C12

Question 1

Project start client to agency

Answer 1

Most project starting points will be the brief the client has prepared and the proposal the research supplier submitted in answer to this. As researcher starting project you should therefore be aware of:

Business problem for which research is needed
End product of research - information needs, objectives and outputs
Project resources - budget and time
Risks that are acceptable to client and those that are not
Proposed research plan

Once research supplier has accepted project it becomes responsibility of lead person within agency to deal with this - typically the project manager,

Question 2

Role of project manager and what they must know to do this effectively

Answer 2

To deliver completed projects to clients. This may man all of that person’s time is devoted to that one project; if it is a large and complex one. Person may also be responsible for other projects running at same time so will need to split their time accordingly.

Main responsibility of project managers is to plan how the project will run, decide what resources are needed and put them into place and manage all of the project tasks through to completion and delivery. This means manager must:

Know what client needs research for
Understand aims and specific objectives of project
Understand constraints and what trade-offs are possible within that
Out in place risk management strategy - identifying risks and drawing up mitigation plans
Draw up project work plan that will achieve aims and objectives within the constraints
Understand what ha to be done - identifying work tasks
Allocate clear and well-defined roles to team members
Monitor and review progress
Adjust project work plan where necessary
Keep all involved in project informed of process

Question 3

Identifying potential risks

Answer 3

Though you will have scrutinised the client briefly and prepared a research plan as part of the proposal, in setting up and running the project you will encounter things you are aware that you didn’t know at proposal stage and things that you had not envisaged in the planning stage. These are risks to the success of the project - by having a risk management strategy you identify likely risks in advance and work out a plan to prevent or control them.

Question 4

Project management tools

Answer 4

Two main types; type that helps you work out the most effective project plan and type that helps communicate plans to all those involved. In effect this is an early project management plan, making clear to client and project team members what is involved in project; project start meeting - a meeting at which project manager briefs project team in detail about the project and how it will run and answers any questions about key issues including, roles, responsibilities and timings; project timetable, which sets out key dates or milestones in the life of project and may take form of a critical path analysis chart, a project evaluation and review technique PERT chart or Gantt chart; a costing schedule or grid showing budget available for each part of project.

Question 5

Communication

Answer 5

Good PMs should help project team to understand:

Project aims and objectives
How these are to be achieved
Their role in achieving these

An effective PM will also share info with clients and with those involved in different aspects of work on how the project is progressing in relation to aims and objectives.

Question 6

Leadership

Answer 6

Process by which we influence others to achieve a goal. You should:

Know your own jobs
Be familiar with tasks of others involved in project
Ensure that all involved understand what must be achieved
Support them to achieve it
Set an example
Take responsibility of actions - if things go wrong, assess situation, take action and move on - do not blame others
Keep everyone informed
Make sound and timely decisions
Use full range of resources available to you

Question 7

Managing resources

Answer 7

Finance being a project budget assigned by client and briefing stage and allocated to various tasks by researcher / agency when preparing proposals and planning the work. Once the project plan and project team are in place there is a job to do in managing resources effectively, ensuring that all tasks and activities undertaken are moving you towards achieving aims and objectives of the project.

Question 8

Managing the budget

Answer 8

May not be in charge of the entire project budget, but will certainly have responsibility for part of it and accountable for this. To manage budget you should:

If RM inform team members about budget allocated to their tasks
If team member - ask about budget allocated to tasks
Find out how long key tasks take or have taken in past
Be clear about where costs in your part of project lie and be clear about who you reached them to the PM
Agree realistic budget for work requested
Assess and discuss risks of overruns, and if possible, agree a contingency
Inform PM and/or client about costs involved in additional work request
Monitor spend against budget set
If you detect overrun or think budget overrun is likely, assess situation and take appropriate action ASAP

Question 9

Managing your time

Answer 9

Prepare list of tasks need to complete each day
Prioritise - list and then tackle tasks in order of importance
Acknowledge when a task has been completed
Assign or delegate tasks where appropriate
Get on with what you have to do

Question 10

Responsibilities within project managment - broadly and speicifically

Answer 10

After the client gives go ahead to begin research, you will be involved in snoring what was requested in the brief and proposals and in any discussions with the client is turned into an effective research plan that is carried out efficiently.

