UK Researchers: High Hopes in a Changing World

UK-based researchers in RSM's 6-monthly survey are increasingly optimistic about research spend and about the economy in general; and are increasingly likely to have worked with at least one emerging technique, in an industry seen as changing rapidly.

RSM stresses that its survey - conducted every six months in recent times - is not a representative sample of the industry but a 'snapshot of the wide range of research professionals we have had contact with... over the last twenty years.' Wave 15, in November 2013, was completed by 246 UK-based researchers and 106 from outside the UK.

Expectations of the financial prospects of the economy, the respondent's own place of work and the research sector have all increased further this wave and are all at their highest since they were first measured in December 2010. Respondents are generally somewhat optimistic in their spending growth forecasts for the year ahead, but this wave's forecast growth of 8.5% is also the highest to date, having grown every wave since 2011 and reached 5.8% by wave 14. Looking back on the last twelve months, headline growth reported is 2.7%, down from 6.5% in the last wave (May 2013) but still higher than the figures for Waves 12 and 13.

The survey also looked at adoption of 'emerging' methods and techniques, and found that the proportion of respondents who had used at least one of 18 methods/techniques put to them was up from 75% a year ago to 84% now. MROCs (online communities) and mobile surveys (including tablets) have the highest usage and are growing fastest. However the findings support the idea that new methods are 'tools in the toolbox' rather than a wave sweeping away existing practice: only a small minority agreed with the suggestion that data from new sources such as social media was 'often more valuable' than that from traditional MR, while almost all (97%) believe that 'There is still a need for research to put specific questions to targeted audiences at times'.

A lot more data, including views of the future of the industry and the distinct nature of B2B research, and responses from respondents based outside the UK, can be found at www.rsmresearch.com/news/respondent// .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.