As top experts in the field of social sciences and excellent experts in research methodologies we can offer you the widest range of collection methods of data on social and political occurrences and processes. But we most frequently employ the following:
Secondary data analysis methods It enables the analysis of previously collected data with the purpose of solving a new problem. We use the following common methods: - content analysis - desk research - statistical modelling and analysis
Qualitative methods They enable research of basic determinants of citizen behaviour. They can serve for obtaining as detailed information as possible on reasons that are at the core of certain types of behaviour and they help in further research of problems or explanations of social and political occurrences. Typical qualitative methods used in our research are:
- in-depth interviews - focus groups - qualitative observation
Quantitative methods They are used for the collection of numerical data, i.e., the quantification of certain occurrences (e.g. the percentage of voters for a certain political party). Typical quantitative methods used in social research are: - face-to-face interviews in people’s homes - face-to-face interviews in the street - telephone interviews – paper-pen or computer Assessed Telephone Interviewing (CATI) - mail and e-mal surveys - online surveys - quantitative observation - longitudinal – panel research - experimental methods (such as testing of attitude changes influenced by advertising) - meta-analysis – integration of a number of similar research
How do we reply to your questions? In order to guarantee comprehensive and accurate answers to your questions, we offer the whole range of services in researching social and political occurrences. You do not need to worry about the method, sample or procedure, as each request or question that you have will be addressed at the highest professional and scientific level. Let our experts choose the best way to approach your problem. We guarantee the best possible ratio of invested funds and obtained information. Depending on specific problems and needs of our clients, we conduct different kinds of research. We are briefly presenting some of the most frequently used ones: | Type of research | Question it answers to | Possible research methods | Answer it provides | | Ratings of political parties and politicians | How much do voters support certain political parties and politician? | Face-to-face survey on a probabilistic sample | The percentage of voters’ support for certain political parties at the time of the survey | | Test of political coalitions | How much would voters support a certain political party if it formed a coalition with another party? | Face-to- face survey on a probabilistic sample | The percentage of voters’ support for certain hypothetical coalitions at the time of the survey | | Test of political messages | How do potential voters perceive and react to certain political messages? | Focus groups | In-depth analysis and testing of the acceptability of certain political messages among the voters | | Test of public and promotion campaigns | How effective are promotion campaigns in wining over voters? | Repeated face-to-face survey on a probabilistic sample in a quasi-experimental pattern | What is the efficiency of a promotion campaign, i.e., what is the growth in voters’ support attributed to a certain campaign? | | Analysis of constituency – preparation of an election strategy and tactics | What are basic problems of certain categories of citizens who expect appropriate political solutions? | Focus groups | Determining which social and political issues are the most important and represent priorities for certain categories of citizens, offering the basis of a future election strategy. | | Pre-test of political decisions | How does the public react to a certain political decision? | Combination of focus groups and a limited survey on a probabilistic sample | Prediction of reactions to a political decision and reasons that are at the core of accepting or refusing such move. | | Topical public opinion poll | What does the public think about certain socially relevant issues? | Face-to-face survey on a probabilistic sample | The public opinion on certain issues expressed in the percentage of support. | | Research on readers/audience | What is the audience structure of certain media? | Face-to-face survey on a probabilistic sample of different media audience | Socio-demographic features and opinions of different media audience | | Social assessment | What will be the impact of certain government measures on the whole society or on certain social groups? | Combination of focus groups and surveys | Forecasted impact of a political measure on the whole society or some separate social group | | Corporate image research | What is the public image of a company? | Face-to-face survey on a probabilistic sample | The public opinion on a certain company or companies and the way to improve this image | How do we work? Every question is specific and it requires special attention, but some questions can be answered faster and easier than the others. If you want a thorough and detailed picture of the public opinion along with monitoring of changes caused by a certain action, we can provide you with a research plan for monitoring of your public image and possibilities for an improvement. Also, if you would like to get a short answer to an isolated question, such as “How many citizens is going to vote FOR at a certain referendum?” or “How many citizens are in favour of a minister dismissal?” you can come to us and in a short time we will offer answers to the issues that are troubling you.