At this stage it is a good idea to check whether or not there are any practical concerns that you did not anticipate when you wrote the proposal e.g. any changes to plans that impact resources needed and therefore price and timetable.

Once the project is underway you become a pivotal person in the research team - executives are responsible for liaising with those who commissioned research and those involved in various stages e.g. fieldwork, data processing and data analysis. Tasks that will be included are:

Administering project on day-to-day basis, checking progress, answering queries from field / recruiters, client, DP
Making contributions to discussions about design of data collection tool
Creating / laying out data collection tool
Briefing and liaising with fieldwork supplier / recruiters on sample requirements as well
Doing the same with fieldwork supplier on set up of fieldwork and requirements for this e.g. piloting, venue hire
Preparing interviewer or recruiter briefing notes
Briefing and liaising with DP supplier about scripting, coding and data processing of data collection tool
Liaising with client about prep and delivery of stimulus material
Checking feedback from pilot study and making any necessary changes
Monitoring progress of fieldwork - potentially attending or conducting
Checking accuracy of data tables
Listening to recordings and prepared transcripts / notes
Analysing and interpreting data
Planning and preparing presentations and draft reports
Liaising with client about progress, meetings, presentations and report

Main goal is to communicate what is needed to those who can make it happen, e.g. DP team, fieldwork / sample provider. Need to ensure all are clear on what is required to answer clients objectives on time and on budget.

Question 11

why is it important to brief fieldwork / provider / team

Answer 11

When preparing a proposal you will have discussed feasibility of research design with a fieldwork supplier; this will have been cost based on assumptions about incidence of target sample in wider population; ease of identifying or approaching sample, nature / length of interview or discussion / survey, number of interviews or groups needed. It is important to confirm details including sample requirements, fieldwork start and finish dates with field suppliers and discuss any changes that may have been made to the original plan which may impact cost, timing or level of staffing needed. Fieldwork suppliers should be clear about exactly what is required before fieldwork is booked.

Question 12

what to consider when preparing briefing for fieldwork supplier

Answer 12

Is it an ad hoc project or continuous? Will it be repeated at a later date, if so how many times / rounds?
Methods of data collection involved, quant / qual, group / workshops / accompanied shopping, online / F2F survey
Research locations, if more than one country how this will be managed
Equipment needed
Target population and incidence in general pop
Type of sampling procedure to be used
Sample size required
Length of qnn or DG
Stimulus material or test product needed and who will provide it
Turnaround time from start of fieldwork to delivery of data
Similar jobs done in the past - what has been learnt
If repeat of previous job, what implication does this have in terms of qnn or survey invitation or recruitment screen and use of sampling points, fieldwork locations or particular interviews
If there is to be a pilot phase before main fieldwork, dates of these
Is there going to be F2F briefing
Will client be attending / observing / listening to fieldwork
How will completed qnn or data files be transferred to DP supplier

Question 13

briefing fieldwork in multi-country projects

Answer 13

Multi country projects will have two approaches to briefing:

If fieldwork is to be undertaken by a local supplier in each country, separate and specific briefings may have to be produced ensuring that you are consistent across countries if data is to be compared / combined

If it is to be coordinated centrally by one supplier, one main briefing document may suffice, with notes about special requirements by country.

Question 14

summary of key dates and contact details in briefing fieldwork team

Answer 14

Once all issues are discussed and agreed with the fieldwork supplier you need to agree timings and contact details. Useful to include follow information ind document which can be circulated among all those directly involved in managing project:

Summary of key dates for

Delivery of final approved versions of qnn or recruitment screener
Delivery of interviewer / recruiter briefing notes
Interviewer / briefing session
Attendance at fieldwork
Start fieldwork and close fieldwork
Availability of data to the DP supplier

Contact details of person

With day-to-day responsibility for project
Responsibility for technical aspects of project (scripting, programming, analysis)
To whom completed qnn or data files should be sent

Question 15

Getting access to target pop

Answer 15

Getting access to respondents for most consumer market research projects is relatively easy - whether they consent to take part is of course a different issue. Access issues arise when fieldwork is to be conducted at a particular location; where it is necessary to get permission from the site owner. Access to samples in B2B research can be particularly difficult as population can be guarded by gatekeepers e.g. C-Suite. You may need to convince a PA whose job it is to shield your boss from unwanted intrusions why involvement in research is worthwhile and a good idea. Some pops can be difficult to access due to low incidence or low visibility e.g. people with hearing aids. There are also access difficulties in children and vulnerable adults.

