Check out the infographic below to see how others learned another language.

Presenting data in an infographic format is like speaking another language. People who didn't understand you before, now can. All of a sudden, they can so clearly see the data points you had been trying to communicate. And just like learning a new language, converting data into infographics  can be daunting - yet the benefits are endless. Mainly, they open up new perspectives. At TRC we can help you overcome this hurdle. We produce infographics as part of our project deliverables.

Some months ago, Lily Allen mistakenly received an email containing harsh test group feedback regarding her new album. Select audience members believed the singer to be retired and threw in some comments that I won’t quote. If you are curious, the link to her Popjustice interview will let you see them in a more raw form. Allen returned the favor with some criticism on market research itself:

“The thing is, people who take part in market research: are they really representative of the marketplace? Probably not.” –Lily Allen

The singer brings up a valid concern. One of the many questions I pondered five months ago when I first took my current researcher-in-training position with TRC. Researchers are responsible for engaging a representative sample and delivering insights. How do we uphold those standards to ensure quality? Now that I have put in some time and have a few projects under my belt, I have assembled a starter list to address those concerns:

Communicate: All Hands on Deck

In order to complete any research project, there needs to be a clear objective. What are we measuring? Are we using one of our streamlined products, such a Message Test Express™, or will there be a conjoint involved? This may seem obvious, but it is also critical. A team of people is behind each project at TRC; including account executives, research managers, project directors, and various data experts. More importantly, the client should also be on the same page and kept in the loop. Was the artist the main client for the research done? My best guess is no, the feedback given was not meant to be a tool to rework the album.

Purpose

Was the research done on Lily Allen’s album even meant to be representative? Qualitative interviews can produce deep insights among a small, non-representative, group of people. This can be done as a starting point or a follow-up to a project, or even stand alone, depending on the project objectives.