Commercial Research Playbook
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Start with the decision the research must support. Agree on the brief, qualify the sources, capture each value with its citation, verify the analysis, and present an answer the intended audience can use.
Common Pitfalls with Commercial Research
- Collecting around a topic. Rewrite it as one question with a hypothesis the evidence can disprove.
- Filling the register with easy names. Recheck each candidate against the brief and remove those outside the rules.
- Collecting findings in scattered notes. Enter each sourced value into the shared fields before researching another subject.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I write before starting commercial research?
Write the business decision, one answerable question, a testable hypothesis, inclusion and exclusion rules, required fields and evidence, coverage target, and output format. Agree on the stopping rule with the stakeholder. Test a borderline subject and field definition before collection starts.
How do I keep several researchers consistent?
Use one shared dataset and data dictionary with defined fields, allowed values, proof requirements, and missing-data states. Require a citation with every value. Test one sample subject with a new contributor and correct ambiguous definitions before the same difference spreads across records.
How do I check that two sources are independent?
Trace each source to the origin of the claim. Two articles repeating one announcement provide one underlying source, not independent confirmation. For a decisive fact, seek separate support; if it remains unavailable, lower the claim's confidence and state the limitation.
How should I present the research results?
Lead with the answer in one or two sentences, put a specific data point or example beside each claim, and connect recommendations to findings. Use a report for full evidence, a briefing for a decision, or an interactive view for exploration. Preserve the method and source version.
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