Focus Groups Archives - L&E Research

L&E Health Takes Strides in the Fight Against Type 1 Diabetes

DWG Admin on November 25, 2024

In the heart of Denver’s City Park, team L&E Health joined forces with the community for the Breakthrough Diabetes Walk, a vital initiative aimed at raising awareness and funding for type 1 diabetes research. This annual event is more than just a walk; it’s a powerful statement about our collective commitment to transforming lives and finding breakthroughs in diabetes care. At L&E Research, our mission extends beyond the boardroom and into the heart of the communities we serve, reflecting our core value of giving back.

As part of this year’s event, our team was thrilled to engage directly with participants—patients and caregivers alike. We understand the importance of listening to those affected by type 1 diabetes and providing them with opportunities to voice their experiences. Through initiatives like the Breakthrough Walk, we not only raise awareness but also expand our panel of dedicated participants. This expansion is crucial; it allows us to deliver richer insights and better quality data to our clients, ensuring that the voices of patients and caregivers are heard loud and clear in the medical research community.

Team L&E’s involvement goes beyond mere participation. Each step taken and each story shared at the walk underscores our commitment to improving patient outcomes and enhancing the quality of life for those living with type 1 diabetes. The event has been a resounding success, raising over $430,000 thus far, which will directly support diabetes research and initiatives aimed at making significant advancements in treatment and care.

For L&E Research, the benefits of participating in the Breakthrough Diabetes Walk are manifold. Not only do we expand our database with high-quality, verified patient recruits, but we also reinforce our position as a leader in healthcare research dedicated to making a real difference. Our team members, energized by the opportunity to give back and contribute their time to a great cause, return invigorated, and ready to apply new insights and experiences to their work.

The Breakthrough Walk is a testament to what we can achieve together for the diabetes community. It reflects our unwavering support for groundbreaking research and our dedication to the individuals and families affected by type 1 diabetes. At L&E Research, we remain committed to our foundational value of community contribution, striving each day to not only meet but exceed the expectations of the communities we serve and the clients we support.

As we look to future events and the continuous expansion of our research capabilities, we are grateful for the ongoing support of our participants, clients, and team members who make initiatives like the Breakthrough Walk possible. Together, we are not just walking; we are paving the path toward a brighter, healthier future for all.

The Importance of Data Quality and Participant Selection

DWG Admin on August 27, 2024

Dual Pillars of MR Success: Data Quality and Participant Selection

In marketing propelled by data-driven decision-making, the landscape of market research is undergoing a profound transformation. The traditional methods of gauging consumer preferences and behavior are evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements and shifting consumer expectations. As we step into the future, two crucial elements emerge as the linchpins of effective market research: data quality and the careful selection of research participants.

Data quality stands as the cornerstone of any meaningful market research endeavor. In a world inundated with vast amounts of information, the ability to sift through the noise and extract actionable insights is paramount. However, the value of these insights hinges upon the reliability and accuracy of the underlying data. Poor data quality can lead to flawed analyses, misinformed decisions, and ultimately, missed opportunities.

Ensuring data quality entails a multifaceted approach. Firstly, it necessitates the adoption of robust data collection methodologies that minimize biases and errors. From online surveys to social media monitoring and beyond, researchers must leverage a diverse array of tools and techniques to gather data from various touchpoints. Moreover, employing advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms can help identify patterns, trends, and outliers within the data, thereby enhancing its quality and relevance.

Equally important is the imperative to prioritize the privacy and security of consumer data. With concerns surrounding data breaches and privacy violations on the rise, organizations must uphold stringent data protection measures to safeguard sensitive information. By adhering to regulatory frameworks such as GDPR and CCPA, companies can foster trust and transparency with consumers, thereby bolstering the quality and integrity of their research data.

But the quest for data quality does not end with data collection and protection; it extends to the very foundation of market research: the participants. The composition of the research sample plays a pivotal role in shaping the validity and generalizability of the findings. After all, insights gleaned from a representative and diverse participant pool are more likely to accurately reflect the broader population.

Selecting the right participants entails a strategic blend of demographic diversity, psychographic segmentation, and behavioral profiling. By casting a wide net across various demographic groups, researchers can capture a comprehensive spectrum of perspectives and preferences. Moreover, incorporating psychographic variables such as lifestyles, values, and attitudes enables researchers to delve deeper into the underlying motivations driving consumer behavior.

Furthermore, engaging participants who are genuinely invested in the research topic fosters greater authenticity and depth in their responses. Leveraging community panels, focus groups, and longitudinal studies can facilitate ongoing dialogue and rapport-building with participants, thereby eliciting richer insights over time.

In addition to diversity and engagement, ensuring the quality of participants entails mitigating sources of bias and confounding variables. Implementing rigorous screening criteria and randomization techniques can help minimize selection bias and ensure the representativeness of the sample. Moreover, employing validation measures such as attention checks and consistency tests enables researchers to gauge the reliability of participant responses and mitigate the impact of response bias.

