Research can encompass any gathering of data or information, or use of scientific or analytical tools to inform advocacy efforts or inform policy deliberations. Research can be a powerful advocacy tool, because it gives policymakers facts and figures.

Of course, conducting research by itself is not really an advocacy activity, as it has to find its way into the hands of policymakers. In this respect, it is closely tied to dissemination and providing access to information.

Policymakers do not come up with laws in a vacuum, and will often look to organizations for expert opinions to shape legislation. This is made more effective when there are facts and numbers to back up an organization’s views. Research can not only be used to convince lawmakers to take a specific action, but can be used by lawmakers themselves to gain supporters for their position.

Research can also be used as an organizing and communication tool as well, as it gives people something concrete to convene around. While a community might know that a chemical spill happened a few years ago and now some people are getting sick, knowing that a specific carcinogen was spilled and now those that live in the spill area are developing cancer at an unusually high rate would be more likely to spur people to action.

Conducting and providing research can be a very effective tool for change as a simple lack of data and knowledge about an issue may be the cause of government inaction. When presented with research, they may no longer be able to ignore an issue.