This document discusses different methods for researching audiences for a documentary project. It will use both qualitative research like interviews to understand opinions, and quantitative research to generate numerical data about what audiences think of documentaries and their ideas. Primary research methods will include interviews while secondary research will analyze similar successful documentaries and their viewership statistics. Finally, it provides a list of questions that will be asked in audience interviews to determine if a documentary about English villages would appeal to their target Channel 4 audience.

1. Qualitative and Quantative Audience Research There are two different methods of audience research. Qualitative research and Quantative research. Quantitative research measures exact amounts and generates numerical data. Qualitative research gathers peoples opinions and is much less precise. We will be using a variety of both for our audience research in order to find out what they think about documentaries and our ideas.

3. Primary and Secondary sources of research Primary sources of research is direct research which we have found out our-self where as secondary sources of research is someone else’s research which is being used. We will be using a variety of primary sources for our research. We will use one on one interviews and group interviews. We will also be using vox-pops in order to find out if we are targeting the right audience. We will use archive footage of similar documentaries to analyse the success of the programme and to identify the mode. Secondary research which we will be using are facts and figures of similar documentaries shown on channel 4 to find out audience reception, viewing times and how often they are shown. We will be looking at channel 4’s ethos to determine weather our documentary will be suitable for a similar audience to channel 4 as this is who we are targeting.

4. Here is a list of our documentary audience research questions: Do you live in a village? Do you watch documentaries often? Why/why not? What’s the last good documentary you saw? Why was it good? Do you think there is a sense of community in English villages? Would you watch a documentary focussing on the English Village? We will also record the age and gender of the interviewee.

5. Conventions help contribute to the audience feeling of present and distant. Present: Conventions of film language that enhance the audience’s sense of being there. Distant: Conventions that allow the audience to feel objective about the subject. Below are some examples of conventions which give a feeling of presence and distance to the audience. Distant Present Location Shooting Material is structured into an argument Overall visual effect of an amateur rather than professional production. Uneven, hand held camera Expert Testimony Synchronous sound recording Use of archive material and research

6. We have decided that we want the audience to feel present in our documentary. In order to do this we will use Location shooting, synchronous sound recording and the involvement of the film makers. It will not be structured into an argument and so it will not be bias. We will also use a hand held camera and use vox – pops.