The best market and social research was recognised at an awards dinner last night, with two awards given to work done for Coles, one for work on NAB’s business account and several for research conducted for the public sector.

Over 200 guests attended the Research Industry Councils of Australia’s (RICA) Research Effectiveness Awards event, held in Sydney, where 12 awards were presented across seven categories, including, for the first time, a Young Researchers of Year award.

The work for Coles, conducted in by Garreth Chandler from Evolve Research and Shane Hall from Web Down Under alongside Kim Xavier from Coles, resulted in awards in two categories – the consumer insights category and technology effectiveness category.

Gundabluey, a boutique research agency based in Warrandyte in Victoria, took out the business to business category for its Quarterly Business Survey run by Sarah Wrigley for NAB.

President of RICA, Peter Harris said the awards were a biennial event that the research industry looks forward to every second year. “We all take pride in the quality of our work, and for so many individuals and organisations to be formally recognised for their exceptional work, at such a prestigious event is a true honour for those involved.”

Work done for the public sector which won awards on the night included a piece of research done tracking Defence recruitment ads by Hall and Partners and Open Mind, public policy research for the Victorian Department of Human Services, also conducted by Hall and Partners and Open Mind and research into The Victorian Disability Services Commissioner Annual Complaints Reporting online tool, conducted by ORIMA Research.

The innovation in methodology award was won by Ken Roberts and Elaine Wong from Forethought Research for quantitative measurement research looking at consumption-related emotions evoked non-consciously by branding and communications.

Young Researcher of the Year went to Melissa DeVincentis of Colmar Brunton.