Enventure Research has recently undertaken the 2017 Public Perceptions Survey on behalf of the General Optical Council (GOC). The GOC regulates the optical professions in the UK, its mission being to protect and promote the health and safety of the public.
Public perceptions research was previously carried out by Enventure Research in 2016, seeking to understand the views and experiences of the general public in order to help the GOC improve as a regulator and become more effective in its mission. The 2017 research took the form of an online survey which included a combination of previous survey questions and new topic areas in order to track perceptions over time and also collect data on topical areas. The survey was completed by a representative sample of the UK adult population and administered via an online panel. In total, 3,025 responses were received.
A series of four focus groups and 16 in depth telephone interviews took place following the survey to provide further insight into the findings. Focus groups took place in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Glasgow, whilst interview participants were recruited from across the UK, with an emphasis on more rural areas.