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The Real Participants’ Motivators

DWG Admin on July 22, 2024

Research participants have often been overlooked, but we want to change that. Working with our researcher partners, we asked participants what keeps them engaged and what drives them away.

With learnings from our popular webinar “Consider the Consumer: Creating a Better Member Experience to Increase Qualitative Community Health,” we’re challenging the industry to improve participant engagement, elevate the research experience, and enhance data quality.

In the first blog of this series, we looked at how to collectively enhance a participant’s experience. Next, we asked our panelists what motivates them to participate in research…

Beyond Financial Gains

“The main reason would be the remuneration that you receive. That being said, I’ve had the opportunity to be part of some projects that were interesting on their own merit” said one of our participants.

While compensation is a primary motivator for individuals to participate in research studies, the benefits extend far beyond financial gain.

Participants value the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to product development and innovation. They enjoy the interesting and diverse experiences that research offers. They also appreciate the credibility and legitimacy of trustworthy research firms.

These factors combine to create a positive and engaging research experience. This fosters participant pride and satisfaction.

Contributing to Innovation

One compelling reason people participate in research studies is the opportunity to contribute to product development and innovation. Participants truly value the chance to provide feedback that shapes the future of products and services they care about.

This sense of contribution is heightened when they see their input reflected in finalized products. This reinforces their pride in contributing to the innovation process.

Another participant said: “I enjoy being part of the development process of the things that we’re looking at and testing. I feel like some of the things we all talk about do provide value, and that products may get modified based on our feedback.”

Mix it up

Engaging and diverse experiences are key to maintaining participant interest. Researchers should offer a range of experiences that are interesting and varied, breaking the monotony of daily routines.

These experiences can include testing new products and technologies or participating in focus groups and interviews. Each study should present a unique scenario that requires participants to think critically, express their opinions, and interact with new concepts.

Such engagements can be intellectually stimulating and enjoyable. This makes the research process a worthwhile endeavor beyond monetary rewards.

The Importance of Credibility

The credibility and legitimacy of the research firm conducting the study are crucial factors that enhance the participant’s experience and ease their apprehension.

Research ethics play a vital role in building trustworthy research firms that ensure participants feel their contributions are valued and their personal data is handled with care and confidentiality.

This trust fosters a positive relationship between participants and research firms, encouraging repeat participation and long-term engagement with research, as well as encouraging word of mouth and referrals to other potential participants.

A participant said: “There are a lot of scammy research platforms where they pay you in points, and I feel like through L&E I was able to figure out what I should be looking out for in other databases.”

Being Part of Something Bigger

Overall, people often wish to experience a broader impact that transcends their immediate benefits. They want to become part of a thriving research community driving forward change and innovation.

This collective effort benefits participants’ morale and contributes to real societal advancements. The knowledge that their participation helps improve products and services for the wider public instills a sense of altruism and communal responsibility. This encourages participants to return to chase that feeling.

“Sometimes it makes me feel kind of cool, […]it makes me feel set apart from other people. There’s a little bit of pride in there, I get to help design (some products)”.

Building Trust Through Research Ethics

So, while compensation remains a primary motivator, the full spectrum of benefits includes the opportunity to contribute to product development. It includes the enjoyment of diverse and engaging experiences. It also includes the credibility associated with reputable research firms.

Proper research ethics ensure that involvement in research is not just about earning money. It’s about making a meaningful impact and being part of something larger than oneself.

Strong research ethics combined with recognizing and enhancing these aspects help ensure a positive and engaging research experience. This fosters participant pride and satisfaction. Ultimately, this leads to better data quality and more impactful research outcomes.

Enhancing Participants’ Experience Together

DWG Admin on July 3, 2024

For too long, the experience of research participants has been overlooked. At L&E we are determined to give participants’ a voice, beyond the single research project.

Together with our research partners, we conducted a study to understand what motivates people to not only sign up, but to continue to engage in research, and what pain points drive them from continuing to stay engaged in the research process.

