How to gather data: conducting research

Collection of data

 

Once the research project has found its focus and is well planned, the next stage is collecting the data.

 

This could involve collecting data from beneficiaries, or a range of other methods from surveys in shopping centres, or by phone, email, or postal marketing.

 

Typical techniques involved in collecting data include interviewing subjects, observations without asking questions, questionnaires, focus groups, and analysing records and documents.

 

 

Interpreting data and developing conclusions

 

Once gathered, data needs to be organised so that it can be effectively analysed. A useful tip is to create a rough draft of this analysis including the findings and possible recommendations and conclusions.

 

This can be polished before presentation and allows the charity to revisit the findings and modify their recommendations.

 

 

Publishing the findings

 

The final stage is reporting the findings of the research. This could be within the charity to trustees and senior directors, or it could be presenting them publicly so that stakeholders, supporters and policy makers can view the results and conclusions.

 

There are a range of engaging ways of presenting data. This could be through a paper or online report. It could also involve presenting the findings through a blog post, article, or engaging graphics via social media.

 

Audio and video presentations can be an eye-catching way of presenting research findings, with the charity’s chief executive or senior executive explaining the data online. Spreadsheets can be another way to highlight data as can a PowerPoint presentation.

 

 

Case Study: A Fair Start report

 

A good example of charities effectively working together to develop, carry out and present engaging, original research is 2021 analysis of early years education by the Sutton Trust and Sylvia Adams Charitable Trust.

 

Their A Fair Start project identified a gap in the research around early years, in presenting robust economic and social evidence around childcare policy. This focused on the government’s policy of entitling young children, but only of working parents, to extra hours of free childcare and early years education.

 

The charities gathered a raft of data, including economic statistics, financial estimates, as well as a survey of primary school leaders around the “school readiness” of pupils arriving in reception year. This gathering of data also involved the Institute of Fiscal Studies for the financial aspect.

 

Firm conclusions and recommendations were made, including urging the government to offer the childcare entitlement to all families, rather than based on earnings. This was also fully costed through the data.

 

Their clear recommendations then achieved significant publicity, from publications such as the Daily Mail, the Guardian as well as local media. This publicity was also achieved through support from other charities and early years leaders including the Early Years Alliance. Results were also presented through engaging graphics on social media.