Methodologies

SMSR offers a broad portfolio of research and consultation methodologies with expertise in design and implementation of both quantitative and qualitative processes.

Survey processes

Postal, telephone, web-based and face-to-face survey work can be provided and decisions on methodology may be influenced by budgetary and/or quality considerations. Telephone work is undertaken from our own in-house CATI call centre and face to face work carried out by a team of researchers led by an SMSR field supervisor.

New developments

SMSR has developed its methodology portfolio to reflect the opportunities offered by new technologies and uses a range of ‘non standard’ consultation methods including Web surveys, blogs, picture sharing, logs, wall-postings, email, instant messaging, music-sharing, group creation/communities of interest and voice over IP.

Qualitative approaches

SMSR has an experienced team of focus group facilitators and qualitative researchers and interviewers. Qualitative work is often carried out to inform the development and design of research and consultation processes or to reflect on specific statistical findings of large surveys.  Reflector groups are held with residents usually after a quantitative survey to help to understand the reasons behind the key outcomes of the survey.

Analysis

Using a range of sophisticated scanning equipment, CATI and analysis software, SMSR can offer client organisations a choice of processes for managing and presenting statistical information and for producing and packaging final reports.