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The’objective quantitative’ and ‘intuitive qualitative’ branches of research have traditionally worked separately, but the demand for data that is immediately actionable is forcing the industry to integrate the two schools of thought, says Alicia Clegg
Most professions like to project an image. But how they see themselves may not tally with how the rest of us see them. This may be said of the market research industry, where researchers have always prided themselves on being objective and scientific, but are perceived by other business people to be academic types, who are more interested in using the correct methodologies than…
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Sue Brooker explains the growing importance of social research.
As someone who has been on both sides of the fence, I am often asked what is the difference between social research and market research. My answer is that at a basic level, the two are very similar. The skills you need are an understanding of the theory and practical application of survey and sample design; you need to know how to write an unbiased questionnaire which will answer your survey objectives; you need to understand how to analyse and interpret data; and you need to differentiate between the facts…
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Sue Brooker, Head of Social Research at BMRB, has prepared some frequently asked questions to help you when you are writing a research brief.
Click here to view them.
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The Census missing million is a real concern, reports BMRB Social Research head Sue Brooker
Ever found yourself in the position where the findings of your survey are not quite what you expected, and some convincing interpretation and explanation is required? That’s what Len Cook, Registrar General for England and Wales, had to do for the biggest survey of them all, and in the most public forum.
First findings from the quarter of a billion pounds 2001 Census, indicate that the total population of the United Kingdom is 58,789,194. This is 1 million fewer than anticipated…
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Research magazine special report: Public Sector
While often perceived as the red-headed stepchild of the market research industry, public sector work is actually quite exciting - covering everything from theft to sex to domestic violence.
Sue Brooker takes us on a crash course.
Although public sector research is perceived by many to be the dull relation of consumer and market research, with fairly unglamorous researchers, the reality is totally different. It includes many other types of research, such as media, advertising and B2B.
Agencyside, public sector research - or social research - covers any research…
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Research magazine special report: advertising
Helen Angle looks at the peculiarities of government campaigns and the kind of approach researchers must take to evaluate them
Government advertising has come a long way since the days of the public information film. It is now an award-winning form of communication whose style and prevalence make it similar to its commercial counterparts. ACNielsen MMS says it cost the public £30.6m in March, thrusting the government into top position in the list of the country’s biggest advertisers in that month, ahead of BT and Proctor & Gamble. The figure…
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Two Worlds Collide - integrating both quantitative and qualitative research
