We’ve been in this business a long time, so we understand – and regularly use – the full range of research techniques. We’ll help you select the right methodology for your study based upon the information you need to gather, your timeframe and your budget.
Our research methodologies include:
In the second half of the 90s, the use of Internet or web-based surveys began to increase significantly here in the United States. The inclusion of this technology has forced many companies to reexamine their approach to market research, and has given researchers an alternative to traditional data collection methodologies – mail, telephone or in-person.
Beta Research is proud to have the FocusVision Decipher online survey programming platform for our web-based surveys. This comprehensive survey reporting solution offers our clients a centralized hub to track field progress, campaign stats, real-time results, crosstabs and charts including stat testing and data weighting. With one click your survey data can be transformed into a PowerPoint format for presentation purposes.
In 1970 Dr. Paul Erdos, President of Erdos & Morgan, published the first edition of his guide to conducting Professional Mail Surveys. This guide described the techniques used for mail surveys, so that readers would be able to conduct their own surveys by becoming better acquainted with proven mail survey practices.
As with all research methodologies, each type of technique has its own inherent strength and weakness, and it is up to the research team to decide which data-gathering method is best suited to meet their objectives and budget constraints.
Even with today’s technology and the advancements in web-based survey taking platforms, mail surveys are still being used as a viable cost effective market research tool. Beta Research still provides clients with the same proven mail survey techniques Dr. Paul Erdos outlined in his 1970 guide – questionnaire design, sample selection, mailing/handling guidelines, coding principles, keypunch (including verification) and full analysis.
You and your team have decided that a telephone methodology is best suited to meet your research objectives, and now it’s time to start working on the questionnaire. Survey length is a critical component in questionnaire development and must be considered in order to yield accurate data. Unfortunately, respondent fatigue is often overlooked and not considered during this phase of the project. Dwindling budgets and unrealistic project timelines have forced many to field surveys that are too long and cluttered with questions that are off topic.
When conducting telephone surveys, the number and type of questions included in the survey are even more important. Do I need to determine unaided brand awareness or have a need to probe and clarify respondent answers? Telephone surveys could be the way to go. With that said, however, telephone surveys do have some inherent flaws in their design, such as interviewer bias or having improperly trained interviewers conducting your interviews.
While less expensive than face-to-face encounters, telephone surveys are still traditionally more expensive than web-based or mail surveys. And, the decline of resident landlines has also altered telephone sampling dynamics. Often the data coming from landlines reflect an older population and therefore is less diverse, while including cell phone sampling increases costs significantly due to current TCPA guidelines. This tradeoff often results in sampling that is not reflective of the population understudy.
Beta Research’s team of research professionals will walk you thru the pros and cons of telephone surveys and help you determine if this methodology is suited for your research needs.
Central Location Interviewing (CLT) is when an interview is conducted in-person at one or more specific locations – typically malls. They are most commonly used for concept testing, advertising effectiveness, packaging and food-related products, or to recruit for in-home usage tests (HUTs). Having the ability to use multiple mall locations ensures a robust and cohesive demographic sampling of respondents while maintaining a high level of control throughout the survey process (i.e., when food needs to be prepared in a specific way).
Beta Research has long-standing relationships with some of the largest mall-based field service facilities in the United States. These companies offer years of experience in data collection – be it pencil and paper surveys or customized online data collection surveys.
Qualitative research - which is the opposite of Quantitative research - seeks to better understand the "why’s" behind behavioral experiences or purchasing patterns.
Qualitative research is best used to uncover:
- New product idea generation and development
- Strengths and weaknesses of products or brands
- Reactions to advertising and public relations campaigns
Or, to simply determine the proper language to use as a preliminary step to quantitative survey design.
Why Should I Hire a Professional Moderator for My Research?
- Professionals are trained to be objective and unbiased in their findings and know how to manage group dynamics in order to garner more candid and honest responses
- Trained moderators know interpretive techniques for uncovering information and can report these findings in a way best suited for your needs
- Findings have more credibility within and outside your company
Beta Research has a team of professionally-trained moderators with years of experience in a variety of sectors and industries.
Qualitative research during the COVID 19 pandemic has a variety of challenges. While the pandemic is still of concern, Beta Research is partnering with CIVICOM Market Research for all Web-cam Focus Groups and IDI interviews. This technology gathers respondents, clients and moderators to participate in research from wherever they are in the world. Their technical support for both clients and respondents is what makes CIVICOM a global leader in facilitating web-enabled market research solutions.