Resources

Here, you will find support to explore how parliaments gather, process, and use knowledge to shape decision-making. These resources are designed to support scholars, policymakers, and the public in understanding the evolving role of parliaments in fostering informed governance. Stay updated with the latest insights and contribute to the ongoing conversation on strengthening democratic institutions through knowledge.

This page provides all outputs published from SPARK, including research articles, copies of presentations and slides, as well as databases and other data for colleagues’ use. If you are unable to access any resources and/or would like advance access of working papers, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the team. This page is updated regularly.

Websites

The Study of Parliament Group

International Centre for Parliament Studies
Dr Marc Geddes (professional website)

Grant Proposal

Geddes, M. (2022) ‘Studying Parliaments and the Role of Knowledge’. Grant application for the European Research Council Starting Grant, Round 2023.

Publications

Geddes, M. (2024) ‘Comparing evidence use in parliaments: the interplay of beliefs, traditions, and practices in the UK and Germany’. Policy and Society. Early View.

Please note that the project formally started in February 2024, and this page does not show outputs related to the topic of the research grant published before this date.

Presentations

Robertson, E. (2025) '¿Quiénes se oyen en los parlamentos? Una comparación de patrones de las comparecencias
en comisión en las legislaturas española y catalana'. [Who is Heard in Parliaments? A Comparison of Patterns of Witness Appearances in the Spanish and Catalan Legislatures']. Presentation at the Spanish Social Policy Network Conference (La Red Española de Política Social, REPS), Universidad de la Rioja, 22-24 October 2025.

Geddes, M. (2025). 'Parliaments and the Role of Knowledge: A Critical Review'. Presentation at the ‘What is a Parliament?’ Workshop, Birkbeck College, London, 19 September 2025.

Bruyndonckx, M. (2025) 'The Use of Knowledge in the European Parliament's Health Policy - A Research Proposal'. Presentation at the European Consortium for Political Research - Parliaments Group Conference, University of Barcelona, 2-4 July 2025.

Robertson, E. (2025) 'Who is Heard in Parliamentary Committees? Comparing Patterns of Witness Appearances in the Spanish and Catalan Legislatures'. Presentation at the European Consortium for Political Research - Parliaments Group Conference, University of Barcelona, 2-4 July 2025.

Geddes, M. (2025) 'Good evidence? How select committees in the UK House of Commons use evidence'. Presentation for the Senedd, 7 May 2025.

Robertson, E. (2025) 'Whose Knowledge? Patterns of Committee Witnesses in the Spanish Congress of Deputies'. Presentation at the Centre for Science, Knowledge and Policy at Edinburgh (SKAPE), University of Edinburgh on 23 April 2025.

Geddes, M. (2025) 'Knowing Committees? Tracing flows of evidence in the UK House of Commons'. Presentation at the UK Political Studies Association Annual Conference Birmingham, 14-16 April 2025.

Geddes, M. (2024) ‘What and how do parliaments know? Examining relationships between democracy and knowledge use’. Seminar presentation at the Institute for Social Research, Oslo on 10 June 2024.

Geddes, M. (2024) ‘What and how do parliaments know? Examining relationships between democracy and knowledge use’. Seminar presentation at the University of Bergen on 6 June 2024.

Geddes, M. (2024) ‘What and how do parliaments know? Examining relationships between democracy and knowledge use’. Keynote presentation at the Knowledge Mobilisation Forum, Dundee, on 8 May 2024.

Geddes, M. and Liddall, J. (2024) ‘Knowledge Networks in Select Committees of the House of Commons’. Presentation at the UK Political Studies Association Annual Conference, Glasgow, on 25 March 2024.

Data Sources

Output data will be added here later in the project.