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Report preparation

Oficina C has established a process to produce scientific and technological evidence reports on issues of interest to Members of Parliament, within the framework of the C Method.

The aim of this process is to translate and synthesise existing scientific and technological knowledge into clear, rigorous and accessible reports, enabling an understanding of the current state of knowledge on a given topic and supporting parliamentary work.

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"Salt and life". Edition: FOTCIENCIA19. Author: Jesús Alberto Pérez Romero.
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El conocimiento científico es extenso, multidisciplinar y, a menudo, muy especializado. Es el resultado del trabajo de millones de científicos en todo el mundo, especialmente en un contexto en el que los retos a los que nos enfrentamos son cada vez más complejos y multidimensionales.

La evaluación de la evidencia científica debe tener en cuenta que el conocimiento científico avanza, evoluciona y no está libre de incertidumbres. La ciencia se corrige a sí misma y se encuentra bajo el escrutinio constante de la comunidad científica.

Este proceso de elaboración de informes, en el marco del Método C, busca contextualizar, resumir y comunicar los consensos, disensos y lagunas en el conocimiento científico sobre un tema en un momento determinado. A través de este proceso se elaboran dos tipos de productos: los Informes C, de mayor alcance y profundidad, y las Notas C, con un formato más acotado y ágil.

 

Informes C
Notas C
1

Identifying

How and by whom are topics for C Reports selected?

The selection of topics for the evidence documents is based on the work carried out through Radar C.

To be considered, topics must meet a number of criteria: a clearly defined scope, the availability of evidence, relevance, and potential medium- and long-term impact for Spain.

In the case of Reports C, Oficina C prepares an integrated proposal of potential topics, which is submitted to the Bureau of the Congress for selection.

Notes C originate directly from initiatives of the Bureau of the Congress, usually at the request of parliamentary committees, and Oficina C subsequently assesses their scope and methodological feasibility.

2

Developing

How is a scientific evidence product produced?

The preparation process begins with an interdisciplinary literature review, which identifies the available scientific and technological knowledge and places the topic within its Spanish, European and international context.

In parallel and through an iterative approach, experts are consulted to provide key insights on the topic, define the scope of the report, and identify areas of consensus and disagreement. Based on the evidence gathered and the contributions of experts, successive drafts of the report or brief are prepared.

Oficina C is responsible for both editorial oversight and content, and ensures the use of clear language across all its outputs.

3

Reviewing

How is the legitimacy of evidence products ensured?

Each document undergoes a review process comprising two complementary stages:

  • An internal review carried out by the technical team, which assesses methodological consistency, the quality of the evidence used, and the clarity of the content.
  • An external review, based on consultation with participating experts and, where necessary, additional experts, in order to incorporate an independent perspective. 

The process concludes with a professional editorial review, ensuring clear and accessible language, as well as a consistent presentation across all documents.

4

Connecting

How are evidence products communicated and disseminated?

The conclusions of each Report C and Note Care presented in parliamentary settings such as committee meetings, Dialogues C and Week C, with the aim of highlighting key messages, facilitating their use in parliamentary activity, and connecting the scientific community with Members of Parliament.

The documents are published on this website, on the Congress website and on the EPTA network. Each publication is assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI). In addition, publications are accompanied by short summaries, visual summaries and other formats designed to enhance usability. Podcast episodes of Con Acento en la Ciencia are also produced (available only in Spanish).

Collaborate

If you believe that your scientific and technical expertise can contribute to drafting a Report C, you can contact us by filling out the following form. In it, you need to share your experience and the scientific evidence report in which you wish to participate. This way, we can review it to ensure that it aligns with the scope and content of our reports.

If necessary, we will contact you to interview for approximately 1 hour. Additionally, you will be able to participate in reviewing the report, and your participation will be credited.

Fill in the form

Feedback from interviewees

In the Reports C we interviewed 331 scientists and experts. At the end of our collaboration, we kindly asked them to complete a short survey to find out more about their experience and their expectations from Oficina C. 181 of them responded to the questionnaire.

  • 92% consider the implementation of Oficina CC to be appropriate or very appropriate
  • 96% consider the working method implemented by Oficina C to be adequate or very adequate
  • 97% consider the interview process with the Oficina C to be satisfactory or very satisfactory
  • 99% consider the Report Cformat to be adequate or very adequate 
  • 98% would collaborate again and would recommend collaboration with Oficina C to their colleagues
  • 83% have been involved in scientific advisory activities to regional or national public sector, or international organisations.
  • 61% were not aware of any science and technology office to regional, national or supranational parliaments before they collaborated with Office C.
  • 60% were not aware of the existence of Oficina C before collaborating with us.
  • 36 % believe that the impact of their collaboration will be important or very important in their professional career.
  • 49% consider that the Reports C will have an important or very important impact on public policy formulation.

"I would like the report to include a bit more technical detail, but I understand the audience it is aimed at and that therefore it should avoid getting into overly technical explanations".

"The initiative is very relevant because the knowledge gathered from experts should help immensely to carry out more coherent actions at the national level".

"It would be interesting to be updated regularly on the impact and relevance of the reports in the Congress of Deputies".