Torchbox Research Policy

Our commitment to responsible research

Research is at the heart of how we create impactful digital experiences. We are committed to conducting research that is ethical, inclusive, and responsible. This means ensuring the safety, comfort, and dignity of all participants, using research methods that yield meaningful insights, and upholding principles of fairness and transparency throughout the process.

Responsible research practice

We believe that ethical and effective research depends on treating participants with respect and ensuring our practices are robust and transparent. Our approach is built around clear communication, participant empowerment, rigorous data stewardship, and safeguarding. This includes:

Setting clear expectations with plain-language consent forms and pre-session information
Empowering participants to opt out at any point without penalty
Providing support and resources after sessions discussing sensitive topics
Conducting research only when necessary, ensuring findings are actionable and resources are used responsibly
Safeguarding participant data with secure, encrypted storage and clear retention policies
Embedding safeguarding principles to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all participants, particularly those from vulnerable groups such as children, young people, and individuals discussing sensitive topics
Offering fair compensation to acknowledge participants’ time and contributions
Equipping researchers with regular training to address ethical, practical, and safeguarding challenges effectively

By adhering to these principles, we ensure that our research includes diverse voices, represents a range of perspectives, and delivers insights that drive meaningful, equitable outcomes.

Incentives and ethical considerations

Paying research incentives is central to our ethical research practice because it fosters inclusivity and ensures higher-quality insights.

Why incentives matter: Incentives ensure fair treatment of participants, increase participation rates, and help access a diverse audience. Without incentives, research risks excluding underrepresented groups, such as people from minority backgrounds or lower socioeconomic statuses.
Flexible options: We usually handle incentive payments directly and/or donate to charities on behalf of participants if preferred. Where appropriate, gifts in kind (for example, a free subscription to a product or service) can also be given in lieu of direct payment.

Data handling

We handle participant data with care, ensuring compliance with ethical and legal standards:

Data collection: Collect only the personal information necessary to answer the research question or contact participants.
Data retention: Set retention schedules for all collected data, deleting it when it is no longer needed. Anonymised data may be retained for longer periods if declared upfront in the consent form.
Data access: Share data only with people who require access for the project and ensure it is stored securely on end-to-end encrypted platforms.

Research with children and young people

We take special care when conducting research with children and young people, adhering to the highest standards of safeguarding and ethical practice:

Parental involvement: A parent or guardian must accompany children in research sessions.
Informed consent: Consent is required from both the child and their parent/guardian. Moderators are DBS-checked, and we recommend a safeguarding professional be present.
Participant comfort: We gather personal preferences from young participants to tailor the session, including topics to avoid and accommodations needed, when we believe these safeguarding measures are needed.
Effective techniques: We employ research and co-design methods specifically designed to engage and gather valuable insights from young audiences in a safe, ethical, and enjoyable manner.

Stakeholder participation

Engaging stakeholders in the research process fosters collaboration, builds trust, and ensures the research aligns with our clients’ organisational goals. Stakeholders bring valuable perspectives and expertise that can help refine research questions, validate findings, and support the implementation of recommendations. Involving stakeholders also promotes transparency and shared ownership of the outcomes, which increases the likelihood of impactful change.

To ensure the comfort and privacy of participants, stakeholder observers must:

Have their cameras and microphones off during sessions to avoid influencing participant behaviour or creating unnecessary distractions.
Attend only with the explicit consent of the participant, as their presence could affect the dynamics of the session or the willingness of participants to speak openly.

Our research approach

Selecting the appropriate methodology is critical to achieving meaningful research outcomes within budget.

Qualitative research: Used to explore attitudes, experiences, and motivations, qualitative research provides rich, in-depth data that uncovers the “why” behind participant behaviour. This understanding is vital for informing design decisions, as it explains the underlying reasons behind behaviours that might otherwise only be tracked quantitatively. By understanding these motivations, researchers can make evidence-based design decisions that are grounded in user needs.
Quantitative research is focused on gathering numerical data. It’s ideal for identifying patterns, measuring trends, and providing statistical evidence to support decisions.

Selecting the right methodology also involves considering the type of research needed to achieve desired outcomes. For instance:

Generative research helps to explore and identify opportunities, setting the foundation for strategy, redesign and innovation.
Evaluative research assesses the effectiveness of existing and proposed solutions, ensuring they meet user needs and are easy to use.
Strategic research informs high-level planning, such as digital strategies and product or service redesigns.
Tactical research focuses on specific improvements, such as refining an information architecture (IA) or optimising a user flow.

Torchbox is committed to conducting research that respects participants, delivers meaningful insights, and drives positive change. This policy reflects our dedication to ethical, inclusive, and responsible research practices.