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Consultancy
What is social media research?
Social media research is the process of analysing social media platform data. Data is gathered from networks such as Facebook, Twitter or TikTok using legal and ethical data extraction techniques. This data is then examined via quantitative and qualitative research methods. This process can help us understand many different questions including; why audiences engage with content, how successful content is, what audiences content is reaching, what impacts social media is having on people's behaviour and how social media is changing how we communicate with each other.
Social media research relies on hard to access data, so it is vital to understand both the landscape of the social media platforms as well as the tools available to extract and analyse data. Unlike the past where consumer and market research was more easy, social media has made the process more complicated, but also much more insightful and valuable. Today expertise is needed to find and extract appropriate data, to know what questions different data are able to answer, and to develop coherent insights from examining rigorously data gathered.
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It is not easy to develop appropriate research goals, find and extract data, analyse complex social media data, develop impactful research and then communicate these insights with clarity. This is where the Social Media Research Centre steps in, as we are experts in the process of taking digital research from inception to conclusion.
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We can help you develop the hidden insights available from social media data; information that is currently only in the hands of the few.
Insights from social media are vitally important to success and yet so hard to gather
Our process
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Developing research questions
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Data gathering
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Data analysis
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Report writing
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Dissemination
1.
Developing
research questions​
Firstly we talk to you about the research questions you want answering, or we can discuss what research will be of value to you. Do you want to see how a competitor is faring online? Do you want to understand your social media audience in greater detail? Do you want to examine the success of your content online? These are just some of the vital questions that we can help you develop and then answer.
We can help steer your research goals and deliver valuable insights, alongside offering advice in other areas of research that will be of value. As such the first stage is to work closely with you, in getting the most out of the data available for the research questions you have.
Social media data can't answer everything, data access can be limited and tools for analysing social media data are also imperfect, expensive and hard to access. We use a combination of resources and tools to gather and then analyse data, meaning we have the expertise and acumen to examine a wide array of research questions or business goals. However, it is important to note that even experts have limits to what is possible, we will be up front with you on whether what you seek is workable within the data resources, research tools and ethical framework we use.
Social media data is powerful and personal, as such it is important to examine and treat social media data with respect. For us, that means an ethical approach to data gathering is vital. You can read our ethics statement here.
What questions can we answer?
2.
Data Gathering
We know where to gather appropriate insightful data. From social media data sources such as Google Analytics data, Facebook Audience Insights, Facebook Ad Library, Snapchat Political Ad Library and others to statistical survey data such as that from the British Election Study or Office for National Statistics. Or you can provide us with data you own
The Social Media Research Centre is an expert in taking research from inception to completion.
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We can help you carry out your social media research. Our services include consultancy and report building. We also provide communications consultancy so that the reports made can make the best impacts.
What sorts of data can we collect?
3.
Data
analysis
The Social Media Research Centre is an expert in taking research from inception to completion.
​
We can help you carry out your social media research. Our services include consultancy and report building. We also provide communications consultancy so that the reports made can make the best impacts.
The Social Media Research Centre is an expert in taking research from inception to completion.
​
We can help you carry out your social media research. Our services include consultancy and report building. We also provide communications consultancy so that the reports made can make the best impacts.
How do we analyse social media data?
4.
Report
writing
The Social Media Research Centre is an expert in taking research from inception to completion.
​
We can help you carry out your social media research. Our services include consultancy and report building. We also provide communications consultancy so that the reports made can make the best impacts.
Social media can tell us so much, but with it getting harder and harder to gain clear insights from social media, it has become important to have a firm understanding of the different platforms, data access tools, analysis tools and what questions can be answered through social media data.
How do we present complex data and ideas coherently?
5.
Dissemination
The Social Media Research Centre is an expert in taking research from inception to completion.
​
We can help you carry out your social media research. Our services include consultancy and report building. We also provide communications consultancy so that the reports made can make the best impacts.
The Social Media Research Centre is an expert in taking research from inception to completion.
​
We can help you carry out your social media research. Our services include consultancy and report building. We also provide communications consultancy so that the reports made can make the best impacts.
Getting information out to the right audience
Why do you need our services?
Social media can tell us so much, but with it getting harder and harder to gain clear insights from social media, it has become important to have a firm understanding of the different platforms, data access tools, analysis tools and what questions can be answered through social media data.