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Section 2 Key principles of quality in research and consultation

2.06 Define the research population clearly

It is important that the precise population in which the research and consultation is interested is defined very clearly. For example, this could be tenants, residents, shared owners, homeless people or other housing applicants, all users of a specific service or those who have not used the service. Research focused on tenants will not capture the views of other members of the household, particularly young people, which may be important within a wider community context.

Clear definitions of the research population will affect decisions about how to sample and will encourage greater awareness of those who are either not the focus of the specific research or who might be overlooked. For example, failing to clarify and implement a precise definition of which service users the research is interested in is likely to lead to wasted efforts due to the possible inclusion of non-service users or service users without recent experience of the service under review. An inadequate definition may also result in the exclusion of those who have important perspectives to offer.

These kinds of errors are often made because of efforts to be ‘representative’. This is addressed above and in Section 3. Definitions of the research population are linked to how sampling can be undertaken.

Practice point

• Define the precise group of service users that you are interested in and ensure that this is adhered to in the way that the research is implemented.

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