How can you learn from feedback and integrate it into your research experiments and pilots?

Inherent biases are a limiting factor in any research project. As a research analyst or manager, you should treat every data point collected in a feedback process as an opportunity to improve your final product. That said, you can't be all things to all people. Feedback from different stakeholders may lead to conflicting conclusions on how you should proceed. If that's the case, it may be time to revisit your research project's objectives and priorities.

Begin by explicitly identifying the target audience for gathering feedback. This process should go beyond demographic profiles and instead concentrate on addressing specific needs, such as individuals seeking weight loss. At the outset, create distinct segments or personas based on discernible patterns and characteristics. For instance, you might have personas like "Busy Professionals Trying to Lose Weight" and "Stay-at-Home Parents Focusing on Health." Identify variations among these groups and categorize their feedback accordingly. Keep in mind that effective feedback collection entails more than simply asking questions; it also involves frequent inquiry into the 'why' behind responses and the observation of participants' actions.

Whether we realize it or not, we are wired to weight the relevance of any feedback we receive. This is often done subconsciously through our impression of each feedback provider's relevant experience, expertise, and level of attachment to the research project etc. Depending on the nature of your research, a more structured framework that assigns weightings to each stakeholder group's feedback may be worth considering.

As mentioned earlier, it's essential to move beyond what people verbally express and pay careful attention to their actions. Observing behavior can yield valuable insights that might not surface during interviews or surveys. For instance, if you're conducting research on weight loss, closely observe their dietary choices, exercise routines, and other lifestyle habits. Additionally, bear in mind that the quality of the feedback you collect is inherently tied to how participants perceive your empathy. Be kind, respectful, and ethical in all your research activities, and consider rewarding participants for their time, ideally with generous compensation if feasible.

I really like feedback when I get them /I will respond back to them / then I’ll back off & continue checking there actively and follow them But to just build a relationship on that only no I will response in specific ways showing respect

Treat your early findings as working hypotheses. Elaborate on these hypotheses, and organize new data to either validate or invalidate them. Your initial hypotheses often serve as drafts for more elaborate and sophisticated ones that typically offer deeper insights and greater precision in your research.

After developing a thorough understanding of your personas and hypotheses, move forward by quantifying the problems and challenges they face. This involves assessing both the frequency and severity of these issues. For example, you may find that the 'Busy Professional' persona encounters difficulties in consistently making time for exercise. They often skip meals and do not prioritize them. It's crucial to grasp how to identify 'Busy Professionals' based on their key behaviors and determine the size of this specific group.

Imagine you have devised a solution for a specific problem: a program aimed at coaching busy professionals to adopt healthier eating habits. In this scenario, your focus should be on addressing the most critical issues you identify and maintaining an ongoing feedback loop to consistently refine and enhance your approach. Implement iterative changes that directly address the identified problems.