category: research communities

Using survey panels to engage hard-to-reach audiences

A few years ago, a client approached us about fielding their annual insights survey among financial advisors. We suggested a different approach to find the market research sweet spot for financial services.

Illustration of customers giving opinions

research communities

Tips for survey takers

Following a few simple best practices when taking a survey will allow you to provide meaningful, valuable responses. Thoughtful survey feedback can help companies make informed business decisions to meet the needs of the consumers they serve.

Illustration of two people talking at a table, taking surveys

research communities

How to improve survey response quality

It takes time and effort to design a good survey. Whether you want to get the pulse on a specific touchpoint or understand what drives your consumers to, you want to ensure your survey respondents will provide you with valuable data.

research communities

Ethical research in usability testing

The term "ethical research" seems pretty straightforward, so why is it such a contentious topic of conversation among researchers? Just apply what your mother taught you to your research design, right? Well, not exactly.

Three tips for user testing moderators

As a usability testing moderator, you have a responsibility to your stakeholders to observe participant behavior and collect verbal feedback. But moderators also have a responsibility for managing the participant's experience and comfort during the session.

team planning a digital user experience on a tablet

When to do user testing — a three phase approach

We often think of user experience (UX) testing as an accompaniment to design work. While that is certainly true, UX design and testing should be approached holistically. There are three phases in which UX research should be conducted — exploratory, design, and validation.

analyzing market research on iPad during COVID-19

Update on conducting market research during the COVID-19 pandemic

Since our original post on March 20 assessing survey response rates immediately after the COVID-19 travel ban, we've been closely following response rates and data impacts on several of our trackers, in both the utility and financial services spaces. Now, in Week 6 of the quarantine, we need to know if people have continued responding to survey invitations at the same rate.

working on a laptop with a megaphone coming out of the screen

Two-way communication with consumers during a crisis

Being able to connect, communicate, and listen to your customers during the next crisis isn’t just a blessing — it’s a strategic imperative. During a time of crisis — pandemic or otherwise — responsible companies have public relations teams that leap into action to implement a prepared crisis communication plan. Many of us have received these messages. We may have sent some out ourselves. I know I have, on both counts.

Utilities and the importance of consumer communication during COVID-19

Despite the energy sector’s critical role of ensuring electric service during the COVID-19 pandemic and its unprecedented actions to suspend disconnections due to non-payment nationwide, the utility industry’s response has gone largely unnoticed and unacknowledged by consumers. This has left electric service providers in a unique position to convey messages of unity and support to consumers in order to gain confidence and trust.