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Social research as a business

Social research as a business. Carole Lehman Head of Transport Research, MORI. 3 November 2005. Why research?. WHY Provides evidence for VFM studies, policy Information on what people think/ indication on performance Customer satisfaction Evaluation of new schemes WHEN

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Social research as a business

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  1. Social research as a business Carole LehmanHead of Transport Research, MORI 3 November 2005

  2. Why research? WHY • Provides evidence for VFM studies, policy • Information on what people think/ indication on performance • Customer satisfaction • Evaluation of new schemes WHEN • Before formulating policy - helps with development stage • Evaluating new scheme/policy

  3. Ladder of involvement Supporting Acting together Decidingtogether Consulting Informing Ladder of involvement Web link www.partnerships.org.uk The original Arnstein model

  4. Ladder of involvement – problems • Problems • not a straight progression • not a choice between one or the other • over-simplifies complex systems/relations • BUT does help highlight that there’s not just one approach • need range

  5. But it is not all good news Why consult?

  6. …because people want to be consulted % Oppose % Support Opinion surveys Local referendum Residents groups Neighbourhood Forums Ward Advisor Board Elections for Mayor Council meeting Ward committee Base: All respondents (1545)

  7. …because people want to be consulted Q Which are the most important for local District Councillors to do? Keep you informed Support the local community Deal with complaints Listen to the views of local people Attend local Council meetings Represent local Council meetings Attend open meetings with local residents Hold surgeries for people with problems Don’t know Base: 1016 Dover residents

  8. New Deal for Communities • Examples from NDC Evaluation – largest effort to involve community in regeneration programme • Focus groups and surveys in every NDC • People want range of methods – surveys, focus groups, workshops, juries, video projects etc • But mostly people want someone to come to them: “It would be good to go round to each individual home and ask people what improvements they would like to make” “If only they didn’t bombard us with so much paper and actually sent people out to talk to us”

  9. Benefits of consultation • Identifies/confirms priorities – and legitimises action The more you speak to people like us the more you hear about our say, then the more that can be done to improve where we live • Way of informing people – building brand? We found out more from coming to this (workshop) – there should be more of these discussions • Encouraging ownership – start of more participation? When you own a decision, you’re part of it and sort of become more pro-active on what is happening • Raises expectations – for other aspects of life?

  10. But need to see action… • Consultation fatigue a real problem “They need to stop talking about things and actually do them. People are sick of seeing these leaflets and being invited here, there and everywhere, they want to see some action” “They’ve given us so much crap over the years promising this, that and the other and delivering us nothing, so everybody’s now convinced that these people just want to do everything that suits themselves”

  11. Have Clear Objectives • What do you need to do? • What are you using it for? • (be seen to) give people a chance to have an input? • get an accurate measure of local views? • to see how area is changing/what impact you are having? • find out what people think when they have relevant info? • boost understanding? • boost involvement? • Each is valid - but can’t do all at once?

  12. Planning (1) • Methodology • Sample size/sampling • Audience Planning (2) • Questionnaire design • Piloting questionnaire Objectives What? Why?How? Analysis • Weighting • Type/level of analysis Reporting • Communicating results • Presenting data Fieldwork • Data collection • data processing The Research Process

  13. Planning the research process • Is this research needed - why? • What do I want to achieve? What are the objectives of the study? • Do I need reliable, measurable results or am I gathering reactions/ need input into an issue? • What methodology would be best? • What is the time frame for the project? What is the budget? • Can this research be done in-house or will I need expert help?

  14. Controlling dissemination? • MORI survey says… “reported offending levels among mainstream and excluded pupils have not changed significantly since 1999” • The Sun says…

  15. Controlling dissemination? • Our survey says… “the number of school pupils who are not punished after being caught for an offence has fallen since 2001” • The Daily Mail says…

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