The standard

How every index is built.

Useful findings start with clear questions and a sound method. Our research programme tests what each index covers, how people understand it and what its findings can tell you. The same process supports our indices and those we build with partners.

Each index is drafted against published frameworks and research, then tested with the people who take it: a clarity check on every question, follow-up probes and optional AI-led interviews. Our team reviews the evidence before an index moves from Research beta to Live.

The process Where our indices are today

Three layers

Framework, coverage, questions.

We start with what the index needs to reveal, check that the questions cover it, then test how people interpret and answer them.

  1. 01 The framework

    Does the index measure the right things?

    Each dimension has a written definition: what it includes, what it leaves out and how it relates to the others. We check the dimensions against relevant published frameworks and the purpose of the index, and record each departure from them and why.

    Checked by: design review against published work, with every trade-off recorded.

  2. 02 The coverage

    Do the questions cover what matters?

    Every question on a Research beta index asks whether it was clear, whether an answer fitted and whether it applied. Participants are also asked what feels missing or does not fit their situation. Together, these checks identify gaps and areas that receive too much or too little attention.

    Checked by: a clarity check on every question and participant feedback.

  3. 03 The questions

    Are they understood as we mean them?

    We test whether people understand the questions as intended and can find answers that fit their experience. Web probing asks about their interpretation during participation; optional AI-led interviews draw out their reasoning. Human review informs revisions.

    Checked by: cognitive testing, web probing and optional AI-led interviews.

Evidence from all three layers informs the decision to release version 1.0.

The lifecycle

From first draft to Live and beyond.

Every index follows the same lifecycle, with criteria for moving to the next stage. Each result carries its status and version, so participants and partners can see which method produced it.

  1. 01

    Draft

    Define the purpose and dimensions against published frameworks and research, and draft the questions to our design rules. The index is not yet public.

    Gate to Research betaEach dimension is defined and checked against relevant published work, and every question follows the design rules.

  2. 02

    Research beta

    Participants take part free, with the index clearly labelled Research beta. Their feedback helps refine the questions. Changes receive a new beta version. Beta findings can inform discussion, but are not part of the Live series used to track change.

    Gate to LiveEvery question has enough evidence, within the limits we set, and a person has read and recorded a decision on any question near a limit. Human review of the evidence confirms the release criteria are met.

  3. 03

    Live

    Live means the version has met our release criteria. Findings still need to be interpreted in context. Version 1.0 fixes the scored questions and starts the Live results series. Compare findings with attention to the version and who responded. Changes to scored questions require a new version, which may be tested in Research beta alongside the Live index.

    Gate to RetiredA successor index is Live, or the domain no longer needs measuring. Announced a full wave in advance.

  4. 04

    Retired

    No longer run. Every result it issued stays readable, stamped with the version it came from.

    No exitA retired index is never revived. A successor index starts again at Draft.

The platform

Research built into the platform.

The platform holds the design rules, participant feedback and version tracking in one process. These tools support our own indices and custom indices developed with partners.

  • Framework

    Written design rules

    Our indices follow the same written rules: questions ask about behaviour and practice, never agreement with a sentiment; a question that counts something states its period; scales are fully labelled; a missing answer is never scored as zero; and each index has two headlines and no combined figure.

  • Coverage

    Checking for gaps

    During research, participants can flag topics that seem missing and questions that do not fit their experience. Every question’s evidence is brought together on one page, against the release criteria, for a person to read and record a decision.

  • Questions

    Testing how questions are understood

    Web probing is built into the index experience. It explores how participants interpret questions and choose answers. Optional AI-led follow-up interviews add detail for the team reviewing the evidence.

  • Lifecycle

    Clear versions and status

    Every result records the index version and status, including Research beta. Changes to scored questions receive a new version. Changes to unscored questions update the final version number without changing the scoring method.

  • Measurement

    Minimum group sizes

    Group findings are shown only when the index’s minimum group size is met. An organisation’s own report can be available from the first response by someone answering for it. That is separate from the combined result of its people on a personal index, where the organisation never sees any one person’s result.

  • Measurement

    Returning to the findings

    The platform supports scheduled retakes and shows findings side by side. Use them to track change, taking account of who responded and whether the index version has changed.

Where our indices are today

Status, by index.

Our current range focuses on AI, with further indices to follow. Research beta means the questions are still being tested and may change. Live identifies a released version. Check the status and version on each result when interpreting the findings.

Updated as each index moves. Last change: 12 October 2026.

IndexVersionState
The AI Adoption Indexv0.3.1Research beta
The AI Governance Indexv0.2Research beta
The Personal AI Indexv0.4Research beta

Custom indices are listed on the partner’s pages and follow the same research process.

Build your own index

The same standard, applied to your domain.

Bring your subject expertise and what you want to understand about your members or clients. We develop and test the index with you, so participants get findings of their own and you see where they need support.

  • Framework
  • Coverage
  • Questions
  • Beta
  • Release
Discuss your index How custom benchmarks work

Who this is for

  • Membership bodies and sector groups who want members to see where they stand, and to shape support around what they find.
  • Consultancies, MSPs and advisers turning subject expertise into a repeatable way to measure client needs and know what to raise.