Participant Information

Last updated: 26 July 2026

Thank you for considering taking part

I’m conducting research into a question I’ve become increasingly interested in over the last few years:

Can AI improve the quality of communications thinking, not just make it faster to produce communications?

This research is part of the Communication Reasoning Research Programme. The aim is to better understand how communications professionals think, make decisions and use AI in their work.

I’m not trying to prove a particular answer. I’m trying to discover whether there is one.

What taking part involves

If you choose to participate, you’ll have a short conversation with an AI interviewer.

The interview usually takes around five minutes.

You’ll be asked about your experience of communications work, how you currently use AI (if at all), and your views on planning, decision-making and professional judgement.

There are no right or wrong answers. I’m interested in your experience, not testing your knowledge.

Do I have to take part?

No.

Participation is entirely voluntary.

Before the interview begins you’ll be asked whether you wish to continue and whether you agree to your conversation being recorded for research purposes.

You can end the interview at any time. If you decide not to continue, that’s absolutely fine.

What will be recorded?

With your permission, the interview will be recorded so that it can be transcribed and analysed afterwards.

The research may include:

  • the audio recording of your interview;

  • a transcript of what was said;

  • coded research observations;

  • anonymised analysis of themes across participants.

Where possible, research findings will be reported in a way that does not identify individual participants.

If I ever want to publish an identifiable quotation or attribute a comment to you, I will ask for your permission first.

Please don’t share confidential information

Although I’m interested in real experiences, please don’t disclose:

  • confidential employer information;

  • commercially sensitive information;

  • client information;

  • personal information about colleagues or other individuals.

General examples are much more useful than confidential details.

What is the purpose of the research?

The purpose of this research is to understand how communications professionals make decisions and whether AI can support professional judgement in meaningful ways.

This is research, not a product demonstration.

The findings may eventually inform future tools or services, but taking part in the research does not mean you’ll receive marketing emails or sales approaches. If I ever offer commercial updates, you’ll always be asked separately.

How will my information be used?

Your responses will be used only for research purposes.

They may help identify patterns, themes and ideas across multiple participants, and may contribute to future articles, presentations or research reports.

Where findings are published, they will normally be presented in aggregated or anonymised form.

Who can take part?

This research is intended for people involved in communications, organisational change or related leadership roles.

That includes people who:

  • create communications;

  • review or approve communications;

  • commission communications;

  • lead communications teams;

  • lead organisational change or transformation.

You don’t need to be an AI expert. In fact, I’m just as interested in hearing from people who rarely use AI as those who use it every day.

How long will my information be kept?

Research interviews and associated research data are kept only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes of the research.

Where appropriate, information will be securely deleted or anonymised once it is no longer needed.

More information can be found in the Privacy & Cookies Policy.

Your rights

You can ask to:

  • access the personal information I hold about you;

  • correct inaccurate information;

  • request deletion of identifiable information where appropriate;

  • ask questions about how your information is being used.

If you have any concerns about the research or how your information is handled, please contact me.

Questions?

If you’d like to know more about the research before taking part, I’d be happy to hear from you.

rich@richbaker.com

You can also read the Privacy & Cookies Policy for more information about how personal information is handled.

Return to the Research page or Start the AI Interview.