Access in some research limitations may be limited or even closed. Degree of difficulty in gaining access therefore has implications for costing and planning the timeline in a project.

If you have to get past a gatekeeper to access samples you may find that negotiations can be lengthy and time consuming, and may even be fruitless. May be necessary to use a sponsor to help gain access, someone whom gatekeepers and / or potential respondents respect and trust who can allay suspicions about research and it’s legitimacy.

Question 16

Organising stimulus material

Answer 16

This can be advertisements, photos of products or packaging or products themselves. Think about stimulus material that is needed for the project and discuss with the client who is going to supply or prepare it. Make sure that this material is sent over in form needed - e.g. jpegs for online research. Make sure whoever is supplying material is aware of fieldwork deadlines so that material arrives in time to be uploaded or embedded in a survey programme.

Question 17

Deciding on an incentive

Answer 17

Common to offer incentive to potential respondents to encourage to take part or thank them for taking part. MRS COC defines incentive as any benefit offered to respondents to encourage participation in a project.

Can be useful to offer incentive as it saves money and time in sampling and recruitment by ensuring those who are approached are likely to take part and complete what is offered to them. Can avoid over-sampling or need to reschedule interviews. Though incentive may not cover time lost to participants it will show to some extent the value of their time and contribution. When deciding whether to offer incentive you must think about:

Incidence of sample - may be necessary if this is low
Nature of sample
Nature of task
Whether it is ethically, legally and practically viable to offer

Question 18

Checking viability of qnn - general process

Answer 18

Qnn will have been designed with research objectives in mind, containing questions that measure what you think you are measuring and which will collect the kind of evidence needed to address the research problem. Important to have fieldwork experts e.g. field executives, interviewers and respondents) check it from a data collection and fieldwork management POV, and DP expert to check from a DP POV. The same is largely true for interview guides or DG for qual exercises. Besides having it checked by client to assess whether it will gather evidence needed to address research problems should also be checked by experienced qual researchers who will be able to give insight into how this will translate into actual research, and the limitations of this.

Question 19

value of checking qnn with fieldwork supplier

Answer 19

Having qnn approved by a fieldwork expert before it goes to the client for approval is important, should be done as soon as a reasonable draft has been drawn up. Leaving it too late or until final v has been confirmed with the client may mean you have little to no time to make any changes that may be suggested. Consequences of this could be delayed data collection.

Question 20

likely qns from checking qnn with fieldwork supplier

Answer 20

Questions they may ask in evaluating qnn may be:

Length
Right length for data collection method? E.g. 10 mins for street interview
Right length for achieving strike rate on which costings and timings are based

Impact on respondent - burden
Overburden respondent?
All Qs necessary?
Do they require too much effort? Might they overtax respondents’ memory?
Is the balance of qns right? Too many dull, repetitive qns? Too many statements in the grid?
Is content relevant to sample? Are questions and topics within respondent’s frame of reference?
Has appropriate routing been programmed?
Will respondent be able to articulate an answer

Impact on respondent - understanding and ease of completion
Do qns make sense? Clear and unambiguous?
Is language suitable for samples? Lack of jargon and complex words?
Is flow of qns logical, with no unexpected jumps of changes of subject?
Instructions in the right place and easy to follow?
Laid out in a way that is easy to fill out?
Page breaks in convenient places?
Minimising bias
Has qnn been set out in a way that order bias is minimised e.g. randomising
Admin
How many v of qnn are there? What are differences and how are they to be administered?
Space in which to record serial numbers / interviewer numbers if appropriate?
Questions numbered correctly?
Routeing instructions accurate and easy to follow?

