Social Research & Insight

Insightful Social Research to inform key decisions

Our bespoke approach to delivering social research enables us to influence national policy and effect change for the benefit of local communities. We are committed to providing a tailored approach to every project we deliver, providing insight and evidence to support recommendations for change.  As a member of the Market Research Society (MRS), we use a range of in-depth and high-level social and healthcare market research methodologies (including ‘qualitative market research’) to deliver reports to our clients that contain the quality insights they need to improve their services. Using a combination of tailored in-depth and high-level research techniques, including questionnaires, surveys, focus and discussion groups (always ensuring the correct segmentation of the data/group), our aim is to help you put the public’s voice at the heart of every decision. 

Our Social Research Methods

All our research is bespoke and tailored to our clients’ requirements. Our clients identify the areas they need to know more about, and we then select the appropriate demographic, sample-sizes and data-collection systems, providing full data analysis and evaluation at the end of the project. Full project monitoring is of course provided throughout, the end product being an insight into ways things could be improved.

Our social research and insight work falls into the following categories:

Specialist surveys using sophisticated software

Our experience of undertaking social and healthcare surveys is extensive and has been used to underpin a wide range of projects. We use sophisticated online survey software, which allows us to generate and undertake interactive surveys both online and offline in the field. This software permits a range of survey designs that will accommodate all needs, abilities and languages. In this way our research, project monitoring and evaluation work is bespoke and always tailored to a client’s needs.

Thematic Research - Service Reviews and Reports

Thematic research focusing on service reviews and reports provide independently gathered social insights and intelligence to help service providers and regulators to review particular themes of interest associated with their service. These may be useful when monitoring the improvement of specific aspects, including: waiting times, food hygiene or monitoring issues relating to complaints.

Analysing Impact Assessments

We have experience in conducting both social and economic impact assessments which help organisations determine the impact of a new service or intervention.

Our work has helped inform commissioning decisions and plans for delivering sustainable, cost effective services that meet the need of the population.

Peer Review Services

Would you like feedback and recommendations on the way in which you deliver your service? ECS offer a comprehensive peer review service using a range of social and healthcare market research techniques. These provide constructive feedback and recommendations on the way in which your organisation currently operates and how it can improve. We use a range of data collection methods to help you identify if you are meeting current guidance and legislation and if your processes are efficient and effective, including both participatory and non-participatory methodologies:

• Observations, 

• Interviewing,

• Process mapping exercises, 

• Focus groups, and 

• Interactive workshops