“Global Research has undertaken several research projects for BRANZ. A key quality of Global Research is how they add value throughout the research process from advice on data collection methods, to recruitment strategies and data analysis.
Global Research has undertaken a range of different kinds of research such as survey design and implementation, focus groups, and one-on-one semi structured interviews. Global Research always managed to deliver the number of people required and always found people with the exact demographic and expertise we wanted to hear from. This has ranged from general consumers to a broad range of building industry professionals across the architectural, government, banking, construction and real estate sectors...
Global Research has consistently delivered in an expert and nuanced way, detailed reports based on qualitative and quantitative data analysis which enabled us to gain clear direction from the findings.
Global Research’s work has enabled us to create several outputs from research reports to building industry resources and technical seminars. ”
Background and aims
BRANZ (Building Research Association New Zealand) sought to gain a deeper understanding of what was driving consumer decision making while buying or building a home, specifically with regards to building performance. The aim of the project was to examine how building performance of new and existing houses might be improved, and what barriers are operating to the improvement of building performance generally.
Our role
BRANZ commissioned Global Research to conduct interviews with key informants on the topic of performance features for new and existing homes. Global Research conducted a series of semi-structured interviews with various industry professionals. The results of these interviews were carefully synthesised by Global Research’s data analysts, and used to create a comprehensive report detailing the findings across various aspects of the building industry.
Design and method
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with several industry representatives purposively selected to speak on a wide range of design and build issues within the industry. A cross-spectrum of professions and perspectives related to the residential building industry were sought.
Interviews were conducted at a location convenient to the interviewee and followed an interview schedule co-designed with BRANZ. The schedule included relevant questions but was also flexible to allow people to talk freely about their experiences within the industry. This versatile method is widely recognised as useful in engaging participants and enabling reciprocity between interviewer and interviewee (Kallio et al., 2016). Interviews were recorded and then transcribed and synthesised by Global Research analysts, to create a detailed report sharing the findings of these interviews.
Result
Global Research delivered a document presenting analysis of combined interview responses from various industry representatives. The report summarised consumer and industry professional opinions about housing performance, and highlighted common themes across the discussion about housing performance.
Outcome
The report created by Global Research will be used by BRANZ to inform further projects relating to housing performance going forward.