Public Affairs Research
Where public opinion meets the legislative process
Public affairs research is not like traditional market research. It is research when the other side is shooting back.
At StrategyOne, we approach public affairs programs like political campaigns, with limited time, critical inflection points, targetable audiences, tested messages, and tangible goals.
Our Public Affairs Research Practice has significant experience testing competing messages head-to-head, in Washington, congressional districts, states, and localities.
Examples include:
- Testing messages in support of specific legislation
- Identifying themes and messages that expose weakness in public support for specific legislation.
- Identifying the optimal way to frame a public debate.
With experience working in multiple political polling shops, our staff has an extensive background in the political campaign process, ranging from conducting research and polls for political campaigns to running high-level campaigns in heated races. We bring our competitive mindset to public affairs research, melding our unique experiences with our core research capabilities.
What are the winning ingredients to a public affairs campaign?
Using the Beltway Barometer, StrategyOne's proprietary survey research product among Washington elites, we now have a better understanding of which public affairs tools lead to success and the reasons why these campaigns fall flat. "Washington Public Affairs Campaigns; Beltway Elites on the Ingredients for Success and Failure"
Specialized Tools
- The Beltway Barometer
- Issues and Influencer Insights
What it is
- The Beltway Barometer is fielded among 400 D.C. opinion elites (200 Republicans and 200 Democrats).
- Respondents currently work or have worked in Congress, the federal government, trade association, PAC, political consulting, or for the media.
What it can show
- Awareness and perception of issue among policy elites
- How different issue frames affect perception
- Which messaging resonates
- Longitudinal changes in awareness /perception changes over time
What it is
- Media analysis of most influential media covering a policy issue
- Includes trade publications, inside the Beltway policy media, advocacy group pronouncements and related Congressional and regulatory documents
- Often requires complex Boolean search strategies in both social and traditional media to access relevant content
What it can show / do
- Share of voice among opposing arguments Tone of the media, editorials, op-eds
- Volume of coverage each position or advocacy group receives
- Arguments and messaging used to articulate the positions relating to a particular legislative or regulatory issue
- Influencers and advocates promoting these viewpoints and their potential “clout”
- Establish a knowledge base for additional primary research to inform messaging strategy
Public Affairs
Research Solutions
We understand the need for customized strategies and tactics, and that effective programs may target multiple audiences living in many geographic locations.
Public Affairs Measurement
Presentation from the PRSA-NCC panel on Navigating the New Frontier of Media Measurement.
Featured White Paper
