' guides for the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Title Keep it short
Make it catchy but ensure you use relevant key words. Try using an unusual turn of phrase or a question
Keep it to the point - make sure it is relevant to the topic
Summary What are the main points you want your audience to get, even if they read nothing else? Put these in larger font or in a box, on the front page
Key points, findings or recommendations for policy or practice In academic writing, you work up to reveal your conclusions at the end. A Research Briefing is the opposite! You need to keep conclusions short (5 or 6 is enough) and make them easy to find
Put them on the front page, as part of the summary or immediately after it, or in a separate box or sidebar
Introduction The aim here is to grab the reader’s attention, introduce the topic and say why it is important
Aim for 100 words
You could introduce the topic, say why it is important, give basic background and context, outline why your research is relevant to the topic
Or you could introduce a problem; say why it is important; summarise what happens, to whom and where; outline the effects of the current situation
The body (main text) Trying to edit a long academic paper into a short policy focused one is impossible. Take a step back, think of the big picture and write from scratch
Ask yourself (again): What problem does the research address? What were you trying to find? What did you find? How is it relevant to current debate? What will be of interest to your audience? What do you want them to do as a result of reading your Research Briefing? Guide the reader. Use sub-headings, short paragraphs, boxes, graphs or images, or quotations from policymakers or practitioners
Ask yourself ‘so what?’ after every paragraph that you write
Use clear, simple, easy to understand language (e.g., the level of a broadsheet newspaper). Avoid academic, technical and methodological terms or the jargon of your discipline. Keep headings short and clear, and keep sentences and paragraphs short
This guide was produced by the CAHSS Knowledge Exchange Office. We help colleagues to engage with industry, policyand practice to maximise the impact of their research. Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/cahss/rkeWritten by Laura Cockram, informed by: ‘Writing Effective Reports: Preparing Policy Briefs’ available at www.fao.org/docrep/014/i2195e/i2195e03.pdf. Contact Laura on [email protected] / 0131 651 4211
If you require this document in an alternative format, e.g., large print, please contact Emma Giles on [email protected] / 0131 650 9370
The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336Knowledge Exchange 'How to' guides for the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
This guide will help you to structure a research briefing. It provides a set of questions and prompts to consider before you start writing, a suggested structure and practical tips. Write a research …
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Frequently Asked Questions
How to write a briefing paper?
Consider a summary section. Some briefing papers include a summary section at the start of the paper, summarizing the entire paper in a few bullet points. Decide whether you'd like to do this, and if so, set aside space for this section. [6]
How to write an effective research brief?
How to write an effective research brief. 1 1. Preparation is key. As with any project, before you start it’s crucial you think through what you want and need to deliver. Here are some things ... 2 2. Be clear on your objectives. 3 3. Remember your audience. 4 4. Structure your research brief. 5 5. Make it thorough, yet succinct. More items
How do you write a brief introduction for a research paper?
Craft an opening that summarizes the issue. The next part of the paper must describe the issue or problem in some detail. Start with a brief opening, usually labeled "issue" or "purpose" that describes in a sentence or two the main issue the paper focuses on and/or why you are submitting this paper.
Why are research briefs bad for your project?
At worst, the findings will fail to meet your objectives, costing you time and money. We’ve seen a lot of research briefs over the years. Some of which have been well thought through and clear, helping us prepare a detailed proposal and deliver an effective project and subsequent results.