What is research?

Research is collecting information about a subject and the careful and diligent search for that information. Research helps us gain knowledge and broadens our thinking and picture of the world. Through doing research, we can observe the world in a more objective way—the way it really is, not the way we would like it to be. It helps us make decisions and align our actions towards strategic goals. 

Research is important in the work of ministry because it challenges us to think deeply about what we believe to be true. If done well, research helps us understand changes we might need to make in our thinking and ministry approach. It is also prophetic in that it points to what we are likely to encounter in the future that we will need to respond to.

“Research is prophetic.” - Rob Hoskins

What can research accomplish?

Among other things, research can help us:

• Gain insight or understanding of a community or culture and its heartfelt needs

• Affirm the effectiveness of a program or product and discover needed improvements

• Create or advance partnerships

• Track progress towards goals and share wins

What is good research?

Not all research is of excellent quality. Good research adheres to a set of established guidelines and rules. Ensuring we follow research guidelines is important so that our results will be accurate and trustworthy.

"Jesus always fashioned His message for His audience. 

He intuitively knew their heartfelt needs. But since we're 

not God and we don't know that intuitively, 

we do research." - Bob Hoskins

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9 Qualities of Good Research

1. Relevant Purpose: The research should address a real question, need, or problem. There are many things you might be curious about, but you should prioritize the things you really need to know in order to move forward.

   • Ask: Is this something I need to know or is this something that would be nice to know? 

2. Clear Purpose: We must be clear on what we are examining and why we are examining it. Without a clear purpose, the research results could be too broad and unhelpful.

   • Ask: How are we going to use this research? What decisions are we going to make with this research? 

3. Builds on the Work of Others: Good research often builds on the existing work of others. We can use methods and approaches that have already been proven to work rather than inventing our own.

   • Ask: Who else has done similar research that I could learn from? What methods have already been proven to work?

4. Doable: Keep your research plan simple, otherwise it might not be implemented well. If a study is not properly executed, the results may be incomplete and unable to be used.

   • Ask another person to review your research plan and let you know if it is understandable and if anything confuses them.

5. Incremental: A single research project will not be able to answer every question you have. Avoid overcomplicating your plan by trying to do too much. Remember, you can always conduct more research or look to the research of others to answer further questions.

   • Ask: Is there something I want to know that existing research can answer? Is there something non-urgent that I can delay for a future research project?

6. Generates New Questions: At the end of a research project, we will have some answers and may have some additional questions. That does not mean our research has failed. In fact, a characteristic of good research is that it generates new questions for future projects to answer.

7. Able to be Generalized: Good research uncovers truths that not only help us today, but also help others in the future. If we have written our questions clearly and executed the project well, the results can be generalized and used by others in their own settings. 

8. Valid and Verifiable: In order for our results to be trustworthy, our research must be based on sound principles, practices and concepts. It is important to make clear how we conducted our research so others can verify our approach was valid.

9. Conducted by an Invested Researcher: Every research project needs a champion who cares deeply about the results and the process. An interested and invested researcher can be the difference between a project's success or failure. 

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There are several different kinds of research you can conduct. Consider which one is the best fit for your project. This will depend on your research purpose and what you plan to do with the results. Each approach has different strengths and requirements for doing them well. Think about which research method will generate the most valuable results for the research questions you are trying to answer.

• Quantitative Research: deals with numbers and statistics. Useful for finding patterns and averages and understanding groups of people.

• Qualitative Research: deals with words and meanings. Useful for gathering deeper insights by hearing from individuals directly in the form of a conversation.

Common Research Methods

Here is an overview of the different kinds of research you can conduct:

1. Secondary Research 

Use already existing research. This is a good place to start before you decide to do any research of your own. Check to see if any information is available that answers the questions you have.

2. Surveys 

Collect data with a list of multiple-choice questions 

3. Focus Groups

Collect data through a conversation with a group

4. Interviews

Collect data through a one-on-one conversation 

Download the full guide including the pros and cons of each research method

Secondary Research helps you answer your questions without conducting your own primary research. Instead, you examine and summarize data others have collected. Secondary research gives you a look at knowledge already available.