Question 21

Finalising qnn - last checks

Answer 21

Important to have final v checked and approved for use by client, field and DP. qnn may change a lot during the design process, and so it is useful to have a fresh pair of eyes to check it as those previously involved may be too used to it and so fail to see errors. If this isn’t possible, write a checklist of comments and suggest changes, changes made throughout the design process and refer back to this list to make sure all of them have been implemented properly. Make a final check to ensure qnn addresses objectives set out in brief, and that each qn is measuring what it is intended to.

Finally check necessary administrative and instructional details:

Project number
Space to record serial numbers and interviewer numbers
All questions and parts of questions numbered correctly
Routing instructions are complete and easy to follow
Automatic routing is programmed correctly
Interviewer / respondent instructions are complete and easy to follow
All codes are correct
All versions are correct

Question 22

Translations of qnn in review process

Answer 22

On international projects qnn, interview / DG should be translated to the final version.

To make the process as efficient as possible ensure that the first translation is done by someone with the target language as first language, lives in a relevant country (up-to-date cultural awareness) and has sound knowledge of the subject area. It is also useful to have someone do a back-translation. Translations can go awry as translators may choose words that have slightly different meaning or different connotation in context in which it is used compared to the origin language. If you need to compare data from a range of countries then you need to be sure that what you are asking and measuring in one country in one language, is the same in others. If not you are threatening validity and reliability of research data.

Question 23

Writing interviewer briefing notes - what to include in pack

Answer 23

Aim is to give the interview a greater understanding of the purpose of the research, qnn as a whole and specific questions or topics within it. Briefing notes should contain

Introduction and background to research - summary of research objectives
Contents of interviewers work pack - list of contents of work pack. Will depend on method of data collection and nature of research e.g. thank you letters or notes for respondents, incentives, stimulus material or show cards, address lists
Importance of briefing notes - short note emphasising importance of reading notes and being familiar with qnn before starting fieldwork
Fieldwork location and sampling area - details of geographic area in which interviewer or recruiter must work
Sampling practice or procedure - details of how to draw sample e.g. random route, quota controls
Details of specific eligibility criteria - description of type and range of respondents needed.
Details of how to present research to potential respondents - description of research and information on length of interview, reminder about confidentiality / anonymity / data protection issues, guidance on how to handle queries, example of end use of research, clients name, contact details and fieldwork supplier
Detailed qnn instructions - question by question guide to qnn or screener. Show include show cards, stimulus material, self-completion elements, routing instructions and skips, instructions for probing and clarification, recording of answers verbatim
Any ethical / legal / COC issues - note on data protection and need to be open about the purpose of the survey and need to gain informed consent.
Details of incentives of participants - description of incentives, how they are delivered
Fieldwork timings - when to begin and when to end
Return of work arrangements - details of how completed work should be returned, to whom and by what date
Project management issues - contact details of person responsible for handling any queries that might arise e.g. eligibility of particular respondents, difficulties in filling a quota, queries about particular Q or topic
Thanks - note of thanks

Question 24

MRS COC - fieldwork

Answer 24

Must take reasonable steps to ensure
Data collection process if fit for purpose and clients have been advised accordingly
Design and content of data collection process or instrument is appropriate for the audience being researcher
Respondents not led towards particular point of view
Responses are capable of being interpreted in an unambiguous way
Personal data is relevant and not excessive
Any recording, monitoring or observation during an interview has been informed at both recruitment and beginning of interview
Must not knowingly make use of personal data collected illegal
Must not be misled when being asked for co-operation to participate
Right to withdraw from project is respected
Must ensure the following are clearly communicated to respondent:
Name of interviewer
Assurance that interview will be carried out in accordance to MRSCOC
General subject of interview
Purpose of interview
If asked, likely length of the interview
Any costs likely to be incurred by respondent
Respondents must not be unduly pressurised to participate
Delete any responses given by the respondent, if requested, and if this is reasonable and practical
Must not reveal any other respondents, details of their answers or identity to any other respondents interviewed

Question 25

Giving an interview briefing

Answer 25

Sometimes it is necessary to run a F2F briefing session for interviews / supervisors to discuss issues around sampling / recruitment as well as interviewing an interviewer-respondent relationship. Interviewers are briefed about the background to the project, need for information and how it will be used. Will be briefed about specifics of recruitment or sampling, how to access respondents and how to introduce research. They will demonstrate how to administer qnn by reading out each or setting up mock interviews. Interviewers / supervisors conduct mock interviews themselves in order to familiarise themselves with how questions work and to get used to handling stimulus material. Besides briefing fieldforce, a personal briefing session is a good way of demonstrating to clients the rigorous and quality-conscious approach adopted by suppliers.

