Recapping research methods

Research methods 

Primary & Secondary

Both methods gain AUDIENCE FEEDBACK

 to 

   a) improve the product based on feedback 

   b) Find out their interests to target them better 

   

Understanding the product that is being made 

 to 

   a) layout conventions

   b) genre 

   c) competitors 

Primary Research 

conducted/organised/prepared by the marketing team/you,

1. FOCUS GROUP 

Organise people from your target audience to give you feedback,

effective

a) the questions are being answered by your target audience this means probing questions can be used to gain the most valuable information 

b) qualitative feedback gained, detailed answers to improve product.

c) improve the product, using the data to support it from the focus group 

d) you can do this method in pre production, production and post production this demonstrating the versatile nature.

e) data from the research are all collected on the same day, this meaning instant data or the market research 

ineffective 

a) biased information can be gathered by accident, because people are agreeing with the majority, maybe know the researchers or the researchers don't want to come across rude 

b) it could be hard to gather your target audience members at the same place at the same time.

c) ethics, making sure that the location is accessible e.g wheelchair access

d) you need other documents to support the research method, documents that could be used to back up a focus group could be a questionnaire, visualisation diagram (if its a visual product).

e) it takes a long time for the data to be analysed due to it being recorded normally by audio recording, it could also be time consuming due to the duration of the focus group. 

2. SURVEY 

effective

a) quantitative data collected in the research and this being less time consuming than qualitative 

b) cost effective, due to them either being done on computer or paper, both being cost effective 

c) large sample of replies collected due to not only the target audience is being targeted unlike the focus group.

d) instant feedback, quick, simple and easy

ineffective 

a) not very detailed and lacks qualitative data, this lacks quality answers e.g 'I don't like this colour because it doesn't appeal to the target audience very well' vs 'no' 

b) if created online it could take a long time for the surveyors to get back to you, may not include feedback from the TA

c) other documents needed to back up the research method e.g visual representations, diagrams 

3. QUESTIONNAIRE 

effective

a) can get both quantitative and qualitative answers from the responders 

b) more likely to give a questionnaire out to the target audience 

ineffective 

a) if created online it could take a long time for the surveyors to get back to you, may not include feedback from the TA

b) other documents needed to back up the research method e.g visual representations, diagrams 

c) it takes a longer time to analyse due to both the qualitative and quantitative data included 

4. MEETING 

effective

a) direct feedback  

b) speaking to your client, you can update them on progress, results from market research and show visual updates 

c) they will give only honest and valid feedback this being invaluable as you can make clear improvements as soon as possible 

d) can happen multiple times and can be skipped if different locations involved

e) normally minutes are taken and this means a record of what happens in the meeting 

ineffective 

a) schedules can mean that Skype is needed which isn't as effective as face to face 

b) compromising laugh date

c) negative feedback 

d) other documents needed 

Secondary Research 

looking at existing sources/information/products 

1. WEB SOURCES 

internet search e.g google search/ BBC bitsize/ Horrible Histories.

2. JOURNALS

written by an academic source this means the information will be valid e.g written by. a historian professor

3. BOOKS / MAGAZINE 

used similarly like a website e.g if in production stage maybe you'd read an art non fiction book.

Recap on question 5

planning documents that could be acceptable for feedbacking a meeting,

1. mood board
2. mind map
3. visualisation diagram 

planning documents that couldn't be acceptable for feedbacking a meeting, 

1. sitemap
2. blue sky thinking 
3. production schedule 

Garmz has asked for a meeting to discuss the development of ideas for the website so far.

Identify ONE planning tool that Alexia could use to communicate her initial design ideas and evaluate the effectiveness of this compared to one other planning tool.

Plan for question .5

1. Mind map 

- can always be added to 

- it contains majority of words however can contain images and different font styles this showing how its versatile 

- its simple and doesn't need large amount of explanation this making it a suitable tool for the client as they wont have much media background

- however a mind map doesn't show the visual ideas e.g colours, fonts and images therefore a mood board would be needed to visualise the words on the mind map.

e.g

- the map can contain images of draft fonts along with annotations this showing its versatility

- the mind map can contain sub headings for different pages of the website this once again making it easier and simpler for the client to understand.

