Quantitative and qualitative insight into member experiences and perceptions of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
Members took part in the survey
%
Response rate achieved
In-depth interviews to explore topics in greater detail
Challenge
The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) is a professional membership organisation and registered charity which supports more than 28,000 members in the UK and internationally. It conducts regular research amongst its members, with previous member surveys taking place in 2013 and 2016.
RCS England wished to conduct a new programme of research to gain up to date understanding of member views on the College, their motivations and expectations, communication with RCS England, and its future priorities, including both quantitative and qualitative research.
Approach
A quantitative online survey was co-designed by RCS England and Enventure Research. A phase of cognitive testing interviews with members was administered during development of the survey to help inform question wording and response options.
Once confirmed, the survey was administered via email to all RCS members and promoted by the College via newsletters and social media.
Following the survey, 20 qualitative in depth interviews were conducted with members to provide further insight into the survey findings. Interviews were stratified by membership type and included a mix of career stages and demographics.
Outcome
A positive response rate to the survey was achieved, with 4,010 responses representing a 19% response rate from a very time-poor membership during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This provided a robust sample size for confident statistical analysis.
The detailed survey analysis was complemented by qualitative feedback from the in depth interviews, providing greater depth of insight and understanding on certain topics such as perceptions of RCS England, workplace challenges, and the future.
The research findings were presented in a useful report, supported by a summary infographic report to make the findings easy for members to digest. Enventure Research also presented the key findings at an RCS England council meeting. The findings added to the College’s understanding of members’ views and experiences and informed the development of policy and guidance to better support its members.
“I cannot speak highly enough of Enventure. Matt and the team were a dream to work with from start to finish. They listened carefully to the project brief and using their extensive knowledge and expertise they helped ensure that we not only met, but exceeded our expectations for the project.”
Insightful research. Expertly delivered.
