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What types of questions do people ask of Wonder researchers?
Hi there! Thanks so much for your interest in Wonder. As a researcher here, I am proud to say that we answer all kinds of questions, and are happy to tackle anything you throw at us! That said, I will take you through several categories of questions that are really well suited for Wonder. I also have a few pointers for getting the most out of your Wonder experience.
Let's start with the categories:
1) Market Research. We get a lot of questions by investors and venture capitalists, as well as small businesses and inventors, who are looking to see if their latest business prospect is viable. They usually ask for market size or some aspect of it, such as the total accessible market (TAM) for a certain product or service. How to reach a certain population is another aspect of this category, as are the overall market trends. We hope that our responses help them to decide whether to pursue an idea further.
2) Advice. We also get a lot of questions by everyday people who are looking for advice in one of several possible categories, such as travel (choosing a great vacation destination based on their requirements, ideas of things to do, best hikes in a certain region, etc.), parenting (how to potty train a child, how to choose a day care, parenting book recommendations), and career decisions (job placement rates, comparing one type of license to another), just as a few examples. The possibilities are endless in this category, as any hobby, activity, or interest can make for a great Wonder question!
3) Legal. We have also received a number of questions relating to the law. We are not lawyers, so we can not give professional legal advice, but we can inform you what the law says in regards to a certain issue. For example, I answered a question recently that asked whether e-cigarettes are legal in the workplace in a major US city (they aren't).
4) Product Recommendations. Interested in the best type of coffee maker for your needs? The best car seat for your tall but slim 3-year-old that fits in your Jetta? We'll be happy to look into it for you and provide you with a few good choices to pick from.
5) General Knowledge. I didn't know how else to categorize this last subset, because it can be so incredibly broad, but we also get questions on history (explain the Boxer Rebellion), politics (what are the pros and cons of the flat tax), religion, philosophy, you name it! I call this category "general knowledge" because these questions are usually looking for a factual answer as opposed to advice or interpretation (though we can do that too). We can also fact check something for you, find a statistic, or track down a source (assuming it exists).
Other questions may not fit into these groups, but can still be great Wonder questions. If what you're thinking about asking is completely different, ask away -- we really do respond to everything! That said, below are a few tips on what makes a question great.
1) Be clear and specific. Make sure you explain exactly what you're asking, so that we know exactly what to look for. Use clear language and don't rely too heavily on acronyms, especially if they have more than one possible meaning. For example, if you're looking for advice on where to go stand-up paddle boarding in California, ask us that, as opposed to asking for, say, water sports information in the USA. We can't read your mind! :-) That said, if you're having trouble or if English isn't your native language, just do your best and we'll take it from there.
2) Understand that Wonder can do amazing things, but we do have some limitations. We don't, at this time, provide report-length products, so avoid asking questions that are best answered with a book-length response. We'll still get back to you with information and resources, but you might not get the depth you were hoping for. We also do not write speeches, and any medical, financial, or legal advice should be confirmed by a professional in that field before you move forward. But that's about it.
I've attached several great Wonder questions, and their responses, below for you to check out. I hope that helps, and I look forward to seeing your questions on the Wonder dashboard.