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There is a lot of discussion within the research industry about response rates, respondent fatigue and the increasing difficulty of engaging people in research. Having worked in research for more than 30 years, it is certainly a change I have seen myself. When I first started carrying out business research by telephone, it would not

This month marks 24 years since Ask for Research opened its doors. Since 2002, the way we communicate, gather information, speak to customers and share findings has changed considerably. Back then, fax machines still sat in the corner of offices. Reports were printed, manually punched, spiral bound and sent through the post. Connecting to the

Direct answer Good engagement in market research means making it easy, appropriate and worthwhile for the right people to contribute their views. This matters for every organisation, and it is especially important when decisions are being made about public money, grant funding, community provision, services, policy, resources or future investment. If people are not given

A well written question is important in market research, but it is not enough on its own. Once the objective of the research has been defined, the next stage is not simply to write a list of questions. The structure of the questionnaire also needs careful consideration. If a question is unclear, leading or difficult

In the previous article, I looked at the importance of setting a clear and focused objective for research. That is always the starting point. What does the organisation need to know, and what may need to be done as a result of the findings? Once that objective is clear, attention naturally turns to the questions

At this time of year, many organisations are taking stock of what has happened over the past 12 months and looking ahead to what comes next. Plans are being reviewed, priorities are being set, and attention is turning towards the next financial year, the next strategic phase, or simply the next set of practical decisions

Market research starts with the decision, not the method There is a point in most businesses where things feel a little noisier than they should. You are doing plenty, you have ideas on the table, and you might even have a decent amount of information already, but decisions still feel slower than you would like.

Introduction to easy research When I started out in the market research profession, instant access information and easily accessible online survey tools were a thing of the future. Traditional approaches of face-to-face, telephone and postal interviews were the research tools of the day. Moving forwards, it can be argued that research has never been easier.

Business Seasons Change, But Research Keeps You Steady In the height of the British Summer and with most schools now having broken up for the long break, many thoughts are turning to the annual summer holiday. Whether staying at home or taking a holiday away, the summer and the potential it brings for a break

What If Your Customers Aren’t Just Your Customers? When we think of market research, most people picture customer surveys, Net Promoter Scores, or focus groups. That’s a solid start, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Every business is part of a wider ecosystem, and insights don’t just come from the people buying from