We are committed to advancing knowledge

The sector is unique and our research endeavours to discover and share good and interesting practice for the professional body sector. We work on varied projects in terns of size and topic, and includes longitudinal benchmarking studies such as the Professional Body Benchmarking Survey (PBBS) and Financial Benchmarking Report (FBR) which offer the ability to compare your own organisation against others.

We identify challenges and opportunities facing professional bodies

By doing this, we are able to complete both comprehensive and 'bite sized' studies in the form of surveys, desk research, interviews and focus groups. We  strive to provide valuable insights that help associations enhance their functions such as member engagement, governance, and professional standards.

We collaborate with industry leaders and academic experts

This ensures that  our research is both rigorous and relevant, driving innovation and excellence within the professional community. Our mission is to empower professional bodies with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape. Alongside our pivotal PARN research, we also run Ask The Network surveys on behalf of our members which can be provide a snapshot of the sector in its current state, helping with strategic decision making and covering a vast range of topics.

We are the leading organisation for research in the sector

If you are a member organisation and you want to discuss running an Ask The Network survey, we would love to hear from you. If you require something of more depth and detail or to a tighter time frame than the ATN service can provide, we are able to offer bespoke consultancy packages to suit every budget. Get in contact with the Services Manager today to arrange a discovery/scoping call with the team. 

TYPES OF RESEARCH

We are the leading organisation for research in the sector

At PARN, we offer a range of research services designed to support professional bodies with insight, evidence, and sector-wide comparisons. Whether you’re exploring a specific issue, evaluating your strategy, or benchmarking against peers, our experienced research team works with you to deliver clarity and confidence.

We use a blend of complementary methods to suit the nature of each project:

Get in contact today to arrange a discovery/scoping call with the team.

Desk Research

We scan and synthesise publicly available information from trusted sources—websites, reports, data platforms, and more—to answer targeted questions and explore sector trends. Desk research is a fast and effective way to gather context and inform decision-making.

Literature Reviews

We review and analyse written materials—books, academic papers, legislation, and sector publications—to provide a clear picture of the current thinking on a topic. Literature reviews help establish an evidence base and identify gaps or opportunities.

Focus Groups

Our focus groups bring together selected participants—often drawn from survey respondents—to explore topics in depth. Facilitated by our researchers and guided by a structured set of questions, these discussions offer rich, qualitative insights that add depth to wider findings.

PARN Publications

We are pleased to include all PARN publications in the library, available to Members through the Members Area.

One-to-One Interviews

We conduct structured conversations with individuals selected either through surveys or by client recommendation. These interviews often form the basis of case studies and contribute to deeper thematic analysis.

 

 

BENCH MARKING SURVEYS

We design and run a range of surveys—from brief  Ask The Network polls to in-depth sector-wide studies such as our Professional Body Benchmarking Survey and Financial Benchmarking Report. We analyse demographic data alongside responses to reveal trends, comparisons, and actionable insights. All are free for members to access in the Members Area. Further information can be found here: