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 […]