e-Government - Measure Quantitative Studies

How Ipsos MORI Can Help You Conduct e-Government Research

Measure: Quantitative Studies

Quantitative research seeks to find out what people think and how they behave, by measuring their attitudes on a range of pre-set questions in the context of an interview.

Surveys can be carried out at a local, national, or international level, and Ipsos MORI has experience of conducting thousands of quantitative surveys among different audiences and using a variety of methodologies. We can therefore advise you on the most appropriate approach to fit both your needs and budget.

Ipsos MORI has conducted e-Government surveys for clients as diverse as the London Borough of Brent, PARSOL, Citizens Advice, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and SOCITM.

There are a number of considerations when thinking about quantitative surveys and choosing the right approach.

1. Who to survey?

A quantitative survey involves drawing a sample from a population and using the findings from that sample to extrapolate the views of the population as a whole. The 'population' or audience could vary from the general public, internet users and young people, to council workers and Chief Executives of local authorities. In each case, the audience needs to be defined and an appropriate sample drawn. Ipsos MORI's experience in interviewing a range of audiences, and our professional reputation among these audiences, means that we can advise on the best approach to interviewing, whoever you need to survey.

2. How to survey?

The methodological approach will depend on who you want to survey, the timetable, the type of questions being asked and your budget. Ipsos MORI has one of the largest field forces in the country and Ipsos MORI Telephone Surveys is one of the largest telephone units.

Our online research is led by Ipsos MORI MR Technologies who run an expanding web data collection bureau offering advice on methodology, visual survey design, scripting, hosting and technical management of online surveys. Staff, CRM and consultation surveys have all been conducted online, and clients have included info4local and the Local e-Democracy and e-Citizen National Projects.

The Ipsos MORI General Public Omnibus also offers a useful methodology for clients wishing to conduct a national quantitative survey. It is conducted every week with around 2,000 face-to-face interviews of the general public aged 15 and over. The Ipsos MORI General Public Omnibus also contains the Ipsos MORI Technology Tracker which can provide useful benchmark data for any e-Government study. Clients can ask as few as one or two questions, yet still benefit from the wealth of demographic information and the quality of the methodological approach.