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Work

Public engagement research tool

University of Surrey

We partnered with the University of Surrey and Brook Lyndhurst on this project, funded by the Wellcome Trust, to develop and prove a new method of online research.

The innovative tool allows participants to interact with a subject matter in a structured way over a number of weeks, and allows researchers to gather qualitative and quantitative data on their engagement with the content.

Because what we were doing was so new, collaborating with a partner who understood the issues and contributed ideas was essential. White October's intelligent execution of the tool played a major part in the success of this project. Jon Fletcher, Director, Brook Lyndhurst

A successful study

The results of the project determined that the method was an incredibly good way of researching engagement with the public.  It found that participants who were least confident about their knowledge engaged with the tool the most, unlike focus groups where their voices are often drowned out.  It also led to an significant increase in knowledge by those taking part.

The future

Following the success of the new tool it has been incorporated into an EU study measuring the public's perception of food risk across Europe.  This will involve significant further development of the tool for this 3 year €3 million project which kicked off on 1 June 2010.