Research Engagements
Independent research for evidence-led decisions.
Rigorous, independent research for businesses, nonprofits, associations, and institutions — from customer and market insights to competitive analysis, SWOT and state-of-the-industry studies, and full literature reviews. Engage Sovereign+ to conduct the research for you, or to coach your team through it.
Led by a CITI Program–certified researcher · EdDWhy it matters
A decision is only as sound as the evidence beneath it.
Most strategies don’t fail at execution. They fail upstream — built on assumptions no one tested, market data that quietly aged out, or a read of the customer that was never actually researched. Independent research replaces the confident guess with evidence: what’s true, what’s changed, and what the decision actually rests on.
Sovereign+ research is conducted to academic standards — primary and secondary research, qualitative and quantitative methods, sound survey design, defensible sampling, and transparent analysis. As a CITI Program–certified researcher trained in human subjects protections and the responsible conduct of research, Dr. Elisa Janson Jones brings the rigor and research ethics that make findings credible to a board, a funder, or a peer reviewer.
- Primary & secondary researchOriginal data collection and synthesis of existing evidence.
- Qualitative & quantitative methodsInterviews and focus groups to numbers and statistical analysis.
- Survey & instrument designQuestionnaire design, methodology, and defensible sampling.
- Research ethics — CITI-certifiedHuman subjects protections and responsible conduct of research.
What we research
The research most decisions are missing.
A research-only engagement can stand entirely on its own — no full strategy retainer required. Common studies include:
Customer & Audience Insights
Voice-of-customer research, surveys, interviews, and segmentation to learn what your buyers and members actually value.
Market Research & Sizing
Demand research and market sizing (TAM / SAM / SOM) to size the opportunity before you invest in it.
Competitive Analysis
Competitor benchmarking and competitive-landscape mapping — where you stand, and where the white space is.
SWOT Analysis
A structured, evidence-based assessment of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
State-of-the-Industry Studies
Industry and sector analysis, trend research, and environmental scans (PESTEL) that show where the field is heading.
Literature Reviews
Secondary research and evidence synthesis that turn what’s already known into a defensible foundation.
Qualitative Research
Interviews, focus groups, and thematic analysis for the “why” behind the numbers.
Quantitative & Data Analysis
Statistical analysis and data interpretation that turn raw numbers into clear, usable findings.
Program & Needs Evaluation
Needs assessments and program evaluation for nonprofits, associations, and educational institutions.
Also available: market-entry and feasibility studies, brand and message testing, member and stakeholder surveys, pricing and willingness-to-pay research, white papers, and custom research design for grant-funded and mission-driven work.
How it works
Have it done — or learn to do it.
Full-service research
Sovereign+ scopes, conducts, and delivers the complete study — research design, data collection, analysis, and a report your team can act on, present to a board, or submit to a funder. The independent, third-party perspective an internal team can’t produce for itself.
Coached & mentored research
For teams who want to run the research themselves: we design the study with you, advise on methodology and research ethics, and coach you through collection and analysis — an unaffiliated, credentialed expert keeping the work rigorous and the findings credible.
Especially valuable for nonprofits, associations, grant-funded programs, educational institutions, and individual researchers who need an unaffiliated, CITI-certified researcher on the work — whether to conduct it or to guide it.
Questions
Research engagements, answered.
What is an independent research engagement?
It’s a stand-alone research project — customer insights, market or competitive analysis, a SWOT, a state-of-the-industry study, a literature review, and more — conducted by an external, unaffiliated researcher. You get the evidence you need for a specific decision without committing to a full strategy engagement.
Why hire an external researcher instead of doing it in-house?
Internal teams are close to the work, which makes objective research hard and self-confirming conclusions easy. An independent, third-party researcher brings neutrality, methodological rigor, and the credibility that boards, funders, grant reviewers, and peer reviewers trust — precisely because the researcher has no stake in the answer.
What does it mean to be a CITI-certified researcher?
The CITI Program (Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative) is the standard certification in human subjects protections and the responsible conduct of research — the same training universities and Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) require. A CITI-certified researcher conducts studies ethically, protects participants, and uses defensible, transparent methods.
Can you coach our team to run the research ourselves?
Yes. In a coaching engagement we design the study together, advise on methodology and research ethics, and guide your team through data collection and analysis — so the capability stays in-house while the work stays rigorous. It’s ideal for organizations building lasting research capacity.
Do you work with nonprofits and organizations, not just businesses?
Yes. Research engagements serve businesses, nonprofits, associations, educational institutions, and individual researchers — including grant-funded and mission-driven work that specifically requires an unaffiliated, credentialed researcher to conduct or oversee the study.
What types of research do you conduct?
Customer and audience insights, market research and sizing, competitive analysis, SWOT analysis, state-of-the-industry and trend studies, literature reviews, survey and instrument design, qualitative and quantitative research, data analysis, feasibility studies, and program and needs evaluation.
Start with the evidence.
Tell us the decision in front of you. We’ll scope the research that answers it — or coach your team to run it themselves.