The Nature and Purposes of Research Report

Summer Work TV and Film

 

Primary Research/Self-generated Research

 

1.     Primary Research is research that the researcher has gathered themselves and is taken first-hand. This means that the data is more likely to be more accurate as there are less sources it goes through for it to get changed and misinterpreted.

2.     A quote to support this definition: ‘Primary research is information that is collected by the researcher. The data collected in primary research is being collected for the first time and is specific to the researcher’s objective or purpose. Advantages of primary research.’ (1)

3.     I have had to collect Primary Research as a part of my 3-minute documentary in the first year of this course where I questioned people I knew about what video games meant to them. (Example of work: https://eastnorfolk-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/59655_eastnorfolk_ac_uk/EYDPx7ud1dJIrmSvj9iW_iUBrXMiBqPe08EHKJoOZ3zpzg?e=OIbgLM). For this task, I needed to interview a group of people about what video games meant to them so I could use their interviews for my film project. I collected the information by video recording them, or by recording a voice call of their answers. This was extremely useful as I used these interview recordings to make up my documentary, and they were helpful in exploring the questions and topics I was trying to develop.

4.     A specific example of primary research from the professional industry is news reporters going to the story they are going to show and present as they are collecting the story themselves and presenting it to people, therefore making it primary research.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secondary Research

1.     Secondary Research is research that is being reported and written about on data that already exists, reciting the data in the form of re-telling of the researcher’s choosing.

2.     Here is a quote to support that definition ‘Secondary research. Secondary research is research that has already been collected. In other words, it already exists. Secondary data sources include: documents; letters; diaries’ (2)

3.     An example of secondary research I have conducted is when I wrote about the feedback on my Re-branding TV advert from earlier this year, as I was reciting my interpretation of the data I had collected. (Link to the work TV advert Pot Noodle Final Assessment. (gemmatvandfilm.blogspot.com)) I collected this information by sending out a questionnaire about my Pot Noodle advert that I had made as a part of this course last year. This questionnaire was to see how successful the advertisement was and how well it portrayed the new rebranding. This helped greatly as I could see how audience members found the advert, and how if I were to make it again, it could be improved.

4.     An example of Secondary Research in the industry is from the professional industry was for the Operation Mincemeat, a film about a real spy operation in WW2. They would have had to research this thoroughly to make sure they got all their facts correct, they even added the author of the James Bond books Ian Fleming as a side character as before he was an author we worked for the military and was involved in this mission. However, because the people making the film were not involved in the event nor did they collect the data for it, it classes as secondary research as they must collect it from firsthand reports and information stored about it from the time. They done lots of research on how people dressed, what happened in the mission and the order of events that happened.

Pros and Cons of Secondary and Primary Research

Primary research is more accurate and clear depiction of what you are recording as it is a firsthand observation and the data collected from that will reflect as accurately as possible on what they are recording, while secondary research can get less clear on accurate information as its more likely to be more biased, however this could be helpful if you are wanting to see that view of the recording or what they were observing. I think primary is more useful than secondary research most of the time, but sometimes it’s just not plausible to collect all your own data about everything so secondary research is great as a replacement to save you some time and effort that can be placed elsewhere on the topic.

However, secondary research can also be helpful as it allows you to see feedback and hear from a multitude of different sources. It stops you from just viewing an event or product from your own perspective, and allows you to understand and learn about other points of view, which can be very helpful and allows you to learn from your previous products, or other people’s, to make an even better one in the future.

Quantitative Research

1.     Quantitative Research is a type of research specialized in collecting numbers and graphs for research, and ignores word-based answers, only looking at numerical results and performances. This can involve displaying quantitative research in graphs, percentages or ratios.

2.     A quote to back up this definition ‘Quantitative research is the process of collecting and analyzing numerical data. It can be used to find patterns and averages, make predictions, test causal relationships, and generalize results to wider populations.’ (3)

3.     A specific example of Quantitative research from the professional industry would be viewership numbers and star ratings, as they are purely based on numerical statistics and can be easily graphed.

 

 

Qualitative Research

1.     Qualitative Research is a type of research that specializes in collecting and analyzing more subjective and word-based responses or opinions. As the name might suggest, it is focused on collecting research on the quality of a product, which is described through words rather than numbers.

2.     Here is a quote to back this definition up: ‘Qualitative research involves collecting and analysing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can be used to gather in-depth insights into a problem or generate new ideas for research.’ (4)

3.     A specific example of qualitative research from the professional industry would be websites like Rotten Tomatoes, where it is a collection of reviews and opinions on films and tv shows. Any review documents or essays written which uses review sites like Rotten Tomatoes as a reference of a source is using Qualitative Research.

4.     Quantitative research is when you research and collect data with numbers rather than opinions. This can hold an advantage over qualitative research as it is more focused on numbers which helps limit opinions and only leave the facts of what it is researching. However, qualitive research can have an advantage over quantitative research as you can understand more about people’s opinions on the piece and their takes on the subject to help inform your own, so you aren’t making your opinions in a vacuum. I think both have their place, and I would be hesitant to call one more useful than the other, but for pure fact and an unbiased opinion quantitative research is more useful.

