Do online groups quick with QuickGroups
V2 GfK, a Blue Bell, Pa.-based research firm, is now offering QuickGroups, an interactive remote solution for conducting quick focus group research. Aimed at clients who need fast-turnaround focus group results to provide information for time-pressed decisions within their organizations, QuickGroups enables clients to stay interactively engaged with the research project without traveling to research facilities.
Designed with the help of videostreaming specialists ActiveGroup, QuickGroups keeps clients involved with the research process through a two-way virtual communications network.
QuickGroups’ reporting tools give clients an almost-instant summary of results at each step of the project. First, with RealTimeReports, clients receive summary notes of the discussions in 30 minutes following the conclusion of each focus group. Second, each morning, clients receive a topline summary report with QuickClips video highlights of the previous day’s key findings to distribute to colleagues, enabling them to see and hear customers’ reactions. Finally, by 8 a.m. on the day following the last group, clients receive the final QuickGroups executive summary report with analysis and supporting video clips. For more information visit www.v2gfk.com .
Gongos method measures emotional connections
Gongos and Associates, a Bloomfield Hills, Mich., research firm, has introduced The Gongos E-C Technique, a methodology that combines qualitative and quantitative research techniques to measure the impact of soft elements (such as underlying emotional connections and brand associations) on purchase considerations. Emotional connections are consumer-identified emotions and values connected with a product or brand. This methodology is designed to tap into consumers’ less conscious motivations and identify the “real” and often missed drivers related to purchase and affinity toward a product category/brand.
It identifies the personally relevant role a brand or product plays in the consumer’s life and then explains the potential business impact of that information. Applications range from new product development and product positioning/repositioning to marketing, advertising and understanding brand essence. For more information visit www.gongos.com .
SurveyConsole adds API
SurveyConsole, Seattle, is now offering a developer and integration application programming interface (API), an online do-it-yourself surveying technology, at www.surveycon-sole.com. The XML-based API allows organizations to extend as well as integrate with the existing services offered through SurveyConsole.com. With the open and standards-based integration platform, developers can create toolsets that work with the data collected using online surveys. The API also allows for integration with proprietary customer databases and CRM systems. Based on ubiquitous standards like SSL, XML and HTTP, the SurveyConsole Web Service API allows systems within corporate networks to access their data collected and hosted using SurveyConsole.
SurveyConsole offers a Web-based interface to create surveys, publish them and analyze the results in real-time. Surveys can be distributed via e-mail or posted on Web sites for data collection. A suite of analysis tools are also provided as part of the service for as well as analysis and report generation using Microsoft Office products. For more information visit www.surveyconsole.com/developers .
Respondent anonymity guaranteed by QuestionPro
QuestionPro Inc., Issaquah, Wash., is now offering a program that guarantees anonymity to survey respondents. Under the program, QuestionPro acts as the independent entity providing technology services between researchers and survey respondents. QuestionPro, using a combination of technology and contractual agreements, guarantees that survey responses can never be linked to personally identifying information like e-mail addresses, IP addresses etc. The Respondent Anonymity Assurance program is aimed at reinforcing the right to privacy as well as anonymity for the respondents while at the same time making it easy for researchers as well as customers to communicate with each other using online surveys. For more information visit www.questionpro.com/security/ .
System manages data online
U.K. research firm Nunwood Consulting Ltd. has created Knowledge Systems, a modular, Web-based information system designed to simplify how businesses manage their data. The three-component system consists of: Knowledge Library, an information storage and management system, which provides the opportunity for a business to gather market intelligence expediently, and to create an information community; Knowledge Reporter, a tracker management system designed to simplify the storage of data by storing multiple trackers in one area and in one recognizable format; and Knowledge Tree, a knowledge network capable of storing previously disparate strands of business and consumer data in an accessible and actionable format. Each of the elements can be developed for the business separately, yet can also be interlinked to ensure that business information in whatever form remains connected via one system. For more information visit www.nunwood.com .
New Hispanic market offering from Cohorts
Denver segmentation firm Cohorts is now offering Hispanic Cohorts, a household-based segmentation product comprising 19 consumer groups within the American Hispanic community. Segments include Isabel (successful career women), who is highly acculturated into American culture and society, and Domingo y Sylvia (modest income grandparents), who still predominately speak Spanish and feel loyalty toward Spanish advertising and media.
