My experience tells me that, in theory, most high school graduates understand the most fundamental rule about using apostrophes: they are used for possession. (Oh, sure, apostrophes do other things, too [like omitting letters in contractions, among other things], but the possession thing tends to be what people think of
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Punctuation, like the word’s most famous flightless bird–the dodo–may be on the verge of extinction. Not all punctuation marks risk the dodo’s fate, of course. Periods will likely stand the test of time–they’re the one constant in the construction of written language, and they’re fairly universal. With few exceptions, most
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Surveys are a research tool designed to gather specific information from large groups of people. Depending on the sample size of people and the questions asked, surveys can sometimes be quantified and used for statistical analysis. Use surveys to learn perspectives from a wide range of people. Click on the
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Observations are an important research method for managers, businesses, and researchers alike to determine how people interact and behave in different environments. Observations can help researchers better determine what people do given different scenarios and environmental factors. Click on the diagram below to learn the five steps for conducting effective
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Interviews are a critical component to many types of research, often conducted as one of many divers methods to collect rich individual data and storytelling evidence. Click on the diagram below to learn the five steps for conducting effective interviews for research. How to Conduct Interviews for Research Recruit Participants
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Focus groups are useful research methods for learning about people’s perceptions, beliefs, expectations, opinions, and other qualitative data and anecdotal evidence. Focus groups are typically done with a research moderator meeting with a small group of people (often between 6 and 12 in number) to ask them question about their
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Ethnography research is a method used by professionals and academics alike to determine how people interact with each other in a specified environment. Different from simple observational research, ethnography requires that a researcher integrate him/herself into the environment, typically playing a role of someone in that environment. Ethnographic research can
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Usability tests are important research tools to help business owners, website developers, and other communication professionals better understand how people interact with their organization’s website. While the term “usability test” can be used for any type of product or communication, it is most often referenced in terms of testing a
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S.W.O.T. analyses are useful information-gathering methods that allow managers, marketing departments, and researchers to determine the current status of an organization, product, or service. S.W.O.T. (pronounced “swat”) analyses evaluate four elements: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Strengths and weaknesses are considered internal forces within an organization and opportunities and threats
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Consumer profiles are incredibly important documents for marketing professionals, website designers, or any other communication expert looking to effectively communicate to the appropriate audiences. Consumer profiles help you communicate the appropriate voice, tone, style, and perspective to your target demographic. Click on the image below to read about the five
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