Best of Brits 2010

I love the concept of a "Best of Brits" – a concentrated version of the AQR/QRCA conference in Prague, that many of us couldn't get to but heard great things about, all slotted into a handy half day that we could fit around projects. It didn’t disappoint. The pace was great – 20-minute presentations, three super Pecha Kucha sessions and an invigorating Q&A session.

The big issues were hit head on, with a wonderfully thought-provoking paper "Coming out of the Recession" by Simon Patterson of QRI Consulting, who took a helicopter view of the recession and the possible outcomes. While the effects have been dire for many, and may well continue, it was uplifting to hear that for society, this may prompt a move away from consumerism towards other measures of success and fulfillment.

Next up was Nunwood's Anna Thomas. She gave us a perfect and pacey heads up as to why teens really are different, and how this is all down to brain development. She also covered what, as researchers, we might need to consider when engaging with this group. And all this by 10am!

After coffee it was on to the quick fire Pecha Kucha sessions. Three fantastic and charismatic performances, Qualitatus Decrepitus, where Andy Barker from Engage Research challenged us to question the surprisingly conservative underlying culture of qual in the UK; Polyphony, not Cacophony by Bob Cook from Firefish, questioned whether we are experiencing cacophony or achieving an enlightening polyphonic experience through online listening; and Dare! by Joanna Chrzanowska from Qualitative Mind, who challenged us all to rethink the very nature of qualitative research – and in my view succeeded.

It's not often I get that "hairs on the back on the neck" feeling about research, but I did from the next paper, First Shave: A research approach for start-ups, by Chloe Fowler and Elle Atton, at Razor Research. They shared with us their truly innovative idea of offering free research to start-ups, both to help support these fledgling businesses understand their customers and the market, but also to build a relationship that might be profitable for all concerned over time. Their clients' reactions showed it is great for qualitative research's image, too.

Finally, Nicki Karet and Emma Worrollo from Sherbert Research shared a lively and innovative approach for "moderatorless" research with kids, tasking and filming them during sleepovers with their friends. This took us into the "world of the child" and was a reminder just how creative our industry can be in generating insight.

I was sorry when it was all over. This was a real sharing experience and I am very grateful for the generosity of the contributors. It has given me so many ideas that I've been able to apply to projects and proposals since, and I hope this becomes another great AQR event.

Matt Dobbin
Discovery Research