This new blog series is an extension of our popular webinar “Consider the Consumer: Creating a Better Member Experience to Increase Qualitative Community Health.” It’s aimed at bringing our findings to life, and to be a wake-up call for the qualitative research industry; recognizing that while we do our best to elevate how participants are treated, the broader industry perception will continue to suffer unless other panel providers also commit to these changes.

So, here’s our challenge to all providers to take bold steps in revamping their processes, ensuring that research participants are engaged, enhancing the quality of data and the reputation of our industry.

Before we dive deep into the findings, let’s start by setting the scene…

Why It’s Important To Understand Participants?

Research participants are the lifeblood of qualitative research. Their opinions and insights drive the decisions that shape our products, services, and strategies across a plethora of advanced industries.

However, the participant experience often leaves much to be desired. Improving participant experience is essential for data quality.

Lengthy screeners, low qualification rates, and a lack of transparency lead to frustration and disengagement, ultimately compromising the most important thing, data quality.

So, with our research we want to explore strategies to increase retention and reduce attrition by creating a better member experience within qualitative panels.

Our hypothesis is that a better member experience increases engagement and retention leading to higher data quality.

Rules Of Engagement

The relationship between panel size, incidence rate, and response or engagement rates is crucial for the success of the research. Engagement rate is measured over time, while response rate is specific to individual projects.

Incidence refers to the proportion of respondents who meet study criteria. A large member base is vital for accessing diverse and niche segments, but as response rates decline due to survey fatigue and other factors, more invitations are required, perpetuating a cycle of low response and incidence rates.

This affects research efficiency, cost, and data quality. Poor participant experience exacerbates these issues. To address this, rethinking panel engagement strategies is necessary, especially for low-incidence populations.

A New Strategy For Improved Response Rate

An average survey response rate for qualitative research can vary widely, typically ranging from 5% to 30%. At L&E, we’ve tracked our engagement rates, defined by the frequency with which our members interact with the L&E opinion site and complete screeners to qualify for studies.

In 2018, our engagement rates were around 16%. After conducting in-house research and implementing member feedback, we saw an increase to about 23% in 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic, engagement rates spiked to nearly 50%, stabilizing at 34% for 2020.

As life returned to normal, engagement rates readjusted to about 17% in 2022 and then to 15% in 2023. These fluctuations highlighted the need for a new strategy post-COVID, one that prioritizes participant experience.

What Influences Response Rate And Participant Experience?

Several variables can cause response rates to be lower in qualitative research. One major factor is the incentive offered to participants.

If the incentive is too low, especially for in-person research requiring travel, respondents may feel that the compensation does not adequately cover their time and expenses, such as traffic or gas.

Additionally, the requirements for participation, such as completing homework, pre-work, or product testing surveys, can become burdensome. Transparency about these obligations is crucial for a positive participant experience.

Other factors that affect response rates include the specificity and sensitivity of the topic. When study descriptions are vague or when respondents are not given enough information, they may be less inclined to participate due to a lack of buy-in.

Topics that are too sensitive or not of personal interest can also deter participation. For example, a vegan is unlikely to engage in a screener for a dairy product study.

Screener fatigue is another significant issue; if respondents repeatedly attempt to qualify for studies without success, they may become disheartened and take a break from market research.

To address these challenges, we are conducting in-depth research with our panel to better understand the factors influencing engagement and to refine our strategies accordingly.

Ready to learn more about participants’ motivations, legitimacy and credibility? Stay tuned for our next blog. In the meantime, check-out our webinar and hear directly from our experts.

Zesty Recipes for the Perfect Qualitative Panel

DWG Admin on May 6, 2024

A step-by-step guide to your research project success

Welcome to the kitchen of L&E Research, where every project is a culinary adventure waiting to happen!