Question 26

Organising data processing main task

Answer 26

Four main tasks in DP:

Checking and editing qnn
Coding
Specifying output from DP
Checking output

In a research agency these tasks are typically the responsibility of DP exec or analyst and research exec. Material presented here assumes understanding of the basics of data analysis; understanding of how data from qnn translates into data tables, and understanding of data from these tables (cross-tabulations). In online and computer aided interviewing there is no separate data entry process and checking and editing of qnn may be done automatically by data collection software. It is nonetheless useful to know how to check and edit qnn as, should discrepancies be seen in data, it can be useful / necessary to go back to the individual data record and check how qns were answered.

Question 27

DP - Checking and editing in field

Answer 27

Process should begin as soon as fieldwork starts & qnn are completed. Eligibility checks should be made and sample composition should be monitored to ensure that original sample specifications are being met. Final sample should be checked against what was requested. If there is a discrepancy, fieldwork supervisors may need to arrange for additional interviews. Individual interviews should be checked to ensure that response has been recorded to each question and that there are no missing elements. Checks should be made for routeing to ensure it was followed correctly.in computer based collection these checks are typically built into the program and take place automatically - but supervisor / interviewer should check paper qnn. Completeness of qnn should also be checked - over use of DK option, midpoint in scales, presence of straight lining pattern in responses (same mark in scale or grid for each qn), evidence of random responding, illogical or inconsistent responses and finishing qnn too quickly. Open-ended should be checked if complete, and are a good indicator of engagement in online surveys.
If the project includes paper qnn, notes in the interviewer pack should be included on the sort of checks you want completed.

Question 28

Dealing with inadequate or incomplete data during data processing

Answer 28

Give DP instructions about how to handle errors or inconsistencies that remain ind ata on completion of fieldwork - inadequate or incomplete data can be dealt with in a number of ways

Exclude incomplete qnn or those containing poor data from analysis - however can bias findings, cases removed may differ significantly in profiles from other cases. If course of action is taken this should be clearly documented and impact on sample documented. Appropriate when large amounts of data or vital elements of a case are missing; limited impact if total sample is large and number of cases removed are relatively small
Recontact respondents to obtain missing data / clarify responses - to be effective has to be done ASAP, using same method of data as was used originally
Assigning code to missing value
Performing pairwise deletion
Imputing a value

Decide which option is most appropriate and include details on DP spec; document that sets out how data should be handled and in what format you need output.

Question 29

what is coding?

Answer 29

Process by which responses from open-ended qns are analysed and labelled, and given numeric code so that they can be counted in the analysis program. Coding brief sets out how you want this data handled and a coding frame provides instructions about how open-ended qns are to be processed.

Question 30

Preparing a coding brief

Answer 30

Should firstly review background info on issues or research topics; will help to understand and interpret responses given on qnn, which may otherwise be unambiguous or unclear. If you are researching a particular topic or market you should become familiar with technical language / jargon respondents will be likely to use as well as key issues within that market. If focus of research is product range it is worth having a look at products or brands or even tasting them. Should review advertisements if this is the case. If you are not directly involved in the coding process, then this material should be made available to coders. May surmise this information in a coding brief, in which you may include a draft coding frame, listing what may be important to ensure coders are aware of key issues.

Respondents may not give response to a question when you ask it but at a late stage, in answer to another question. You may ask coders to check this to avoid missing data, in a process called ‘back coding’. It is often important to preserve detail given in open-ended Qs, so may ask for verbatims to be extracted and preserved whole with key demographic data so that you can see what kind of demographics said what. To do this coders must read the whole qnn and code / classify each respondent according to their response.

