OPINION2 September 2010
With everyone talking about clients doing DIY research, Steve is wondering what research agencies will be doing in five years.
Back from holidays and off to the Esomar Congress next week and so have been looking around at what seems to be the hot topic this year. Lots of stuff around new approaches based on conversations not questions (although some of us have been banging on about this for a while), but the other intriguing thing that keeps coming up is clients doing DIY research.
This seems to make a lot of sense to me now that we have global panels and straightforward questionnaire design software. For basic concept or copy testing why not make them cheap and simple? What about brand tracking – what extra value do most agencies add beyond a chart showing key metrics going up or down?
The interesting thing to me is what the DIY trend does to our industry. Will it mean that client side research departments get bigger and agencies smaller? Could it mean an explosion of smaller agencies dedicated to helping clients interpret and analyse the data they have collected? Will it increase the number of branded approaches to things like concept testing with a focus on norms, or will it destroy these approaches in favour of universally-agreed basic testing criteria?
Whatever happens it should be interesting and I suspect will mean major changes over the next five years. As long as no-one comes up with DIY qual (oh no, online buzz analytics)!
The world's leading job site for research and insight
Resources Group
Qualitative Senior Research Exec – London / Hybrid working
Up to circa £35,000 + Benefits
Resources Group
Project Manager – Quantitative – Dynamic Boutique Agency
£30–40,000 + good benefits
Spalding Goobey Associates
Senior Research Executive, Mixed Methods – Technology and IT
£Excellent Package
-
Brought to you by:
©2025 The Market Research Society,
15 Northburgh Street, London EC1V 0JR
Tel: +44 (0)20 7490 4911
info@mrs.org.uk -
© Copyright 2025 Research Live
6 Comments
Christine
15 years ago
DIY research certainly does seems to be on the increase and particularly in B2B. Did you have any thoughts on "what to do about DIY research"?
Like Reply Report
Christine
15 years ago
So funny - I thought the title said "what to do" not "what a to do"! Shows what I'm thinking about...
Like Reply Report
Lucy Davison
15 years ago
The Esomar DIY Research session is designed to be very interactive; there will be ample opportunity for feedback and comment and we hope to address many of the questions you raise - how should MR best adapt to this new trend? The data that Richard Thornton and I will be presenting will demonstrate the impact so far, and indeed some of the trends you cite do seem to be happening...come along and find out more!
Like Reply Report
Steve Phillips
15 years ago
So Lucy, will you be postulating about what the world will look like in 5 years and if so will you give us a sneek preview!?
Like Reply Report
Richard Thornton
15 years ago
Steve, we'll be opening up the debate and presenting the findings of both qual and quant research we commissioned on the industries thoughts around DIY. We spoke to researchers in agencies and amongst segments of 'end clients'. The feedback is enlightening...and surpriising in many ways. We do look ahead and touch upon best practice ideas and directions for the industry to consider. Not sure if that is enough of a sneal peek but I don't want to spoil the fun on the day!
Like Reply Report
Steve Phillips
15 years ago
Looking forward to it!!
Like Reply Report