How to turn to us? There are two basic impulses for a public opinion poll: continuous monitoring of a situation in the public (regular research) and testing of reactions to current or recent occurrences. But, regardless of a problem that was perhaps observed, it is sometimes not clear enough how to approach it. No matter how clearly you might have defined your questions and needs for research, you can talk to our project leaders who will help you clearly define problems and come to specific and realistic questions that will give you clear and unambiguous answers. In cooperation with you, they will choose the most suitable method of dealing with those questions, i.e., define who should be questioned, what kind of questions should be asked and in which way.
How to ask a question? Depending on needs, requests for conducting research, i.e., requests for offers, can range from very specific (in cases when clients already know what they want and in which way they want it to be researched, e.g. “We would like to do research on problems of self-supporting mothers in order to create better protection programmes, and we want the research to be conducted by employing the method of focus groups with self-supporting mothers) to very general (“We would like people to know more about our NGO”).
How are we going to answer your questions? Our experts respond in the shortest possible time to your requests by making a research offer adapted to your specific problem. Depending on complexity and specific character of certain requests and possible limitations, our offer sometimes consists of several proposals with the description of their advantages and limitations and a recommendation for the best choice, so that our clients can choose the most suitable offer. We can also organise a meeting in order to define a problem in the best possible way and find the most appropriate way of its research.
PLANNING OF RESEARCH When the client accepts an offered solution it is additionally improved by clear definition of specific problems, and after that we choose a research method and target population for the purpose of conducting research (e.g. student population, if the subject matter is the maintenance of dormitories). A research method depends on specific questions to which we are seeking answers. Depending on the type of a problem we encounter, analyses can be conducted on available data (e.g. data form a bureau of statistics, demographic data and so on), which is called the analysis of secondary data, or data can be gathered by interviewing respondents. If we want to get a detailed insight into the perceived advantages and disadvantages of a certain decision, measure or similar, we will choose one of the qualitative methods, and if we want to find out something about the numerousness of people who have a certain opinion or problem, we will use quantitative methods.
Devising of research After accurate planning of the method that will be used for obtaining answers to specific research questions and finding the right target population, research questions are turned into operative questions that are used on respondents. We pay special attention to making questions that are clear, unambiguous and comprehensive for respondents as well as relevant for the problem that we are dealing with. A questionnaire is always checked with the Client prior to its application. The Client gives the final approval of a questionnaire before the beginning of research.
Conduction of research The conduction of research, regardless of the project is done in accordance with the highest research standards by using cutting-edge equipment. Reporting and consulting Reporting of results and findings of the conducted research is done at three levels, depending on the client’s needs and requests. A tabular report on obtained results is at the first level of reporting. Such report is sufficient in case answers to simple questions are required (e.g. how many people approve a certain political move), but it is also used in more complex quantitative research as the basis of more complex analyses, reporting and making conclusions. A so called analytical report is at the second level. It offers deeper analyses of a researched problem and it looks for links among researched phenomena in order to make good quality conclusions on opinions in the public and to set a framework for further predictions (e.g. which social segments and for what reasons approve certain political moves). Consultancy reports are at the highest level, i.e. certain parts of reports that give guidelines for further actions based on obtained results. All research conclusions, depending on clients’ wishes, can be presented orally in order to offer explanations of all potential problems with comprehension.
AND FINALLY, WHY CHOOSE TARGET? We gather top experts in the field of social sciences in Target. We are in the constant search for new methods and innovative solutions, but never without scientific and professional basis. Instead of a typified and inflexible approach to research by using ready-made solutions, we devise research for each of our clients based on experience and a detailed interview with the client or we adjust ready-made solutions to our clients’ specific needs. Our solutions are flexible and oriented towards providing coherent answers. We monitor the quality of project execution at all levels. We ensure the highest level of protection of both clients and the rights of our respondents. We ensure the highest level of data confidentiality. If necessary, we recruit experts in different fields (demographers, economists, political scientists, lawyers, etc.) in order to ensure the highest level of quality in research conduction and understanding of obtained results.
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