When preparing to give a speech, there are several common types of information that you can collect from your audience. For example, you can gather information by survey, interview, or non-verbal responses. You can also collect information about your audience’s behavior during and after the speech. These types of information will give you a better idea of their thoughts. But, to get the most out of this data from several types of information that you can find out about your audience, you must understand how to collect it most effectively.
Surveys
Surveys are one of the most popular ways to gather information from your audience. The good news is that there are many different types of surveys, each of which has its strengths and weaknesses. If you’re not sure how to design a survey, here are a few tips:
A self-selected survey involves asking questions of a sample of your audience. This is advantageous since you can guarantee responses if the survey sample is representative of the entire audience. A survey asking ten thousand people the same questions would be very labor-intensive. However, a small selection of only 500 people would be easier to manage. It’s essential to choose your model carefully, as every single response has a different impact on the study’s outcome.
A longitudinal survey is a long-term survey that follows the same audience for some time. The questions are designed to track the behavior and thought process of the audience over time. Longitudinal surveys are ideal for long-term feedback on products and services, as they can reveal patterns and trends over time. When used correctly, these surveys can provide valuable information to help improve your performance and your audience’s experience.
Interviews
These forms of information gathering have several advantages. They are quick to conduct and are generally consistent across multiple samples. Unlike other types of research, structured interviews give the researcher the benefit of knowing the margin of error for every response. In addition, they allow for large numbers of respondents, making it possible to contact a representative sample of the target audience. This makes them especially useful for surveys. However, there are some disadvantages, as well.
For a successful interview, prepare a list of questions that are generally relevant to your target audience. This helps you create a natural conversation and increase the likelihood of the subject seeing and meeting other members of their target audience. When conducting an interview, always bring a recording device, a reporter’s notebook, a pen, and a backup pencil. When conducting an interview, ensure that you have the consent of your subject before recording the information. You can also ask them to turn off their mobile phones during the interview.
Nonverbal responses
If you’re a speaker or presenter, you know that most of your audience’s communication is nonverbal. As many as 93 percent of it is nonverbal. Nonverbal cues are rich with meaning, and you’ll be surprised at how much you can learn from their body language alone. Listed below are three common nonverbal responses from your audience.
In addition to body language, nonverbal responses to common types of information from your audience include distance, hand gestures, eye contact, and facial expressions. When used correctly, they enhance the content of your speech and invite the audience to pay attention. For example, if you babble, you’re expressing excitement or energy while speaking slowly conveys a tone of seriousness. Your facial muscles can also share information depending on your culture and language.
Facial expressions communicate meaning. For example, when speaking about global injustice, information is abundant, and your audience needs to be convinced of your commitment to the topic. Using your facial expressions to convey your commitment to the issue and your overall feelings about it can significantly impact how your audience interprets your message. Remember that people interpret nonverbal responses differently, so practice your nonverbal communication before delivering your speech.