2015-2016 Millennial Running Study Research Partner Overview
Study Background
Millennials (born 1980-2000) comprise the largest generation in history and make up the largest group within the 42 million Americans today who are considered runners. The goal of the Millennial Running Study is to help Running USA members understand the factors behind this generation’s motivations and how they participate in running events.
Why? As in most other sectors of our lives, this huge generation’s attitudes and behaviors are influencing running events – and can significantly change the running industry in the future.
Study Components
The study will be conducted in two parts:
Phase1: Quantitative Survey
Research Partners will distribute an online survey to participants of run/race/walks from January 1, 2015, until the present. The survey will contain the following features:
- • Mobile-friendly
- • Demographic captures – age, ethnicity, race
- • 5-7 minutes in length
- • Skip logic and looping for data capture optimization
The survey will be distributed during the months of July and August. During that time, Research Partners will send at least two communications about the survey. Promotional copy will be provided by RacePartners.
Phase 2: Research Panel
Individuals that opt in to the research panel at the end of the online survey will participate in an activity-tracking and perception panel. The individuals agree to be tracked for 9 months to help researchers understand participation or lack thereof in run/race/walks.
The Research Panel research will start September 2015 and conclude May 2016. Achieve will request participation and communication information from the Research Partner through which the individual participates; Research Partners will be required to provide this information. Requests will occur at three-month intervals from the start of the panel.
Timeline
March 1 - April 15, 2015
Potential Research Partners indicate interest on the Millennial Running Study website (millennialrunningstudy.com).
July 7, 2015
Selected Research Partners are notified.
July 15, 2015
Notice of participation due to Achieve
August 12, 2015
Research Partner Welcome Meeting and Review of Survey Methodology and Approach – Web Conference
September 1-15, 2015
Individual Meetings with Research Partners to Discuss Distribution of Survey and to Answer Questions
October 1-31, 2015
Research Partners distribute digital survey link(s) through various communication channels to race participants. Research Partners send at least two communications to race participants. Achieve checks in with each partner weekly to report progress.
November 12, 2015
Advisory Board Meeting – Web Conference Review of Research Progress
November 15 - December 31, 2015
Qualitative Interviews and Behavior Tracking Begins
January 30, 2016
Advisory Board Meeting – Web Conference Review of Survey Data and Qualitative Interviews
February 10-12, 2016
Running USA Conference – Public Debut of First Phase of Research
March 12, 2016
Advisory Board Meeting – Web Conference Review of Behavior Tracking Data
April 12, 2016
Public Update Provided to Race Community
Research Partner Obligations & Benefits
Millennial Running Study Research Partners agree to perform the following:
- Complete organization profile form.
- Distribute unique online research study link to race participants from January 1, 2015, to the present at least two times between July 1 and August 31, 2015.
- Provide race participant activity and communication data on individuals who have opted in to and are participating as a member of the research panel.
In exchange for participating as a Research Partner, Achieve will provide the following:
- Data from race participants completing the online survey.
- Advance preview of the research report and study prior to public distribution.
- Recognition in the research report as a Research Partner.
Data
Throughout the study, Achieve will not receive any personal identifying data on race participants. Race participants that take the online survey will be prescribed a survey identifying number. This random number will be assigned to the research participant for purposes of aggregate data analysis.
If the individual participant opts into the research panel, they will agree to allow Achieve to contact the organization for tracking communication and activity data.
Achieve and the Research Partner will complete and sign a Data Usage Agreement (DUA) that details the privacy and control of data for the study. A copy of the DUA for review accompanies this overview as an addendum.