2. Site map 

- it will not contain ideas it will contain production instructions for the coder and graphic designer 

- it will appear complicated for the client and they may get confused and unsure about ideas 

- it doesn't show any visuals and just contains annotations this making it less visual for the clients.

e.g 

- the map wont show any colours or fonts that will be used so they cant give feedback on the designs.

- the client will be confused on the annotations meant for the coder placed on the sitemap.#

A mind map would be suitable tool to convey ideas to the clients that Alexia is meeting with, its effective due to it is never completely finished this meaning that alexia can add additional ideas on at any time, this being effective as she can ensure that plans of certain pages contain all information needed.

Another effective quality of a mind map being that even though the majority of the plan will contain words it can have a picture or an image of a font draft this allows it to be versatile and have an element of visual to it, this will be effective as Alexia can back up her annotations with a picture this allowing it to show an element of visual to the clients.

A 3rd effective aspect of the mind map being that the mind map layout and design is very simple and easy to understand this is important as the clients probably don't have much media background and therefore if Alexia brought complicated planning documents they could get confused, for example Alexia could create sub headings on the mind map to show the different pages that she will be creating this once again making the document easier to understand.

However even though the document has positive aspects it does need to be backed up by a mood board to fully demonstrate the visual ideas that are being written about on the mind map, this other planning document makes such that the mind map is at its most effective.

A sitemap however wouldn't be sued to feedback ideas to the clients due to its unsuitable purpose, 

due to the document containing notes for both the coder and graphic designer this could confuse the clients as they will have to differentiate different connotations aimed for two separate job roles.

Another negative aspect of the document being the complicated layout that it has if the reader doesn't have media knowledge this once again could confuse the clients this being an ineffective scenario caused by the document, along with this it doesn't have any visuals unlike the mood board and mind map combo this leaves the clients having to personally visualise colours and font themes for the website which could leave the clients with separate ideas due to them individually visualising the ideas.

Overall the mind map is the most suitable document to demonstrate ideas and therefore should be used in the meeting over the sitemap.

Regulators mindmap

OFCOM (Office of communication)
- in charge of regulating TV and radio, making appropriate content for the audience, ensuring no harmful or offensive scenes are shown e.g making sure ethics are followed.
Another guideline Ofcom follow very strictly is the watershed this being shows shown after 9pm including more adult content, this also affects advertisements.
Songs played after 9pm on radio can include swearing and adult themes unlike before 9pm where only censored songs are played and its more pop based whereas after 9pm is more rap.
Ofcom gets involved in situations when complaints are received.

ASA (Advertising standard association)
- in charge of adverts shown on audio visual, films, radio and print, they maintain guidelines and these resemble Ofcom guidelines about making sure ethics are followed.
ASA gets involved in situations when complaints are received,

BBFC (British board of film classification)
- regulates films and certificates, making sure that content is appropriate.

PEGI (Pans European gaming information)
-regulates games and gaming certificates, like BBFC they make sure that the content is appropriate and give certificates making sure guardians know the content included.

W3C (World wide web consortium)
- advice based regulator, they specialise in websites and give advice to how to create and publish a website, give advice on how to make the website accessible for any impaired users,

PRS (performing rights society)
- responsible for any music that is used in a media product this effects adverts, jingles and theme music more responsible for radio sounds as they focus on jingles, SFX and jingles.
NOT A RECORD LABEL, manage any composer of a sound effect/theme tune/melody that has been used for a product.
composers get paid the royalties for your song being used, PRS can also get involved in legal issues if anyone has used your intellectual property in a product without your permission PRS Ould step in and solve the situation.

IPSO (independent press standards organisation)
-regulate print based media e.g newspapers and magazine, they maintain the editors code, these are the guidelines for print media and include legal issues about libel and slander.

Trademarks 
- a regulator that monitors intellectual property and applies to all media products, companies and people can get slogans, colours, fonts, logos trademarked to make sure that no other companies can use any trademarks, legally owning copyright of anything you have designed.

Planning documents pro,cons + intro

Mind map 

-it isn't linear so can appeal to people who don't correspond with large chunks of text well 

-can be used to feedback ideas from

-can always be added and continued from 

-can be used by multiple job roles e.g : researcher, graphic designer

-its worded and can describe visual aspects 

-doesn't normally contain images 

-needs a MOODBOARD to bring more visual ideas

-is only needed for the planning stage and cant be used in any other stages of production 

A mind map is a document that is used to generate and brainstorm ideas, this document can be used by most job roles.

