Research Brief Generator

Create a focused research brief to align stakeholders on player research objectives.

Context Gathering

Before creating the research brief, understand the research need:

Identify the Trigger

• What prompted this research need?
• What decision is blocked without data?
• What assumptions need validation?
• What's the urgency level?

Define Scope

• What specific aspects need research?
• What's in scope vs. out of scope?
• What do we already know?
• What gaps exist in current knowledge?

Understand Stakeholders

• Who needs these insights?
• What format do they prefer?
• When do they need results?
• How will results be used?

Check Resources

• What methods are available?
• What budget exists?
• What timeline is realistic?
• What expertise is needed?

Use this context to create a focused research brief.

Output Format

# Research Brief: [Research Title]

## Executive Summary
**Research question:** [One sentence describing what we need to learn]
**Method:** [Survey / Interview / Playtest / Analytics / Mixed]
**Timeline:** [Start to results]
**Decision this informs:** [What will change based on findings]

---

## Background

### Context
[2-3 sentences explaining why this research is needed now. What triggered it? What's the business context?]

### Current Knowledge
**What we know:**
- [Existing data point or assumption]
- [Existing data point or assumption]
- [Existing data point or assumption]

**What we don't know:**
- [Gap in knowledge]
- [Gap in knowledge]
- [Gap in knowledge]

### Hypothesis
[Statement of what we believe might be true, to be validated or refuted]

---

## Research Objectives

### Primary Objective
[The single most important question to answer]

### Secondary Objectives
1. [Additional question to answer]
2. [Additional question to answer]
3. [Additional question to answer]

### Out of Scope
- [What this research will NOT cover]
- [What this research will NOT cover]

---

## Target Audience

### Who We're Researching
**Profile:** [Description of target participants]

**Criteria:**
| Requirement | Specification |
|-------------|---------------|
| Game experience | [Played X hours / Reached level Y / etc.] |
| Recency | [Active within X days] |
| Segment | [Specific player segment if any] |
| Exclusions | [Who to exclude] |

### Sample
**Target N:** [Number of participants]
**Rationale:** [Why this number is sufficient]

---

## Methodology

### Recommended Approach
**Method:** [Survey / Interview / Playtest / etc.]
**Rationale:** [Why this method fits the objectives]

### Alternatives Considered
| Method | Pros | Cons | Why Not |
|--------|------|------|---------|
| [Alt method] | [Pro] | [Con] | [Reason] |

### Key Measures
| Objective | Measure | Data Type |
|-----------|---------|-----------|
| [Objective 1] | [What we'll measure] | [Quant/Qual] |
| [Objective 2] | [What we'll measure] | [Quant/Qual] |

---

## Success Criteria

### What "Good" Looks Like
**Actionable:** Results clearly point to specific decisions
**Reliable:** Sample size provides confidence in findings
**Timely:** Insights arrive before decision deadline

### Minimum Viable Research
[What's the minimum we need to answer the primary objective?]

### Ideal Outcome
[What would a perfect research outcome look like?]

---

## Logistics

### Timeline
| Phase | Duration | Dates |
|-------|----------|-------|
| Brief approval | [X days] | [Dates] |
| Instrument design | [X days] | [Dates] |
| Recruitment | [X days] | [Dates] |
| Data collection | [X days] | [Dates] |
| Analysis | [X days] | [Dates] |
| Reporting | [X days] | [Dates] |

### Resources Required
**People:**
- [Role needed and time commitment]
- [Role needed and time commitment]

**Tools:**
- [Tool/platform needed]

**Budget:**
- Participant incentives: $[X]
- Tools/services: $[X]
- Total: $[X]

### Dependencies
- [What must happen before research can start]
- [What could block progress]

---

## Stakeholders

### RACI
| Person/Role | Responsibility |
|-------------|----------------|
| [Name/Role] | **R**esponsible - Executes research |
| [Name/Role] | **A**ccountable - Approves decisions |
| [Name/Role] | **C**onsulted - Provides input |
| [Name/Role] | **I**nformed - Receives updates |

### Communication Plan
| Milestone | Who | Format |
|-----------|-----|--------|
| Brief approved | [Who] | [Meeting/email] |
| Data collection complete | [Who] | [Update format] |
| Results ready | [Who] | [Presentation/doc] |

---

## Deliverables

### Primary Deliverable
**Format:** [Report / Presentation / Dashboard]
**Contents:** [What it will include]
**Delivery:** [Date and method]

### Supporting Materials
- Raw data: [Yes/No, format]
- Video clips: [If applicable]
- Recommendations document: [If applicable]

---

## Risks and Mitigation

| Risk | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation |
|------|------------|--------|------------|
| Low response rate | [H/M/L] | [H/M/L] | [Plan] |
| Biased sample | [H/M/L] | [H/M/L] | [Plan] |
| Timeline slip | [H/M/L] | [H/M/L] | [Plan] |
| Inconclusive results | [H/M/L] | [H/M/L] | [Plan] |

---

## Approval

### Sign-off Required From
- [ ] [Name/Role] - Research sponsor
- [ ] [Name/Role] - Budget owner
- [ ] [Name/Role] - [Other stakeholder]

### Next Steps Upon Approval
1. [First action]
2. [Second action]
3. [Third action]

---

*Brief created: [Date]*
*Version: 1.0*

Generate a focused research brief based on the research need and constraints.