We’ve whipped up the ultimate recipe for qualitative research success, and it’s hotter than a fresh batch of cookies straight out of the oven. In this e-book, we’re not just giving you a recipe – we’re handing you the chef’s hat and guiding you through each step of the process.

So, what’s Inside?

Ingredients: From meticulous planning to tailoring recruitment strategies, we’ve got all the must-have ingredients to spice up your research game.
Methods: Step-by-step instructions on how to blend these ingredients into a mouthwatering masterpiece. We’re talking expert tips, tailored strategies, and everything in between!
Checklists: Never miss a step with our handy checklists to ensure your project stays on track and delivers the goods.

Say goodbye to bland research – it’s time to spice things up. Fill out this short form to view or download the full e-book now and start cooking up research project success!

The Crucial Role of Participant Engagement in Qualitative Market Research

DWG Admin on April 4, 2024

In the realm of qualitative market research, research participants are not just mere contributors but the very lifeblood of the industry. Their insights, opinions, and experiences are the raw materials from which researchers derive valuable consumer behavior insights, preferences, and trends.

Without the active participation of real individuals, researchers would be left in the dark, unable to gather the data necessary to inform crucial business decisions and strategies.

At L&E Research, we operate under the hypothesis that a superior member experience leads to increased engagement and retention, ultimately resulting in higher data quality. This hypothesis is rooted in the idea that by engaging and rewarding honest participants while also identifying and deterring fraudulent participants, we can significantly impact the overall success of qualitative research projects.

We firmly believe that creating a better participant experience is a collaborative effort within the industry and by sharing our findings and best practices, we aim not only to improve the quality of participant recruitment but also to elevate the overall value of qualitative market research.

The Impact Of COVID-19 On Participant Engagement

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on engagement rates in the industry. With businesses shuttering and individuals seeking alternative sources of income, engagement rates surged in 2020.

However, as life began returning to normal, engagement rates readjusted to pre-pandemic levels in 2022 and 2023. This shift highlighted the need for new strategies to maintain participant engagement in a changing environment.

Building A Diverse Member Base For Better Engagement

A large and diverse member base is essential for providing researchers with a broad spectrum of perspectives and insights. This diversity allows researchers to access niche segments of the population that are otherwise challenging to reach, such as high-income earners, frequent travelers, or early adopters.

However, maintaining a sizable member base presents its own set of challenges when it comes to participant engagement.

Addressing Declining Response Rates And Participant Engagement

One such challenge is the declining proportion of invited respondents who complete screeners. This decline can be attributed to various factors, including survey length, design, incentive structure, timing, and the level of engagement and trust of the respondents.

As the number of available screeners and invitations increases, respondents may experience survey fatigue, leading to lower response rates and potentially compromised data quality.

While screening participants will always be a necessity, it is incumbent upon us to streamline the process and ease the burden of identifying and selecting suitable research candidates. Improving the member experience is an ongoing process that requires us to adapt to technological advancements and evolving human behaviors.

Strategies that are effective today may not be as impactful in the future, underscoring the need for regular review and updating of engagement tactics and strategies.

Optimizing Technology For Enhanced Participant Engagement

To address this need, L&E Research is actively optimizing its member portal, L&E Opinions, with a primary focus on improving the user experience. This includes making screeners and activities more accessible, enhancing the survey experience, simplifying the sign-in process, developing a mobile app for better communication, and implementing a gamification system where members can earn rewards for completing activities.

Best Practices For Improving Participant Engagement

To further enhance participation satisfaction and participant engagement, recruitment suppliers can implement several best practices, such as improving acceptance rates, targeting participants using demographic data, streamlining opportunities in a central location, communicating research expectations clearly, offering rewards for attempted screeners, and incentivizing referrals to grow the member base.

For researchers, it is imperative to respect participants’ time by keeping screeners short and simple, only requesting necessary information, avoiding changes that would affect participants once obligations are set, sharing research results when possible, and implementing tactics to keep discussions lively and activities engaging.