Data Gathering Agencies

1.     BARB is an agency that sets television standards for advertisement and media. They monitor TV usage and measure the quality of advertisements and TV. BARB information may provide useful for companies looking to develop advertisements, for example company chains like Unilever might find this information useful, as to know what rules they should have their advertisement abide by to not be removed from television, and when to play the advertisement so the most of their target audience will see (for example there is little point showcasing an advert directed towards children after the 9pm watershed, as it is unlikely they will be watching). This extra information means they can better allocate their resources and money to help their advert be seen by their target demographic.

2.     A Media Agency is an agency specialized in teaching other companies about advertising campaigns, like where to put them, when, how to target them to your target audience, how to plan it accordingly, etc. This is to ensure that the company’s product is stretching to as much of their target audience as possible by consulting media experts, they will have new and up to date information on social media outlets, newspapers, radio and tv advertisements, as well as statistics on all of their information.

3.     Metrix Lab is a Media Research Agency which is an agency that gets paid by other companies to do consumer insights into their product and they research the current market.

 

Purpose of Research

1.     An audience or market research would be a specific demographic of people like teenagers, or unemployed, or retired, or over 50s; which would be separated into different demographics and audiences as to target products and media to them more accurately and get better viewings.

2.     A quote to back that definition up ‘Market research is the process of evaluating the viability of a new service or product through research conducted directly with potential customers. Market research allows a company to define its target market and get opinions and other feedback from consumers about their interest in a product or service.’ (5)

3.     I have had to do audience / market research for my rebranding of the Pot Noodle advert. I had to research my new target audience being young families, specifically parents, looking to give their kids a quick easy meal. I had to research similar packaging and change it accordingly and film the advert to attract that audience. (Example of the work: tv andfilm potnoodle.pptx (sharepoint.com)

4.     A specific example of audience / market research would be when companies carry out surveys of different demographics too see what they watch, when they watch it, etc. and then use this data to target their product.

Production Research

1.     Production Research is when you research about production or creating media like costs or technology needed.

2.     A quote to back this definition up. ‘The purpose of production research is to gather information on the content of production related issues. The methods of production research could be primary research; this means researching via books and setting up focus groups to gather people’s opinions.’ (6)

3.     An example of when I have done production research is when I filled in the Preproduction Handbook last year in this course as it was about production in the industry and issues which might arise if you are doing a more indie or a more professional project.

4.     An example of production research in the industry is when crew or organizers of a project must research equipment, routines, and issues in creating the project before proceeding to make sure they can get everything they need and start.

Audience Research

1.     Audience Research is research specialized in knowing the statistics and data around different demographics and target audiences.

2.     A quote to back up this definition up. ‘You are researching your audience or target audience to determine their pain points, preferred keywords, buying behaviors, and more. Audience research can inform your branding, markets, price point, customer service needs, as well as your organic and paid marketing strategy.’ (7)

3.     An example of Audience research I have produced is when I produced a survey to collect feedback for a Pot Noodle Advertisement I created. This feedback was to better understand what the audience wanted from the advert so it could be changed to better appeal to that target audience. TV advert Pot Noodle Final Assessment. (gemmatvandfilm.blogspot.com)

4.     An example of Audience Research within the industry is when producers and directors research feedback and critiques given to other shows which have the same target audience, preferably by audience members within that demographic, or creating a survey for members of the target audience to fill in about your product to see if it fits within their interests.

Market Research

1.     Market research is very similar to Audience research, however instead of researching your target audience, you are researching and collecting data on the market your product will be within, and other products within that market and how they were received by your target audience and general audience members.

2.     A quote to back up this definition. ‘Market research is a systematic process of collecting, analyzing and interpreting information. The information could be about a target market, consumers, competitors, and the industry as a whole.’ (8)

3.     An example of how Market Research can be used within the industry is looking at other products and graphs and data on how well they are performing and with what audience members, as to fully understand how their advertising campaigns draw in different audience members.

Bibliography

 

1.     BBC Bitesize. (n.d.). Primary research - Planning and organisation - WBQ National: Foundation KS4 Revision. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z9rn3k7/revision/7#:~:text=Primary%20research%20is%20information%20that%20is%20collected%20by.

2.     George, T. (2023). What is Secondary Research? | Definition, Types, & Examples. [online] Scribbr. Available at: https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/secondary-research/.

3.     Bhandari, P. (2020). What Is Quantitative Research? | Definition, Uses & Methods. [online] Scribbr. Available at: https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/quantitative-research/#:~:text=Revised%20on%20November%2024%2C%202022.%20Quantitative%20research%20is.

4.     Bhandari, P. (2020). What is qualitative research? Methods & Examples. [online] Scribbr. Available at: https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/qualitative-research/.

5.     Twin, A. (2022). Market Research: a Direct Report from the Customer on New Products or Services. [online] Investopedia. Available at: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/market-research.asp.

6.     Grainsa and RhinoReloaded (n.d.). Production Research. [online] Production Research. Available at: https://www.grainsa.co.za/pages/grain-research/production-research#:~:text=The%20purpose%20of%20production%20research%20is%20to%20gather [Accessed 16 Jun. 2023].

7.     Garnett, C. (n.d.). What Is Audience Research? (+How to Conduct It). [online] learn.g2.com. Available at: https://learn.g2.com/audience-research#:~:text=Audience%20research%20is%20exactly%20what%20it%20sounds%20like%3A.

8.     Markus, J. (2016). Market Research. [online] Oberlo. Available at: https://www.oberlo.com/ecommerce-wiki/market-research.

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