Guidelines for Success for informal researcher

 

 Guidelines for Success

Implementing an informal research program is challenging —  you must be careful the information you use for decision making is based on "good" research.  We often tell our clients that no research  is better than flawed research. 

Some general guidelines for making informal research a success include:

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start small then build on past efforts — setting excessively ambitious goals or expectations is usually a recipe for failure;

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have a single point of contact — designate one  person as the informal research "manager."  This person should be fully aware of every research effort, and have the authority to drop or change any suggested program that may interfere with other efforts, is judged too vague, or does not support  strategic goals;

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monitor and adapt — it's usually impossible to know which informal research methods will produce good results.  Monitor techniques to see which best fit your specific goals and membership.  Drop techniques that fail, maximize those that succeed;

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consider using outside resources — outside professionals can objectively evaluate research objectives, assist with research methodologies that require extensive experience, and provide alternatives you may not have considered.

Perhaps the most important rule is to use the information collected.  Don't keep it on a shelf — circulate results to all staff.  And be sure to let the most important group — your members — know what you're learning from your research and what actions you plan to implement. 

Informal research

Using Informal Research

When people think of market research, they often envision a single effort geared toward a single goal.  While these "formal" research efforts are invaluable, equally important are smaller "informal" efforts that continually collect market information. 

Informal in Name Only
Informal research essentially means taking advantage of every valid opportunity to collect information and market intelligence.  These types of research usually trade statistical and sampling precision for cost effective methods.  As such, they can't be relied upon for major decisions, but are quite effective as a "first warning" mechanism to alert you of member and industry trends, issues, and impressions.  Data collected informally is also an excellent starting point for more comprehensive efforts, or to quickly test an idea prior to a more rigorous study.

The term "informal" is not synonymous with "un-planned."  You must carefully plan and execute informal efforts to produce valuable results.  Every effort should begin with clear definitions of research purpose, results, methods, and synergies.  

Many Tools to Choose From
The tools for informal research are basically the same as for formal programs, albeit modified to fit a longer time frame and smaller budget.  Examples include:

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short focus groups at major conferences/expositions;

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short fax back questionnaires in publications;

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regular short fax polls/hot issue surveys;

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adding questions to membership communication (especially renewal forms);

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collecting data from staff who are in direct contact with members;

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tracking sales to spot trends;

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on line forums;

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customer satisfaction surveys following delivery of all major projects and services

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Benefits of using conceptual frameworks in the research process

1.Conceptual frameworks help researchers by: 

   • modelling relationships between theories;
   • reducing theoretical data into statements or models;
   • explicating theories that influence the research;
   • providing theoretical bases to design, or interpret, research;
   • creating theoretical links between extant research, current theories, research design, interpretations of findings and conceptual conclusions.

     Thus, conceptual frameworks introduce explicitness with research processes.

2.The critical tests of conceptual frameworks are for them to demonstrate: 

  • unity within appropriate theories;
  • direction to research design and accompanying fieldwork;
  • coherence between empirical observations and conceptual conclusions.
  Thus, conceptual frameworks offer a self-audit facility to ensure cohesion and  appropriate conceptualisation for research conclusions.

Conceptualisation of research processes

All candidates held masters degrees, and most had professional qualifications so workshops focused specifically upon conceptualisation of research processes rather than research methods. In a survey , the majority of candidates could identify concepts and relate them to their intended research design and research process. However, despite clarifying research questions and ‘reading around-their-subject’, one-third of candidates still had problems in visualising concepts within a framework

Writers on research methodologies view conceptual frameworks as:
● Emerging from researchers’ appreciation of reading, personal experience and reflection upon
   theoretical positions towards the phenomena to be investigated;
● Presenting the researchers’ paradigm through a combination of identified conceptual
   variables;
● Serving different purposes within deductive, inductive and staged approaches in the design
   and interpretation phases of research;
● Providing a shared language for researchers to clarify, design, undertake and conclude their
   research thereby enabling their readers to ‘appreciate’ that research;
● Being the catalyst that raises the level of researchers’ thinking from the simple and descriptive,
   via analysis to conceptualizing the research itself.

These issues enabled to appreciate how doctoral candidates struggled to comprehend the
nature of the conceptual framework

Conceptual Research of NASA

conceptual thinking for research

The notion of the conceptual framework is presented differently by different authors.
However, most authors use the term to describe a specific function and set of relationships
within the research process. This approach locates the conceptual framework as fulfilling an
integrating function between theories that offer explanations of the issues under investigation.
Conceptual frameworks also provide a scaffold within which strategies for the research design
can be determined, and fieldwork can be undertaken. Finally, this approach offers the potential
for conceptual frameworks to shape how research conclusions are presented by emphasising
the conceptualisation of those conclusions within their respective theoretical context. This
view of the conceptual framework locates it as giving coherence to the research act through
providing traceable connections between theoretical perspectives, research strategy and
design, fieldwork and the conceptual significance of the evidence. Thus, the conceptual
framework is a bridge between paradigms which explain the research issue and the practice of
investigating that issue.

Different Countries, Different Cultures, Different Issues

Currently, much of the research and many of the books written about TCKs appear to have an American emphasis.That may be due to America’s large migratory, multinational population. Nevertheless, there should be and indeed there is a growing interest and need for data from other countries. Of particular interest are nations where the re-entry issues are radically different. For instance, children from Korea and Japan often face persecution from peers for being different.
Some groups are trying to reduce this information disparity by focusing on the regional and national differences of these children. One such organization is Interaction International, an advocacy group for TCKs and internationally mobile families. This organization is doing important work by helping cultural groups tailor their efforts to the needs of non-Anglo children.
In February 2005 Interaction International’s Director of Services, Libby Stephens, went to Madrid to train staff members from various missionary organizations on understanding the TCK profile and issues of transition. These groups plan to host a camp this summer for Latino missionary kids (MKs), and use their training to work with these kids. This initial step is vital to increasing awareness and understanding of issues specific to TCKs from that region. It is hoped that their efforts will increase the interest and effectiveness of others working with internationally mobile families from Latin America.
Because it is such a large and important community the desire for more information about TCKs outside the US is growing and raises the question: What research -- be it from Peru, Bangladesh or Nigeria -- already exists? In an era where technology is connecting people across the globe, how do we connect the Anglo and non-English speaking communities so data can be shared more easily? Is there is a need to translate study highlights and paper abstracts into English or other languages making the results accessible to a larger population?