Public Sector Research

Public Sector Research ONLINE provides detailed guidance on how to research and investigate public policy, public services, the economy, government, companies, consultants, trusts, organisations and individuals. It is intended to provide a service to those involved in public policy making, public sector research, public employees, service users, trade unions, community and civil society organisations. It has a major role in public sector education and training.

Public Sector Research ONLINE has over 20 sections to help you research and investigate at the local, regional, national, European and international levels. It contains detailed guidance and lists thousands of sources of information.

Public Sector Research ONLINE significantly extends and updates The Investigators Handbook, published by the Centre for Public Services in 2003. The first edition handbook was included in the New Internationalist Mail catalogue in 2004 and sold out. was published by Community Action Magazine (1972-1998) in 1975 with supplements added in later issues of the magazine. Several thousand of copies of the Handbook were sold and it became a widely-used tool for campaigns and investigations. The Centre for Public Services also produced Secret Services: A Handbook for Investigating Local Quangos for the Local Government Information Unit in 1995 which covered health trusts, housing associations, police authorities and other local and national quasi-public organisations and companies. Content

Part 1: Introduction

Part 2: Rights to Information

Part 3: Investigating Companies

Part 4: Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Welfare

Part 5: Organisations

Part 6: Government

Part 7: Public Private Partnerships, Strategic Service-delivery Partnerships, Asset Management Partnerships

Part 8: Marketisation and privatisation

Part 9: Researching regional and local economies

Part 10: Researching European and national economy

Sector research

Part 11: Health and Social Care

Part 12: Education

Part 13: Housing

Part 14: Regeneration

Part 15: Public transport

Part 16: Road Transport

Part 17: Utilities

Part 18: Environment and Waste Management

Part 19: Criminal Justice System

Part 20: Investigating International organisations

Part 21: Investigating individuals

Part 22: Libel and Slander

Download a fuller version of contents of PSRO.