media research organisations

                                         Radio joint audience research

Method and type of data.

The R.A.J.A.R is an organisation that stands for radio joint audience research. what this organisation does is measures radio audiences in the UK.  the reason why the word joint is in the name is because it is owned by both the BBC and the radio centre. there is about 310 radio stations on the survey. the organisation uses dairy as a method to measure radio audience, the data that they collect is the industry wide currency for planning, buying and selling advertising on commercial radio. in July 2011 RAJAR awarded RSMB a sound extension to the radio industry research contract, which will
 run until the end of 2014. Diary is an effective method  for RAJAR because it measures  live radio listening in the uk and recruits roughly 100,000 respondents per year.

Data collection

RAJAR is responsible for setting the research specification, the awarding of the research contracts to third party suppliers and the overall quality control, management and delivery of the service. The day to day operations are overseen by the chief executive and research director. RAJAR collect data by means of a seven day self completion diary. The paper diary is customised at placement. Each respondent is asked to sort through a set off cards with the names of all the radio stations in the area and invited to select all the stations which they might litsen to or hear in various situations. This process provides a station repertoire for the selected individual which is then entered in the diary by the interviewer,using station name labels.All paper diaries are collected personally by interviewers at the end of the seven days.

Data processing

Scanning: All questionnaires and diaries are processed using optical scanning technology.Following this,the scanned data undergoes a series of checking procedures including a computer program designed to test quality by checking for any logical inconsistencies.

Write in: write in listeining is where a respondent writes in the name of a station for which there is no label, is attributed to BBC Local or local commercial as applicable. If the station cannot be identified it is coded as other litsening.

Editing: listening records for digital only service are cross referenced agasint platform ownership and acess claims collected from the recruitment questionnaire.

Using the data

RAJAR is most concerned that there should be no misuse or misrepresentation of information and if necessary, may restrict publication rights. Misuse includes the publication or other dissemination of results prior to the embargo date and time specified for the quarterly summary of radio listening. The publication of data provided for internal use only for example monthly results, data for opt out services or sub area analyses.

Where to find data

topline data such as weekly hours and weekly reach per station is free of charge and published every quater on this website. anymore detailed information such as results by show, by time band, by demographics,is only accessible to RAJAR subscribers. There are various levels of subscription depending on the requested level of details, For complete flexiability of analysis you will also need a bureau licence for example accsess to RAJAR licensed data analysis software.

 Data presented to clients

Measurement of audiences for all radio services is countinous throughout 50 week of the year but excluding the christmas and new year holiday peroid. Results are published on a quarterly basis, but based on the appropriate minimum survey peroid,according to each stations survey area adult population and the minimum reporting sample required. The RAJAR presents their data to clients by having a table with the information about about digital services. RAJAR currently surveys over 300 indivudul stations broadcasting in the UK,of which 55 belong to the BBC. These stations vary greatly in size, from national to local, with the smallest being surveyed on an area of 50,000 adults. only ofcom llicensed stations can request to be measured by RAJAR.

Why it is important to clients

RAJAR estimates listenership of over 300 radio stations who listens,where,when and how, it is the trading currency for radio broadcasters,it is used by the media agencies to plan and buy advertising in radio airtime, it is used by radio owners to pitch for business, sell adverising airtime and monitor programmes performance. Both agencies and media owners use the sam sorce of information in their transactions this provides an open transprent basis for conducting business.