The Future Of Participant Engagement In Market Research

Participant engagement stands as a crucial pillar for the success of qualitative market research. By fostering a better member experience, researchers can increase engagement and retention, leading to higher data quality and more valuable insights.

It is essential for the industry to collaborate and share best practices to continuously enhance participant recruitment and engagement strategies, thereby elevating the quality and impact of qualitative market research.

Consider the consumer: Creating a better member experience to increase qualitative community health

DWG Admin on March 26, 2024

Have you ever considered what research participation looks like from the perspective of the participant? What motivates people to participate in research? More importantly, what pain points drive them from continuing to participate in research? Research participants are the lifeblood of qualitative research – researchers cannot obtain insights without the support of real people, so monitoring their perception of the industry is critical to ensuring a healthy and robust qualitative panel ecosystem.

Join our upcoming webinar where representatives from L&E Research, Kelli Hammock and Angela Steed, will share perspectives from real research participants. We’ll explore how to better consider the consumer in your market research and uncover the secrets to enhance the member experience. Discover how to identify the critical trigger and frustration points that can make or break your engagement rates. Gain invaluable insights on increasing engagement and response rates while exploring the motivations behind participating in market research. Our expert panel will provide a participant’s perspective on the industry and data-driven analyses of response rates, disengagement trends, and attrition causes. Don’t miss this opportunity to optimize your market research strategies and revolutionize the way you connect with your audience!

During this webinar, we will discuss:

Why people choose to participate in market research
Why trust and credibility are critical to participants
Participant pain points, and how to mitigate them
Strategies to increase engagement and reduce panel attrition

Exciting changes and innovations at L&E Research in 2024!

DWG Admin on January 9, 2024

I hope that your holidays were warm and festive, surrounded by loved ones. Here at L&E Research, the team has been resting up in preparation for what should be an exciting 2024. It’s been quite the past few years for all of us in qualitative research: hard to imagine that the pandemic will be 4 years ago in March! So much has transpired…and so much has been changing here at L&E to adapt to that change! I hope you will take just a few minutes to allow me to share all that is changing to better serve you.

First off, we acquired a facility in Orlando, FL! Many of you have commented that this is a desirable market: we have been listening and continue to explore other cities we can add to our offerings that can help you with your qualitative research needs. The panel in Orlando is good, and we will invest to grow and make it better. Exciting changes are also coming to our Columbus and Denver markets…stay tuned! We are in talks with other facilities in the US, and look forward to bringing you more locations to serve you in the coming months.

Our panel is now over 1.5 million US consumers, patients and medical professionals with national coverage, with hundreds of data points and vast background data we have been collecting in our proprietary systems since 2007 to make our panel the best in the industry. Our dedicated team of digital marketers and community engagement professionals have been building ID verified panel in both the US broadly, and in specific cities that are in high demand . Nashville, Chicago, LA, and Dallas are just a few of the cities we have been growing our reach for your research needs.

We also have built an extensive network of partnerships to enable us to find participants worldwide, with a dedicated team member who is focused on helping you with your recruiting and technology needs when we cannot do it ourselves. This means that in almost every major city in the US, we can help you with your recruitment needs. With fruadulent samples running amok in our industry, causing huge data quality issues, L&E continues to invest hundreds of thousands annually towards improving this critical component of successful research: real humans! You may be interested in our research we conducted with participants regarding their likes and dislikes about the research industry : we think you will find it helpful in your research design.

I mentioned patients and physicians: we are being told our biggest “secret” is our medical capabilities. Did you know our medical team is our biggest division of recruitment!?! Unlike other recruitment firms, our medical recruitment is led by people with actual medical experience. Experts in drug interactions and prescriptions efficacy, clinical trial experience…tens of thousands of recruits are being provided to clients every year in on the “secret.” This year we will be launching a new brand, L&E Health, to make more of the industry aware that high quality medical work is an email or phone call away.

