How do you find participants for internal communication research?

1 Define your research goals and questions

Before you start looking for participants, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to learn from your research and what questions you want to ask. This will help you narrow down your scope and criteria for selecting your participants. For example, do you want to explore the current state of your internal communication channels, or do you want to test a new tool or message? Do you want to compare different segments of your workforce, or do you want to focus on a specific group or role?

2 Identify your target audience and sample size

Once you have defined your research goals and questions, you need to identify who your target audience is and how many participants you need. Your target audience is the group of people who are most relevant and representative of your research topic. For example, if you want to research the effectiveness of your intranet, you might want to target users who access it frequently, or who have different levels of digital literacy. Your sample size is the number of participants who can provide enough data and insights for your research. For example, if you want to conduct a survey, you might need a larger sample size than if you want to conduct a focus group or an interview.

3 Use a combination of methods and channels

Finding participants for internal communication research requires a tailored approach, dependent on the research goals, audience, and resources. Some of the most common methods and channels include asking for referrals from existing participants or colleagues, sending invitations via email or social media, creating a sign-up form or landing page, using internal communication platforms and tools, and partnering with internal communication champions or advocates. Each of these can help you reach out to potential participants, provide clear and concise information about your research purpose and process, register details and availability, post requests to relevant groups or conversations, and promote your research.

5 Follow up and maintain communication

Finding participants for internal communication research is not a one-off task. To ensure successful recruitment, you must follow up and maintain communication with your participants throughout the research project. This will help build trust and rapport, confirm participation and availability, remind them of the research details and expectations, and address any questions or concerns. Best practices for following up and maintaining communication include sending confirmation emails or messages with clear information about the date, time, location, and format of the research. You should also use multiple communication channels and formats such as phone calls, texts, or videos that are adapted to your participants' preferences and needs. Additionally, it’s important to ask for feedback or suggestions, show interest in their input and experience, provide updates or progress reports, and share your research findings with them. Finding participants for internal communication research can be challenging but rewarding when done correctly. By following these tips and methods, you can increase your chances of gaining valuable insights for your internal communication strategy and practice.