Rather than focusing on cultural heritage (e.g., Mexican and Puerto Rican) as a means for segmenting the Hispanic community, Hispanic Cohorts is based on the theory that socioeconomic and familial circumstances drive most consumer behaviors, even more so than specific cultural heritage.
Integra Relationship Marketing and Simmons Market Research Bureau provided insight that assisted with the development of Hispanic Cohorts. Both companies will incorporate Hispanic Cohorts into their product offerings. Simmons will offer its clients Hispanic Cohorts as part of its National Hispanic Consumer Study (NHCS) license. For more information visit www.cohorts.com .
Have no fear, the WOW! team is here
G & S Research Carmel, Ind., has established an internal team to reinforce efforts to brand company services with a feeling of “wow.” Through the recognition of exceptional performance and other initiatives, the G & S Research WOW! team is challenging its organization to discover better ways to not only partner with but also “wow” client companies.
The WOW! team monitors project successes and client feedback in order to enhance the value of G & S services. By providing special-skills training, performance recognition and examples of best practices companywide, the cross-departmental WOW! team is intended to make it easy to communicate the challenges and solutions experienced by various project teams.
Project teams at G & S earn WOW!-based recognition for exceeding client expectations - by beating a deadline, developing an innovative strategy or finding other ways to go the extra mile. For more information visit www.gs-research.com .
Sawtooth Software updates Web interviewing system
Sawtooth Software, Sequim, Wash., has released of SSI Web v5, an upgrade offering improvements to Sawtooth Software’s general Web interviewing system. In addition to the standard question types (check-box, radio, numeric, open-end, grid), SSI Web can also build customized (constructed) lists of brands or other response options chosen in previous questions. These customized lists can be used in later questions. Skip patterns are much more flexible in v5, including “pre” and “post” skip options. SSI Web supports randomization of questions on a page, or a series of pages. Power users can add their own custom HTML questions, JavaScript, or even instructions written in Perl.
SSI Web lets users host their own surveys (Unix or Windows servers), or Sawtooth Software can host them for a fee. An option for CAPI-based interviewing is also included. The software is sold for a one-time purchase price, rather than an annual or per-survey fee. For more information visit www.sawtoothsoftware.com .
New facilities
Q Research Solutions, Old Bridge, N.J., has opened a new test kitchen. The 1,597-square-foot facility is located two miles from the firm’s headquarters, in the Cambridge Square shopping center. It seats 25 respondents per session and is equipped to conduct testing under both consumer kitchen or restaurant equipment scenarios.
Briefly
New York-research firm The Ziment Group has launched IMAP Research, a new division that will specialize in conducting multi-client studies for the pharmaceutical and health care industries.
Saskatoon-based Interactive Tracking Systems Inc. (Itracks) has released the latest version of its Bulletin Board Focus Groups. Improved management tools like the enhanced communication and transcript features are designed to help moderators create and edit their guides, participant lists and e-mail invitations more easily. With multiple setting options, moderators can adapt the technology to suit their needs. For more information visit www.itracks.com.
BMRB and Millward Brown have joined forces in the U.K. to launch Enlightenment, a new service that offers clients consumer intelligence drawn from BMRB’s marketing information services, including TGI, and where relevant, Millward Brown’s client-specific primary research. For more information visit www.enlightenment-uk.com.
Harris Interactive, Rochester, N.Y., has introduced Trust-Based Commitment, a measure that allows marketers to understand customers’ multidimensional commitment based on personal and functional connection. This research model helps explain how customers interact with outside environmental forces, such as competitive action, pricing, product channel availability and even changing consumer goals. For more information visit www.harrisinteractive.com.
Atlanta research firm Brain Surgery Worldwide is now offering “emotion drivers” as a standalone product called Connection Drivers. Brain Surgery has uncovered that, for every brand, product or service, there are four or five primary emotional drivers that will motivate purchase behavior. These emotion drivers exist for all types of customer groups from credit card customers, physicians, patients, long distance telephone users, wireless phone customers or any number of branded consumer product groups. For more information visit www.brainsurgeryinc.com.