If a project is a multi-country one in which findings are to be compared on a country-by-country basis it is important to work with coders to produce a good-quality master coding frame, one that can be used in all countries. Cultural differences may still remain, but if frames were developed separately for each country comparisons would be more difficult to make.

Question 31

Preparing extractions

Answer 31

As qnns are returned from the field or completed by respondents, responses for each of the open-ended questions are extracted and listed, Q by Q as individual response items. Process of extractions continues until the content of what is being extracted does not change - until saturation point is reached and further extractions do not show new content. A list of extractions from source material forms the basis of the draft coding frame for each Q.

Question 32

From draft coding frame to final coding frame

Answer 32

Next step is to group together similar responses. Once grouped together these responses can be examined for differences in meaning, particular shades of meaning that may need to be distinguished to meet research objectives. Other hand these distinctions may not matter in relation to research objectives, and can be grouped. This draft is used to code responses from the entire sample and as coding progresses it may be that responses do not fit into a particular code. These responses are listed as queries, and query listening is sent to the draft coding frame to a query coder with specialist knowledge of topic or research exec. If queries cannot be accommodated in existing code, a new one may be created. Several updates are likely to occur as the coding process continues, until all responses from samples are coded.

Question 33

Preparing data processing specification

Answer 33

Variety of ways data can be processed from qnn. Purpose of DP spec is to clearly, unambiguously and in detail exactly how this should be done to address research problems. Even if you are preparing your own cross tabs, a well thought out DP spec can be useful in helping produce what you need. In preparing spec you will need to know what output will be used for, why and how. Cross tabs against every demog, geodemog, attitudinal and behaviour variables all likely to be useful - any variable that may act as an explanatory variable. You should however be selective in specifying cross tabs, asking only for table sthat are relevant to your analysis plan - questions that a DP spec must address are:

What is job about
Who is client
Are thre different versions of qnn
What are deadlines
Who wants tables
Is the job / qnn same / similar to a previous one?
What output is required e.g. cross-tabs, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, multivariate analysis

Should be clear about what it is you want so that you can communicate it clearly to others. Talk to exec in the DP department to get to grips with what is possible in terms of time, money and output.

Question 34

DP Background briefing

Answer 34

To give the DP idea of context of project and objectives, a DP spec should contain info on background to project. Alternatively you can give DP a copy of the project brief; which will enable them to understand the job better and make suggestions about processing and analysis options.

In multi-country study cross tabs should be designed with an analysis plan in mind. If aim of research is to compare data on a country-by-country basis, tables should be set out with each country as top break, rather than producing separate sets of tables for each country. Decide whether data should be weighted to reflect market size or population size. Also consider whether each country will want ro see data on their country in isolation and whether tables should be produced in each language.

Question 35

DP spec Cross-breaks or top headings

Answer 35

Specify how you want variables such as age or social grade to appear on tables within analysis spec. Specify by which split e.g. ‘age x 4’. May also want attitudinal cross breaks e.g. total agree / disagree. Important in designing banner heading to think of layout / appearance of final tables; how many can fit without it being untidy or hard to read. Order in which top breaks appear can help in reading tables - may want to put more meaningful sets first. May also want to include summary tables of grid qns for easy comparability between Qs / statements in sets.

Question 36

Summary and inferential stats

Answer 36

Think about what summary statistics are needed in tables - for qs including rating scales you may want to include mean score, for arithmetical variables e.g. annual turnover you may want to include, mean, median and standard deviations. If you are working with data derived from random sample, then you may want to indicate which values / variables should be tested for statistical significance (and at what level of significance). Give detail of any further analysis needed e.g. factor or cluster analysis.

Question 37

Checking dp output

Answer 37

Data tables should be checked for accuracy before sent to the client or used to prepare a presentation or report. Typically 2 people will check them - DP exec or analyst and research exec. Each will check from different perspective; DP will check holecount - ensuring program has delivered the right tables with correct bases, filters, weighting and that statistics requested are complete. Research exec will check to see whether tables meet spec as set out, in terms of layout, baes, filters and weighting - and will check whether data makes sense in context of their knowledge of project topic.

