Understanding Academic Research – When, How, and Why It’s Used
Syno International
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Welcome to the Latest Edition of Syno’s Insights! 📬
This time, we’re diving into the world of academic research – a field where structured inquiry meets real-world impact. Whether you’re part of a university, NGO, public institution, or a student working on your thesis, this edition is packed with practical knowledge to support your next study or project. Here’s what you’ll find inside:
📍 What Is Academic Research – and Why It Matters: We break down the purpose and scope of academic research, showing how it goes far beyond the classroom. From informing public policy to guiding long-term strategy, academic studies play a key role in shaping how organizations and societies function.
📍 Who Uses It – and How: Academic research supports a wide range of users, from students and professors to public institutions and private-sector collaborators. We share examples that show its value across different fields and how it helps build credibility through evidence-based insights.
📍 How to Define the Right Audience: One of the most critical (and underestimated) steps in academic research is identifying who you should actually be surveying. We offer clear, actionable tips for building a relevant and reliable target group, because better data starts with asking the right people.
📍 Academic Research vs. Market Research: Curious how academic research differs from what you might see in a typical brand or product study? We walk through the key differences - and surprising overlaps - between academic and commercial research to help you choose the right approach for your next project.
Academic research is a structured approach to discovering new knowledge, understanding complex phenomena, and contributing to long-term insights across various disciplines.
But it’s not limited to universities – it also serves organizations, policymakers, and students looking to solve real-world challenges.
Why does it matter? It seeks to understand the bigger picture. Unlike market research, which is often focused on short-term goals like improving a product or campaign, academic research explores deeper questions that help us understand how people think, act, and interact with the world. It builds long-term knowledge, tests theories, and provides a foundation for progress in fields like education, public health, sustainability, and social policy.
Where market research helps businesses make smarter choices, academic research helps society learn, grow, and evolve.
Academic research focuses on building knowledge that lasts. It helps us understand complex systems, social behaviors, and long-term trends. Even though it’s not always fast - it’s thoughtful, structured, and essential for real progress. - Per-Erik Kärnekull , Head of EMEA | Syno
Academic research is used in more places than you might expect. Beyond higher education, it plays a key role in shaping public discourse, validating social policies, and informing long-term business or development strategies.
Common users include:
📚 Universities and research institutions that use it to explore new theories or strengthen teaching programs.
📚 NGOs and public bodies that apply findings to real-life issues like health, education, and sustainability.
📚 Students who use academic surveys in their final papers, theses, and group projects.
📚 Private companies that collaborate with academics to back business decisions with credible data.
Whether you're exploring public sentiment or testing behavioral patterns, academic research can offer clarity backed by evidence.
Finding the right audience for your academic survey can make or break your research.
It’s not just about who you can reach – it’s about who you should be asking.
📚 Start by clearly defining your research goals.
📚 Then think about the types of people whose opinions or experiences are most relevant to your topic.
📚 From there, segment your population using demographics, behavior, or interests.
Getting the research question right is only half the job – the other half is making sure you’re asking the right people. A clearly defined target group isn’t just a technical detail – it’s what ensures your findings are valid, relevant, and applicable. If your sample doesn’t match the population you’re studying, even the best-designed study can produce results that lead you in the wrong direction. - Per-Erik Kärnekull , Head of EMEA | Syno
We have a step-by-step breakdown - check it out. ⬇️
Academic and market research might look similar at first glance, but their goals, timelines, and audiences often differ.
📚 Academic research is typically long-term, theory-driven, and meant to inform or challenge existing knowledge.
📚 Market research is more action-oriented, focused on product feedback, brand performance, pricing, or advertising effectiveness.
💡 Imagine this:
A researcher is studying how social media affects teenage sleep patterns, aiming to understand long-term mental health impacts. That’s academic research.
A brand, on the other hand, wants to know what time teens are most likely to engage with ads on TikTok. That’s market research.
Both use surveys and data, but the purpose behind them is completely different.
Curious about the distinctions and overlaps? Learn more about the similarities and differences of both. ⬇️
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