Mood board 

-it contains text, images and fonts 

-its cost effective and can be made on both web and paper 

-it creates a visual sense of what a product will look like 

-it can be forever added to and never completely finished 

-it isn't linear so can appeal to people who don't correspond with large chunks of text well 

-it doesn't contain much instructions on what or why it has those visual styles 

-it can only be used by graphic designers and this is normally who its purposed for

-it needs to be supported by a MINDMAP 

A mood board is a tool that helps visually plan a product it is used to demonstrate the fonts, colours and images that will be used and is created and useful to a graphic designer.

Focus Group 

-this research method is information for the target audience this meaning that the feedback is directly who the product is targeting making the information really useful

-the information received is qualitative data.

-the group can say in particular what aspects they liked and didn't 

-questions can be changed due to what feedback is received this meaning that the data is more useful this is called probing questions.

-the people gathered in the group is the biggest range of the target audience possible this meaning that all opinions are aired.

-this tool can be used in all stages of production 

-time consuming to analyse the data due to it being qualitative and the manner of how the data is logged

-it can also be time consuming due to it taking a long time to organise and prepare 

-people can feel awkward to say criticism as they don't want to be rude

-people can be swayed if their alone on their decision this causing invalid data 

-budget and launch date can be negatively affected if the data is also negative 

-this research needs to be backed by a questionnaire.

A focus group is a marketing research tool that finds out valuable information from the target audience, the tool creates criticism and praise from the TA about the product this leading to changes that will make the product more desirable to the audience. The tool is used by the researching team and is useful for the whole team depending on the feedback.

Production Schedule 

-it contains contingencies this meaning that it prepares the reader for anything that could go wrong and how to deal with it

-it gives a timescale this means that the reader knows roughly how much detail should be included.

-its useful for the whole team and is sued by multiple job roles making it very effective 

-its cost effective as can be made online and on paper

-because its made to be used over normally a weeks time it means that deadlines and tasks can easily be changed 

-the plan is ineffective if the team doesn't see it so it either needs to be mailed round or placed somewhere everyone can see it

-the tasks contained in the plan are dependant on each other this means if one job is missed than other jobs are hindered.

-this plan needs to be backed up with a gantt chart due to this chart showing the whole projects needed jobs and can help show in perspective the production schedule.

-job or tasks aren't clear so job roles can get confused 

A production schedule is a planning tool that helps organise and plan out jobs and tasks that need to be completed in the document you see the tasks, milestone, equipment need, time frame and contingency.

This document is used by the whole team as it includes jobs for every job role.

BE SPECIFIC WITH EXAMPLES e.g Research into online clothes market 

Blue Sky Thinking 

-all job roles can input and this can bring new opinions and aspects to an idea 

-blue sky thinking is cost effective and can be completed online or on paper 

-it can also be forever added to and never ending

-it can help create starter ideas and base ideas to then build up on

-it can be useful for all team members to use and is therefore very effective with job roles.

-non linear

-easy to organise

-the plan can generate a lot of unrelated or bad ideas

-the plan needs to be backed by a more visual document such as a mood board or visualisation diagram

-the plan isn't visual and is very worded

Blue sky thinking is a planning tool that helps create ideas and is an inclusion task for the team as it allows all job roles to input ideas, its created and useful for everyone as ideas are generated that affect all job roles depending on what is named.

site map examples and feedback

 To improve my sitemap I need to focus more on the graphic designers perspective as well as the coder e.g add more annotations about images ,videos, house styles and why these are needed.

LO4 : Site Structure Diagram/Site Map

What is a site map?
A site structure diagram is a diagram that shows how the audience gets around the page and how its operated by the 'end-user'

What type of media products would it be needed for?
Website, games, apps

The coder/programmer would be the person who would make the site map, the graphic
designer would also input information of the layout.





Navigation - How someone gets around the page
End-user - The audience

drawing question tips

`1.Banner 

2.Navigation Bar 

3. Carousel 

4.Button 

5. Thumbnails 

6. Footer 

• placed at the bottom of the page
• contains legal information, customer care & social media links*

*having social media links is very important as many major companies have a presence on social media and use it as another advertising tactic, we expect companies to have social media links and is another way for the consumers to get involved.

Drawing question examples 

With a visualisation diagram 

1. annotations, label features 
2. label how its beneficial for the audience and purpose 
3. design features e.g colours font.