Panel and our people are not our only investments: nearly $500,000 will be invested in overhauling our AV systems to provide the most cutting-edge solutions for recording, streaming and project collaboration in both our facilities, and our online Virtual Facility solution. Over $1 million was invested in software solutions like the best automated transcription engine in the market; this will be part of our self-serve solutions we call Condux that will launch later this year. And over $1 million more will be invested in 2024 to further expand our capabilities to connect with participants. A leading software engineer in the research space has been brought to lead our technology innovation team, helping us roll out solutions quickly. We’re investing to enable you to connect with participants here at our facilities, there where they live and work, or anywhere they may go that you wish to “tag along” to learn about their wants and needs. We intend to provide you one stop shopping for all your MRX and UX needs.

We are proud to share that while our company has grown more than 5x these past 5 years, we have maintained a 99% client recommendation score. That’s because our biggest investment is in our people, and their training. A custom training program that every L&E’er must pass was built to emphasize productivity, communication, and empathy/relationship building, in addition to UGA qualitative courses. Trust is not something we ask for… it is something we look to earn by investing in our team, to deliver the best solutions to you. Based upon your feedback, we believe we are on the right track.

In this coming year we will have more announcements as we bring online new innovations in our technologies that will lead to deeper connections with participants, and more tools to research them. Any company that needs to engage US citizens…we intend to show them the best, turn-key solutions lie one email or phone call away to L&E Research. Some have labeled us a “focus group facility company.” We intend to show them we are more than that… a whole lot more. And we intend to show you that innovation is not dead in the industry: we are just getting started, and we cannot wait to share what we are building that will turn innovation and panel quality on its ear.

On behalf of everyone at L&E Research, we wish you a successful 2024, and look forward to helping you achieve that success. I hope this information has been helpful, and gives you comfort that L&E Research is all in on being the best research solutions company, and will continue investing in our relationship.

Warm Regards,

Brett Watkins

CEO

Insights R Us: How to Gain BIG Insights From LITTLE Influencers

DWG Admin on March 1, 2022

Traditionally, researchers have focused on gaining insights from parents; after all, they are the ones typically buying products for their children. However, children are ultimately influencing these decisions with the products and content they prefer to consume. Children are insightful, creative, candid, and honest – all qualities that can lead to unexpected outcomes. Conducting research with children can be an incredibly rewarding process, but the variables involved are vastly different from research conducted with adults.

This presentation seeks to inform it’s audience of considerations that should be made when your research target is a child, tween, or teen:

Recruitment to involve parental consent, screening of parents and/or their children, and how to effectively communicate research logistics
Methodology considerations should be made when targeting a younger audience; certain approaches are better suited for children’s research
Moderators must create a discussion guide that is not only geared to hold the interest of young participants, but it must be adaptable, as children can be unpredictable, and guide deviation should be welcomed when new ideas are shared

L&E’s Post COVID-19 Research Report

DWG Admin on December 8, 2021

We conducted research with our own panel to gauge their level of comfort in returning to in-person research. We have the data and details available at your fingertips. Take a look at our report by clicking here (no form to fill out) and contact us directly with any questions. This report will help you get a better understanding of the possibility of taking your research back to in-person at our facilities.

Download This Report by Clicking Here

(No Form to Fill Out)

Research on Research – L&E’s Journey to Understanding Our Research Participants

DWG Admin on December 8, 2021

Is great qualitative research recruiting important to you? We hear from clients that great recruiting ranks pretty high, which means quite a bit to L&E since we are passionate about recruitment. We are so passionate that our Research Design Engineer conducted research with our own research participant panel to learn more about what motivates and excites our participants. So we ask you again, is great qualitative research recruiting important to you? If so, download this white paper and learn about the research we’ve done to help deliver better recruitment solutions to you. To continue reading, download the report, by clicking here (no form to fill out).