Putting Respondents on the Red Carpet
It’s award show season! Watching the Oscars and the Grammys isn’t my favorite thing to do, but I’ve learned that treating customers like stars can get companies robust insights. Before the holidays, I did a project for a major department store that was rolling out a self-checkout program. I conducted 1-on-1 shop-alongs with respondents, following […]
A Reminder that Data Denial Doesn’t Work
I recently gained 35 pounds without realizing it. Scratch that. I realized that my clothes didn’t fit and I felt like I was dressed up in someone else’s body. But I didn’t actually know the extent of the situation, because for about two years, I resolutely refused to step on a scale. “I’m better off not knowing,” […]
Getting People to Talk About Awkward Topics
After a three-day conversation with 12 strangers about peeing in their pants, I can now safely say I will talk to anyone about anything. Let me back up. Last month, I got an email from a new client. She’s coming up with a new adult incontinence product (think Depends) and wanted to do some audience […]
Decaf Coffee and Yes/No Questions
I only drink decaf coffee. I know, this is terrible and tragic and I’m obviously not living life to the fullest. But bear with me. When I order decaf, in a restaurant or a Starbucks or wherever, I know that I’m the anomaly and that often waitrons often forget or tune out the request or […]
Some Tips For Doing Event Surveys
I’m on my way back from Portland, where I spent two days at a fantastic conference of independent workers: freelancers, entrepreneurs, and other intrepid souls like myself. Like most conferences, there were a lot of logistics: multiple sessions at once, a space that spanned several blocks, and the basic needs of 400+ attendees. I’m always amazed at […]
Test the Water Before you Jump: The Importance of Pre-testing
I’m always surprised (and frankly, a little alarmed) when clients don’t want to pre-test a questionnaire. This strikes me as a little bit like launching an ad campaign without testing the content. Maybe scarier: you could make all kinds of decisions based on data that came from questions that your respondents didn’t understand or couldn’t answer. Pre-testing […]