Quality and integrity
Research Standards
The review process, ethical rules and data practices that every CRGD publication must meet.
Review before publication
| Publication type | Minimum review |
|---|---|
| Policy reports, special reports, books | Internal review by a senior researcher, and external review by at least one independent expert |
| Policy briefs, analysis, long form | Internal review by a senior researcher not involved in the work |
| Commentary, explainers, blogs | Editorial review for accuracy, fairness and clarity |
| Opinion, expert view, young thoughts | Editorial review for accuracy and adherence to the editorial policy; views remain the author’s |
Reviewers check whether the evidence supports the conclusions, whether alternative explanations have been considered, whether the methods are described clearly enough to be repeated, and whether the writing is fair to people and positions discussed.
Research ethics
Research involving people follows these rules:
- Informed consent. Participants are told what the research is for, how their information will be used, and that they can decline or withdraw at any time.
- Privacy. Personal information is kept secure and is never published in a form that identifies an individual without their consent.
- Care for vulnerable participants. Additional safeguards apply to research with children, persons in custody, survivors of violence and others at risk.
- No harm. We do not pursue research that could foreseeably put participants in danger.
Projects that involve sensitive subjects or vulnerable participants are reviewed by an ethics panel before field work begins.
Data and transparency
- We describe our data sources and methods in every publication.
- Where licences and privacy allow, we publish the data behind our charts and tables.
- We say clearly when findings are preliminary or uncertain.
- Surveys are published with questionnaires, sample design and margins of error.
Use of artificial intelligence tools
Researchers may use software tools, including AI tools, to assist with tasks such as transcription, translation drafts, data cleaning and coding. They may not use such tools to generate findings, quotations or references, and all output is checked by a person. The researcher remains responsible for every word published.
Corrections
Errors are corrected promptly and transparently. See our editorial policy.