Secondary Research Benefits

• Helps us learn from what others have done and what is already known.

• Often easier and less expensive than conducting your own research study.

• Helpful if you don’t know what to ask in your own study. 

• Can provide solid information for decision making so long as the sources used are reliable.

Secondary Research Examples

Country Reports 

An overview of a nation, its culture, history, and people.

Special Topics 

For example, use of social media, a religion's influence and practices, or finding out about an unreached people group.

Program Development Discovery

Topics helpful for designing OneHope products and programs such as children's reading habits, preferred art style, etc.

Secondary Research Process 

Here is a summary of the steps to conduct secondary research:

1. Define the need and its boundaries. You can’t find out everything.

2. Search the Internet for your topic and questions. Look for reliable sources and use different keywords to help you locate the information you are looking for.

3. Gather the sources you find that are relevant to the topic.

4. Summarize what the sources are saying and synthesize the information to best serve your audience(s).

Download the full guide to learn more about Secondary Research

Research Surveys help us gather insights through collecting responses to a series of questions. 

Getting Started

Before you start creating your survey or collecting data, be sure to ask yourself: What is the ultimate goal for this research? Your answer to this question should guide everything you do and help you make key decisions along the way.

Research Survey Process 

Here is a summary of the steps to conduct a research survey:

1. Create the survey

2. Plan for data collection

3. Develop a strategy for sharing the results

4. Collect and enter data

5. Data analysis and reporting

6. Share and implement results

Download the full guide for Research Survey Best Practices

Empathetic Survey Design is a mindset to have when creating surveys and writing questions. It helps you think about the research from the participant’s point of view to make it as easy as possible for them to complete your survey. 

5 Characteristics of Empathetic Survey Design

Here are a few things to consider when creating your research survey

1. Understand how people think

2. Reduce complexity

3. Remove judgment

4. Offer more context

5. Be respectful of people's time

Choosing the right question type is also critical to ensuring people understand what you are asking so you collect accurate information.

There is a lot more to learn about how to make surveys that people actually want to take!

Download the full guide for Empathetic Survey Design

Focus Groups are focused discussions with a facilitator and multiple participants that use a script and predetermined questions to generate conversation and insights. By talking to people directly, you can learn things you would not from other types of research such as surveys or secondary research.

Focus Group Characteristics 

• Participants are led through an open discussion by a skilled facilitator who carefully listens, asks questions to dig deeper, and encourages all to participate.

• Ideally, an assistant should be present to take notes while the facilitator leads the discussion. It can be helpful to record the group if participants give permission. 

• Typically has 8-10 participants. The group needs to be large enough to generate rich discussion, but not so large that participants are left out of the conversation.

• Usually lasts 60-90 minutes. Beyond that, participants may lose focus.

• It is common for participants to be compensated for their time with a gift or gift card.

Focus Group Process

1. Create your script and questions

2. Plan out the focus group 

3. Conduct the focus group

4. Analyze the results

5. Create a strategy for sharing the findings

6. Share and implement results

Download the full guide for Focus Group Best Practices including a sample agenda

An asset map is a study of the strengths, needs, and gaps in children’s and youth ministry in specific nations or regions. The study uses surveys from both churches and ministries (Christian non-governmental or para-church organizations, non-profits, etc.) to reveal areas of success in reaching the next generation and to highlight opportunities to continue to serve the Global Church as we catalyze a movement to fulfill Vision 2030. 

Asset Mapping Audiences

• OneHope’s national, regional, and geographic teams–helping them be more effective and strategic

• Existing partners–providing a common understanding of the ministry landscape to children and youth

• Potential partners–advocating and opening the door to new partnerships

Asset Mapping Research Objectives

1. Assess current church and ministry activities to children and youth

2. Identify needs to better advocate to and serve partners and ministries with programs, resources, or training

3. Identify gaps and opportunities for reaching more children and youth

4. Inform strategic decisions for the next 3-5 years 

5. Assess participants’ openness to joining a OneHope durable network

Download the full guide to learn how to conduct Asset Mapping Research