They worry that making the request could damage working relationships or even put their organisation’s funding at risk, the survey found.

The findings, in research carried out by the University of Strathclyde, were greeted with “concern” by Scotland’s information commissioner, Kevin Dunion.

The research was carried out in a three-year study into the use of Freedom of Information laws by the voluntary sector.

The study found that about half of the voluntary sector workers questioned said they are discouraged from seeking information because it may harm working or funding relationships.

The findings were published today to coincide with the fifth anniversary of Scotland’s freedom of information legislation.

Mr Dunion said: “I am concerned that a substantial proportion of voluntary sector staff think that using their freedom of information rights will harm relations with public authorities, or may even lead to a loss in funding.

“In passing the FOI Act, the Scottish Parliament’s intention was to transform the culture within Scottish public authorities, making them more open and accountable to everyone, regardless of where they are from or who they represent.

“No one should fear the consequences of making an FOI request.”

The research also found that where information requests by voluntary organisations and campaign grounds were refused, in more than half the cases the applicants were not told of their right to appeal despite a legal requirement for them to be told.

And where appeals against refusal were made to a public body, in a quarter of cases those appealing were not told they had a further right of appeal to the information commissioner.

Mr Dunion said: “The good news is that Scotland has become more open in the five years since freedom of information was introduced, with Scotland’s public authorities disclosing more information than ever before.

“The bad news is that when authorities refuse to give out information, they often still fail in their legal duty to inform people of their right of appeal. The appeal provisions are an essential part of our FOI laws and they are effective: more than half of my rulings overturn an authority’s decision in some way.

“While I am reassured that most FOI requests are answered in full first time, it is extremely important that public authorities tell people of their right to challenge any refusal to provide information.

“Keeping the public in the dark about their rights runs contrary to the freedom of information legislation.”