How to become a Researcher

576

11,399

£25,000/y

avg. starting salary

Enjoy looking for answers? Then look no further; put your natural curiosity to good use and become a Researcher… A Researcher collects information and studies data in their chosen field, which can be used to make informed political, social, and economic decisions. Potential specialisms for a Researcher to move into range from scientific research, such as helping to develop medical products by conducting scientific experiments, to social and even television research, which help inform the nation’s favourite TV shows. Although specific responsibilities vary dependant on industry, general tasks for a Researcher include:

Meeting and communicating with clients to discuss project plans
Using electronic databases to collect information
Spotting trends in data
Using statistical software to manage and organise material
Building research proposals and detailed reports
Presenting findings to the client or senior management

Regardless of the sector you’re involved in, a great amount of patience, not to mention a keen eye for detail, are absolutely essential attributes for a Researcher to have. Because of the analytical nature of the role, you must be methodical in the way you carry out tasks and be able to provide valid, proven evidence behind your theories. A good Researcher should also be:

Resourceful and creative
Persistent and self-confident
Proficient in maths and literacy
Able to take responsibility for their work and handle working under pressure
Passionate about the use of statistics

Research Assistant

Up to £25,000

Researcher

Up to £35,000

Senior Researcher

Up to £50,000

"As a Scientific Researcher, my main role is to carry out various experiments, which give me a good opportunity to learn new things. Specialising in diseases and how they affect the brain, my job is to examine the damage and present my findings in a coherent format. Although the job can be full-on at times, when you’re really dedicated to an experiment you find yourself looking forward to the outcome, and at that point, all of your hard work becomes worthwhile. It’s also pretty cool to be able to tell people that you’re basically a Scientist."

Get qualified

To become a Researcher, you will need to have completed a related degree ideally in the field of research you’d like to enter e.g. social sciences, business and economics, or science. There are also various courses available specialising in qualitative and quantitative research which could help you break into the industry.

Recommended Researcher courses

Professional Certificate in User Research

UX Design Institute
- Compare
- New course!
- Online
- 16 weeks · Self-paced
- Professional certification
- Exam(s) included
- Certificate(s) included
- Tutor support
See more See less

...to user research Planning the research Fundamental user research skills Expanding your toolkit Analysing qualitative research Quantitative research Communicating the research AI for user research UX designers seeking to enhance their user research skills UX researchers looking for …
£1,750
Level 7 Diploma in Research Methods

Cambridge Management and Leadership School Ltd

Lifetime access | Ofqual Accredited | Exclusive discount| Study Support is included
- Compare
- Online
- Self-paced
- Regulated qualification
- Tutor support
Great service

See more See less

Level 7 Certificate in Research Methods deals with principles of research including formulations of research questions, hypothesis and objectives. The unit will cover literature reviews, referencing, data collection using interviews and surveys, questionnaire design …
£480