Given that the year has just begun, it would be good to inform ourselves about the events that will take place in 2020, in terms of market research, as this is ultimately our field of activity, right?
In today's article we will find out what these meetings actually are and what is the difference between a conference, a seminar, a workshop and a symposium. Also, considering that February is approaching fast, we will also review the event that DataDiggers will be attending. To find out what it is all about, we invite you to read the following lines:
You may want to attend several different types of academic activities, such as conferences, lectures, workshops, and symposium. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages and they usually have a different slant. For starters, scale is usually a big factor in whether it is seen as a conference or a symposium.
When speaking about academic activities, there are different types that you may want to attend, so it’s better to know what to expect from each of them, in case you have never been in the position of being present at one before. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages and they usually have a different slant. Of starters, size is usually the main factor in whether something is seen as a conference of symposium. Generally, the distinction between a conference and a symposium is that it will be a either a big gathering or a small one.
Moreover, the difference between a conference and a seminar may be that a conference has a more general theme that centers on presentations and lectures, while a workshop is typically more specific and, so to speak, hands-on.
However, understanding exactly what you are getting into is nice, particularly if you are really delivering a paper or giving a lecture. So, let's immerse ourselves in the specific differences between a conference, a seminar, a workshop and a symposium.
What is a conference?
A conference is generally understood to be a gathering of multiple people to address a particular subject. It is often confused with convention, symposium, or colloquium. While the scale and purpose of a conference varies from the others, the term can be used to describe the general concept. A convention is broader than a conference; it is a meeting of delegates from several communities. Innovative ideas are thrown about at a conference and new information is exchanged between experts.
The function might be as follows:
· An academic conference is a meeting of scientists or scholars, where results of study are discussed or a workshop is conducted;
· It is a business conference for people working in the same organization or sector. We sit together to discuss new business patterns and prospects;
· A trade conference takes place on a larger scale. There are members of the public, in addition to businessmen, who come to network with vendors and make new connections. Such a conference is made up of workshops and written presentations.
· The unconference varies from the conventional conference as it removes high costs, top-down structure of organisation and sponsored presentations. Both members are similarly informed about the subject and an interactive mode of debate follows; typically, without a single speaker addressing the crowd.
Most conferences will have one or more keynote speakers to give the keynote address. These are common at conferences in academic and business types. The chosen speakers are prominent personalities in the related field, and their participation is expected to draw more people to attend the meeting.
What is a seminar?
The distinction between a seminar and a workshop is that a seminar tends to take place within one institution or organization, and will often be a small group of people – say, between five and ten participants – who come together to reflect on a particular issue.
Seminars will often be less professionally planned than conferences, so a presentation may be made by one person but it will also be short. At these activities there is more emphasis on dialogue so feel free to chime in with your thoughts on the subject during hand. Seminars are a great place to test out some new ideas or theories you've been thinking about but still aren't 100% confident.
Another distinction between a seminar and a conference is that while conferences normally last for a few days to a week, seminars will be much shorter. You may be in the afternoon for an hour or two, instead of spending the whole day. Many divisions would hold monthly meetings, so you could meet on the first Monday of each month, for example.
What is a workshop?
The distinction between a workshop and a conference is that workshops are generally smaller than conferences, normally only a day or two long and are devoted to a single topic being discussed. Though these events are held as part of a group, you will often meet guests from outside who are also attending them. Also, worth mentioning is that they are less organized than a conference but more formal than a seminar. Workshops can sometimes be more attendee representative than other activities.
What is a symposium?
The main difference between a conference and a symposium is that a symposium aims to be similar to a conference but smaller. The concept of a symposium is not entirely clear – the dictionary of Oxford Advanced Learner defines it clearly as ' a small conference. '
Compared to a workshop, though, a symposium tends to focus more on a particular issue than a more general theme. A number of experts will generally come together to present their theories and reports to one another. Similar to a conference is that the focus is on presentations and lectures, and less hands-on than a workshop, a symposium is typically completed in a single day.
Entrepreneurs and experts in market research are hungry for faster and better insights. And so we tell it, the business of market research is growing at an unprecedented pace. Futuristic technology and automation are making the MR landscape revolutionise.
WHAT TO ATTEND THIS YEAR?
Staying in touch with the latest trends to provide world-class perspectives is very critical for Market research practitioners. If you're a professional and you're looking to gain new insights, network with peers and develop new ideas, we suggest attending one of the most important global market research event: The London Quirk’s.
Quirk's London conference this year is completely unmissable, with more to give than ever before. In the corporate community, Quirk's is so special that it has shut out costly keynote speakers and lunches, concentrating instead on creating a functional, stimulating learning environment. The Quirk's activity on 11/12 February is a two-day event, filled with instructional and networking sessions offered by client-side experts or testing providers. As with all Quirk's meetings, all speaking slots are reserved for educational value alone, with attendees subscribing to the ' Q-mandments ' – sessions need to be engaging, insightful and above all sales-pitch-free.
So far, there is an estimated count of 1000-5000 visitors and 100-500 exhibitors. We’ll also be at Booth 155 in the exhibit hall, waiting for all of you that want to meet us. Don’t be shy!
Here is a list of market research and insight conferences, trade shows, summits, seminars for 2020. If you would like to add a market research or marketing research event to our list, let us know and maybe we will be there!
Now that we have a clearer view of what’s in store for 2020 in terms of market research events, we will leave you the option of choosing whatever best suits your interests. Don’t forget, though, to come say hi to us on February, at the Quirk’s event in London.
Comments