Research and Data Collection in Ireland
Research and data collection is remote work that turns a vague question into a structured answer. A client might need competitor pricing across a dozen Irish counties, a list of planning applications from local authority websites, a cleaned spreadsheet of supplier contacts, or interview transcripts coded into themes. The customer writes the brief: what decision the research supports, which sources count, what format the output takes, and when it is needed. ShamFix publishes the task so that virtual assistants working in this category can find it. The customer can browse provider profiles by county and contact them directly. Posting a task on ShamFix costs nothing today. The work itself is done remotely, so the assistant does not need to be in the same county as the client, though Irish context often matters when the sources are Irish.
What shapes the price of research and data collection
- Research and data collection is usually priced in one of three ways.
- A fixed project price suits a defined deliverable, such as a set of twenty company profiles or a cleaned dataset of five hundred rows.
- An hourly rate suits exploratory work where the scope is genuinely unknown at the start.
- A monthly retainer suits ongoing monitoring, such as a weekly digest of tender notices or a rolling competitor tracker.
- The biggest risk in this category is scope creep: a request for one more source, a few more rows, or a second round of analysis that was never in the brief.
- Agree in advance what is in and out, how many revisions are included, and what happens if the source material turns out to be harder to reach than expected.
- A data collection job that involves scraping a website, transcribing audio, or translating material may take longer than the client assumes.
- Ask the assistant to state their assumptions in writing before work begins.
How long research and data collection takes
A small research task, such as compiling a list of fifty contacts from public sources, can be done in a few days. A larger data collection project, such as building a database from several websites, often runs in stages: a scoping call, a pilot batch of records for approval, the main collection, then cleaning and delivery. Transcription and coding of interviews usually takes longer than the interview itself. If the work depends on access to a third-party system, build in time for permissions. Ask for a stage-by-stage timeline with dates, not a single delivery date, so you can see progress. A retainer arrangement usually has a monthly cycle with a fixed number of hours or a fixed output. Set a review point halfway through so that any misunderstanding about the brief is caught early rather than at the end.
What to ask before you hire
- 01Ask what is included and what is not.
- 02A good brief names the sources, the number of records, the output format, and the deadline.
- 03Ask how many rounds of revisions are included and what counts as a revision rather than new work.
- 04Ask who owns the result: the raw data, the cleaned file, the analysis, and any code or scripts used to collect it.
- 05Ask how access is handed over, especially if the assistant needs temporary access to a database, a shared drive, or a paid data source.
- 06Ask how they will handle gaps, duplicates, or ambiguous entries.
- 07Ask which professional body they are a member of if the work touches a regulated area such as market research or data protection.
- 08Ask for a short sample of similar work, such as a cleaned sheet or a summary report, so you can judge the format before you commit.
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Research and data collection questions people ask
What is the difference between research and data collection?
Research answers a question, while data collection gathers the raw material. Research might ask why sales fell in Munster last quarter; data collection might gather the sales figures, competitor prices, and customer comments that let you investigate. In practice the two overlap. A brief should say which one you need, or both, and what the final output looks like.
How do I write a brief for a data collection project?
State the decision the work supports, the sources that count, the number of records, the output format, and the deadline. Add what is out of scope. If you need a spreadsheet, say which columns and how dates and names should be formatted. A one-page brief with a sample row prevents most misunderstandings before work starts.
What does scope creep mean in a research project?
Scope creep is when small additions push the work beyond the original brief. Examples include adding another county, another year of data, or a second round of analysis without adjusting the price or timeline. Agree in writing what is included, how many revisions are covered, and what triggers a new quote.
Who owns the data and the final report?
Ownership should be agreed before work begins. Usually the client owns the final deliverable and the cleaned data, while the assistant may retain the right to reuse generic methods or templates. If the assistant writes scripts to collect data, say whether those scripts transfer to you. Put the answer in the brief, not in a later email.
How should access be handed over for a data project?
Use temporary access where possible. Create a separate account or a shared folder with only the files needed, and revoke access when the work is done. Avoid sharing your main password. If a paid data source is required, agree who pays for it and whether the assistant can export the data for you.
How long does a typical research project take?
A small task can take a few days, while a larger project with multiple sources and cleaning usually runs for two to four weeks. Timelines depend on access, the number of records, and how quickly you give feedback. Ask for stage dates so you can see progress before the final delivery.
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