How to write a useful research brief
Turn a broad topic into a researchable question. A practical guide to decisions, scope, evidence and useful outputs, with a fictional worked example.
Research practiceTHE RESEARCH COLLECTION
Research, built around useful questions
We’re preparing a research library for businesses and private clients, with launch planned for November 2027. These areas describe our intended direction; they are not a catalogue of completed reports.
Launch planned for November 2027
Technology, beyond the headlines
Questions about emerging technology often begin with an announcement and end with a decision. Our planned technology research will explore tools, practical uses and the uncertainties behind adoption.
- What does a technology do, and where are its limitations?
- How do available options compare against a defined need?
- Which claims have evidence, and which remain open questions?
Business and market context
Our business research direction includes market landscapes, competitors and changing customer needs. The aim is to make the scope and evidence clear enough that readers can understand the reasoning behind a finding.
- Define a market before drawing conclusions about its size or opportunity.
- Compare competitors using consistent criteria.
- Separate observed changes from predictions about what comes next.
Everyday decisions, examined carefully
Private clients also face questions that deserve a considered comparison. We plan to explore options, trade-offs and information gaps around personal projects and complex topics. Research should clarify a choice without pretending that the same answer suits everyone.
Useful reading before launch
Our Insights section contains practical guides that you can read now. Guides explain a process or a way of thinking; they are clearly labelled separately from research reports. No paid reports or custom commissions are currently available.
Build a better research question.
Start with practical guidance while the report collection is being developed.
Make a useful start
Put your question into focus.
Use the brief builder to organise your question, audience and timeframe. Save a copy for later; preparing a brief does not place an order.
Prepare a research brief