Political insights are generated as the result of a political research campaign. Campaign analytics refers to the process of turning voter insights into tangible action.
Data analytics refers to a series of processes and activities that aim to turn raw data sets into real, actionable information. Some of the most common ways these raw data sets present themselves are in the form of questions, comments, concerns, and observations made by participants in the study or political survey; these are what are known as insights.
Political insights are generated as the result of a political research campaign. Campaign analytics refers to the process of turning voter insights into plans; plans which a campaign or party can better work to engage with their respective voting blocs.
These insights can enable them to better understand their constituent’s wants, needs, and ideas for the future. They guide political decision making from ground-level activism all the way up to the highest annals of the federal government.
When it comes to informing crucial political decisions, political insights are paramount. Every graph you see on a television news program, every Gallup poll conducted, every lobbying effort or political TV ad - these are all the results of gathered political insights. Whether it’s at the grass roots level - or on a national stage - almost all political action is driven by this kind of data.
The value derived from political insights relies on the quality of the analysis conducted. Meaning, your surveys are only worth as much as the real, tangible, and factually-accurate results you’re able to generate from your data.
There are several ways you can engage with politically-motivated citizens to gather political insights.
The most common and effective method for generating political commentary and insights is surveying.
Surveying and polling for political purposes is a tradition almost as old as our political institutions themselves. They are the primary tools which partisans, politicians, and researchers alike use to inform their beliefs and guide their decision-making. They are cheap, easy to create and serve the function of gathering vast amounts of both quantitative and qualitative data.
Traditional surveys were conducted using in-person pollsters, mail-in questionnaires, and telephone calls. In the 21st century, the vast majority of political insights are gathered through online and email surveys.
An engagement campaign involves putting yourself out there in front of your core audience. It’s a tactic often utilized by brands selling a product, but it is also extremely useful for activists, political organizers, or even content creators. Interacting directly with your target demographics reminds your audiences that there is a human behind your work; allowing them to open up to you and share with you in ways they wouldn’t otherwise be comfortable doing.
Engagement campaigns can be virtual and done over social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, or they can be conducted in-person. Setting up a booth on a college campus, or in front of a public library is a great way to meet and engage with a diverse selection of audience members.
In some cases, political research requires studying a more concentrated and heterogeneous population. Microtargeting refers to the process of narrowing in on an identifiable niche. In political research, microtargeting is often used to gather information on issues like key voting blocs, such as voters in swing states or in key districts.
Political campaigns use microtargeting to develop multiple variations of the same ad that they can then run to specific voters on Facebook or on local news channels; thereby maximizing the resonance of their marketing.
The first step to developing your political or legal survey is to pick your ideal surveying platform.
Survey platforms like Helpfull give independent researchers and enterprise firms alike the power to connect with thousands of unique individuals across the United States. Account creation takes just a few minutes; after that, you’re ready to start gathering your insights.
Creating your political insight survey takes just four simple steps:
After confirming your survey, your test is immediately shipped off to your target audience. As Helpfull is an instant feedback platform, the insights given to you by your participants are made immediately available as soon as they are submitted.
You’ve developed your testing. You ran the surveys. Now what?
It’s time to begin analyzing your political insights and turning them into tangible actions.
For a comprehensive guide to survey analysis, visit our Helpfull guide.
The processes and methods you use to analyze your survey results should align with the original goal of your survey. Let’s say you ran a study to identify how an audience of American voters feel about the federal government’s handling of the COVID-19 epidemic; and you’re left with a hundred comments and polling points.
You start by identifying the key variables you designed your test around. What do these variables tell you? What sorts of patterns or trends stand out in these data points?
You’ll want to eventually plot your data points as well, in a process known as data visualization. This involves taking the most important findings of your survey and organizing them in a way that makes sense to a layperson or non-researcher. Visualizing your data may involve creating graphs, graphic designs, or even video presentations.
The most important element of the data visualization process is that you consider the audience you wish to present to. Make sure that your designs are concise, easy to understand, and that they effectively and honestly communicate the results of your data.
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