Research services

• one-on-one
• Easily the best way of finding out what someone thinks is to talk with that person one-on-one and usually with some headings as a guide rather than a set questionnaire.
• focus groups
• The next best way is in small groups and usually no more than six. An advantage is that the expressed thoughts of some can help others with their thinking. This can also be a disadvantage over one-on-one in that the views of some can overly influence others.
• telephone surveys
• Telephone surveys remain a good way of collecting data from enough people to allow assumptions to be made about greater populations. It should be recognised samples tend to be skewed in favour of people of certain ages and circumstances.
• mail and email surveys
• Such surveys tend to elicit low response rates yet this can be enhanced by using tools such as incentives and follow-ups.
• store and street intercepts
• Personal approaches by an interviewer to people in stores, streets and elsewhere is a suitable method of data gathering under particular circumstances.
• customer feedback
• Most organizations provide services and products to clients and customers. Regular feedback surveys allow an organization to keep in touch with their markets.
• quick-tick impressions
• Simple easy-to-do surveys where respondents for example indicate their level of agreement or disagreement with a statement is an ideal way to first establish a benchmark and then measure change over time.