Research
Report
Introduction
What
is research?
Google’s definition of ‘Research’ is: “the systematic
investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish
facts and reach new conclusions.”
My own views on research: Research is a key part to anything
that you want to become successful. Without research it’s like you're walking
in pitch-black but with research you’re walking with a light at your feet - you
can see/make out the direction you’re going to be heading and not going in any
direction. Think of it as a path, if you can make out where you are walking,
you will arrive at your destination. If you walk without knowing where you are,
you’re going to be heading into the wrong direction.
Research is basically finding out information in various
different ways that will help you with your production/product/whatever you are
creating. As Google says; "it’s there to to establish facts and to reach
new conclusions." This can be based on almost anything, hardware for
computers, cameras. New phone technology, who likes bigger or smaller phones
etc…
Types of Research:
There are various types of research that are used to
establish different results. These are:
Secondary
Research:
Secondary
research is basically collecting data from the original source or
distribution
of primary research. In other words, Gathering information that has already
been gathered. Secondary research is great because you can use it to support
primary research. You can use it to compare your own findings and come up with
all sorts of results.
Primary
Research:
Primary research is new research, carried out to answer
specific issues or questions. It can involve questionnaires, surveys or
interviews with individuals or small groups. What is carried out yourself.
It is personal to you, and you can adapt anything to suit you. You have
complete control over how or what you find out from people. Things like the
style of question you are asking somebody.
Audience
Research:
Research
into habits and make-up of the audience from a specific tv or radio show/
programme/network.
Audience
research basically gives a company an idea of what product they should
produce/how the should produce it for the broadest audience. It is great to do,
as with any research, because they can then design a product that should sell
quite successfully, this is because they are designing the product to what
customers will want and, therefore, purchase or view, which ultimately gets the
company money.
Market
Research:
How other products are competing/ How can the company create
something in competition to other similar products, e.g smart phones.
Market research, it’s researching into the latest technology
that’s out. A typical example would be a company looking at other companies
idea and then twisting it and put their brand on it, just like Apple and
Samsung - there are constantly copying each other with ideas. But it can be
successful and it does get companies sales.
Production
Research:
Researching
into the factors, competition etc.. to satisfy the recognised needs/want of a
service
/product.
Helps you make your production as best as possible. Also ensuring that the
production process will go smoothly and safely.
Similar
to audience research, production research is finding out what customers would
best want when it comes down to a service or product. Such as a tv, console,
phone and so on.
This
is great because the company will then go away and review what customers wants.
They can then create a product or design a service to that exact specification
and then the customer will be happy. It is best to do it to the broadest option
however. Because this will get the company the most amount of money.
Uses
of research:
Just
imagine trying to create a product with no idea of who would like that product
or what about that product would be their best selling point. They would make a
product that isn’t successful and that not many people will purchase. But if
they research into what people actually want they can cater best for the
largest scale. Research is a vital part of any production process. It puts the
lens in focus, as it were. Different types of research is required to gather
different types of information. It will also give you the broadest result when
various different research is gathered.
Conclusion:
Research
is just so important to people who want to create media. As I said at the
beginning “Without research it’s
like you're walking in pitch-black but with research you’re walking with a
light at your feet - you can see/make out the direction you’re going to be
heading and not going in any direction.” This is exactly the reason why it is
so important, so they can see where they are heading, so they can plan and aim
for the goal that they have set. With a goal they are much more likely to
achieve it with ease instead of a bumpy ride where they are on and off of the
tracks.
