meaning: The Macer View/2

	The Macer View
	Comment and analysis from Tim Macer Number 2, May 2003

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The Macer View

Setting a standard: at last a reward for research technology

The market research industry, especially in this country, has a solid track record in encouraging best practice. It does this through conferences, professional development, qualifications, codes of conduct and through its various awards to highlight the pinnacle of aspiration. But among the gongs for achievement, innovation and life-long contributions to research, the one contributor missing from the platform has been research technology. So rousing cheers for the MRS and the Association of Survey Computing, for announcing their joint award for technology effectiveness, to be presented at the November MRS Annual Awards Dinner. Having an award for technology effectiveness immediately does two things. It helps to put our many IT and DP suppliers and practitioners on the map of an industry that all too often seems to ignore them. More importantly, it opens up an important discourse into what best practice is in the application of technology to the business of research.

It is a debate that I will be having, as one of the judging panel, with my fellow judges in the run up to November, and it is a debate that must continue more widely. Technology continues to proliferate and surround us and our processes. It often brings great benefits but it can also take away something - control, imagination, time to think or more worryingly, the need to think. It is high time for us to develop a consensus over what makes for good practice, such as how far should the technology take us in ensuring high professional standards, and who is responsible, researcher, technical user or technology provider.

It is timely for the industry and those involved to consider more fully the creativity, imagination, skill, judgement and, yes, even the ethics involved in supporting research with technology. The next challenge is to get best practice in technology on the agenda for training, both from the software suppliers and the professional associations.

The MRS/ASC Joint Award for Technology Effectiveness

This new award is for outstanding innovation in the application of software or technology for research which has directly achieved a demonstrable improvement in the effectiveness of actual research delivered. Four short-listed nominations will be announced at the ASC International Conference, Warwick University, 17-19 September. The winner will be announced at the MRS Awards Dinner in London on the 25 November. Entry for nomination is open to anyone developing or using technology in research: see the ASC or MRS website for entry forms and entry criteria. Entries must be with the ASC by 30 June.