Question 38

Checking data derived from different version of qnn

Answer 38

If there are several versions of qnn it is important tto check in detail that tables are derived from questions that vary across versions.checking holecount for each version to determine frequency of response for each one is vital.

Question 39

How to complete standard table checks

Answer 39

Questions to ask to ensure that data tables are accurate and meet requests set out in DP or tab spec:

Is total sample as expected? Have all responses been included?
Does demog profile match profile of sample / quota controls
Are headings correct e.g. client name, dates, table title
Is set of tables complete? Table of contents?
Are cross break headings correct
Are top break totals correct
Check that
Base size is correct
Question handled in way set out in spec e.g. filter on correct base
Summary statistics have been correctly calculated
Data looks right - any overly high or low numbers should be checked

Question 40

Checking top breaks based on summary codes or compound variables

Answer 40

Check that top breaks which are combined from different questions, or are summary codes, are correct. E.g. check that slightly agree and strongly agree add up to the same as total agree code.

Question 41

Checking repeat data

Answer 41

If data is repeated e.g. from panel, tracking study or dipstick monitor - do not assume that as the previous set of tables were correct that this new set will be too. Make sure that tables have correct fieldwork dates, and that changes to questionnaire since tables were last run have been included. Check any changes in data, any differences since last fieldwork period and whether they are explainable in context of market activity.

Question 42

Thinking ahead to analysis

Answer 42

In taking client briefs and designing research to address clients’ business problems you will have thought ahead to what research might produce; if you have conducted any secondary or exploratory research you may have formulated ideas on what results may be. Now that you have an accurate set of tables from quant or transcripts, recordings and notes from qaul research you are ready to start on the more formal, systematic stage of analysis.

Question 43

Checking and reporting progress

Answer 43

Will be expected to liaise with and answer queries from fieldwork organiser, coders and DP supplier, other members of project team and client. You therefore need to make sure that you are well briefed about the project so that you can handle queries in a confident and professional manner to keep all members informed and up to date with progress. May find it useful to attend fieldwork sessions, hear/see for yourself how respondents react to requests to take part in research, respond to Qs and stimulus material, how interview handles interview and so on. Experience will help answer Qs about coding and give insights into data taht might otherwise be overlooked by only reading data tables or transcripts. With this greater understanding and appreciation you can improve qnn and DG writing skills. Maybe it is worth spending time working with a DP provider.

Question 44

Liaising with client

Answer 44

Make sure the client is clear about what is happening, when, what output to expect and what input is expected from them e.g. sign offs and stimulus. Keep clients up to date with regular progress reports, formal / informal, depending on the nature of project, working relationship and what was agreed in the proposal.

Question 45

Managing your time

Answer 45

May be dealing with four or five projects, all at different stages of the research process. May have been briefed on one job and started to work on a proposal whilst monitoring fieldwork and developing analysis plans for another. Important to prioritise work and manage time effectively so that you have enough time to do each job well (and meet internal and external deadlines), one way of doing this is to plan out projects on a work plan chart with key dates highlighted and preparation time built in. alternatively, list tasks in order of priority to complete in day / week and tackle them accordingly.

Question 46

Recording and monitoring time

Answer 46

Recording and monitoring time and costs associated with the project, filling in and analysing time reports is important. If you are involved in costing projects you can use information in the time report system to see how long various aspects of similar projects took. Information in time report system is also helpful for workload planning - those managing work can assess how busy people are and use information to assign projects, decide on staffing levels and determine if there is a need to develop new business.information i also useful for reviewing individual projects, assess how time spent on project compares with original costing or fee charged to client.

If project took longer than original costing suggested it is important to know why so that any pitfalls may either be avoided on future jobs or built into the costing - may go over due to:

Poor communication or briefing leading to tasks taking longer than expected or having to be redone
Client asking for more than was anticipated e.g. extra meetings or reports
Change in nature of project after original costing that was not addressed at the time
Sample harder to achieve than anticipated
Need for extra analysis to understand research problem

Though clients are not charged for proposals, time spent, even those that are unsuccessful, should be recorded so that you can work out time and cost involved in generating new business and incorporate this into the costing structure.