Research outputs that inspire and engage
In July, we asked we asked our Consumer Engagement Forum* whether the days of the 50-page report are over in an era of 10-second videos and social media soundbites. How can we make sure the outputs from research are compelling and inspiring? How do we ensure they have the best chance of conveying key messages and influencing those who have the power to bring about change?
In short, people felt there is still a need for the 50-page report to provide granular evidence on which decisions can be made. However, many organisations know now that they need a mix of outputs to meet the needs of time-poor and media-savvy audiences. We heard about:
Films, such as the one Community Research and Postcode Films created for Citizens Advice to bring to life the findings from research into the importance of post offices in rural communities
Animations, such as those talking about engaging with disabled people from the Activity Alliance;
Personal stories and case studies;
Storyboards, like this one we developed with Vanessa Randle for the Legal Services Board to bring to life the impact of vulnerability amongst people using legal services (more on that story here)
Visual outputs were seen as increasingly important, and to this end, we involved Vanessa in creating visual minutes during our workshop. Her visual record of the discussions is above, and we love how it summarises and links the key themes.
*The Consumer Engagement Forum is made up of people who commission, carry out and use research in regulatory and consumer interest bodies. It is facilitated by Community Research. If you’re interested in joining, drop us a line!