The future of market research hinges upon the twin pillars of data quality and participant selection. By embracing advanced methodologies, upholding data privacy standards, and curating diverse and engaged participant samples, organizations can unlock unparalleled insights into consumer behavior and preferences. In doing so, they can not only stay ahead of the curve in an increasingly competitive landscape but also forge deeper connections with their target audience, driving sustainable growth and innovation in the years to come.

The Real Participants’ Motivators

DWG Admin on July 22, 2024

The Real Participants’ Motivators

Research participants have often been overlooked. We want to change that. 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 here to challenge 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, enjoy the interesting and diverse experiences that research offers, and appreciate the credibility and legitimacy of trustworthy research firms. These factors combine to create a positive and engaging research experience that 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, reinforcing 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, making 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. Trustworthy research firms ensure that 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, encouraging 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)”.

So, while compensation remains a primary motivator, the full spectrum of benefits includes the opportunity to contribute to product development, the enjoyment of diverse and engaging experiences, and the credibility associated with reputable research firms. Involvement in research is not just about earning money; it’s about making a meaningful impact and being part of something larger than oneself. By recognizing and enhancing these aspects, we can ensure a positive and engaging research experience that fosters participant pride and satisfaction, ultimately leading to better data quality and more impactful research outcomes.

Enhancing Participants’ Experience Together

DWG Admin on July 3, 2024

Enhancing Participants’ Experience Together

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. 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. 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.

What influences response rate?

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.

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.

Elevating Insights: Discover L&E Research’s Cutting-Edge Facility in Denver

DWG Admin on May 29, 2024

Elevating Insights: Discover L&E Research’s Cutting-Edge Facility in Denver

L&E Research has expanded its footprint with a new state-of-the-art facility in Denver, Colorado, perfectly positioned in the vibrant heart of the Glendale neighborhood. Known as ‘The Mile High City,’ Denver offers a backdrop of the majestic Rocky Mountains and a bustling metropolitan vibe. L&E’s facility enhances this dynamic setting by providing top-notch amenities tailored for market research.

This new facility is strategically located at 720 S Colorado Blvd., placing it within easy access of downtown Denver and a mere 40-minute drive from Denver International Airport. The area around the facility boasts an array of dining and entertainment options, contributing to an enjoyable experience for clients and participants alike.

The Denver location features three expertly designed suites: Mile High, Pikes Peak, and Vail, each offering various configurations to accommodate different research needs. These rooms range in seating capacities from intimate focus groups to larger audience formats, such as theater-style settings that can host 40+ attendees. Each suite is equipped with two-way mirrors and the latest digital recording and streaming technologies, ensuring that every session can be viewed and analyzed with the utmost clarity.

The facility emphasizes client comfort with well-appointed lounges attached to viewing rooms. The flexibility of the spaces is highlighted by modular tables that can be arranged to suit specific project requirements. This adaptability makes the Denver facility a suitable choice for a diverse range of qualitative and quantitative research projects.

L&E Research’s commitment to providing comprehensive research solutions is evident in the thoughtfully designed Denver facility. It reflects their ongoing dedication to facilitating effective market research through well-equipped spaces, state-of-the-art technology, and a focus on client and participant experience. This new location not only strengthens L&E Research’s market presence but also enriches the research capabilities available in Denver, making it a premier destination for local and national researchers aiming to tap into the region’s diverse consumer base.

Recipe for the perfect qual panel: Step Four

DWG Admin on September 22, 2023

Recipe for the perfect qual panel

Step Four: Recruitment at Its Best

So, you’ve assembled your perfect panel, what now? Now, it’s time to ensure that your panel not only reflects the diversity of the groups you’re studying but also guarantees the accuracy and clarity of the information they provide.

In this crucial step, we look at how to master accuracy in programming, employ dual-verification and authentication processes, track fraudulent panelists, and closely monitor participation to maintain the highest standards of research quality.

Mastering accuracy in programming

When recruiting your dream team of potential research participants, a well-crafted screener is crucial; it can make or break your research project, and the process of creating one that satisfies all parties involved can be a complex and time-consuming endeavor. Gone are the days when screeners were administered via paper and pencil; technological advancements have taken their place. We now harness the power of survey software for screening, which brings efficiency and precision to the forefront.

However, the path to a flawless screener is not without its challenges. Without multiple layers of quality and accuracy checks during the programming process, there’s a lurking risk of errors that could lead to disastrous misrecruits.

We have implemented rigorous programming metrics to ensure your carefully crafted screener is executed flawlessly. Our process has an initial goal of achieving 92%+ accuracy; to which follows a quality check to achieve 98% + accuracy. All screeners are programmed within 24 hours, with 95% or more meeting this deadline.

Ensuring Rock-Solid Consistency in Responses

This is another cornerstone of a recruitment process. Screening recruits both digitally and verbally is important for maximum accuracy. We begin by filtering candidates who meet essential criteria such as gender, age, education, income levels, vehicle or homeownership status. Our proprietary panel software tracks over a hundred data points so that we can precisely target the audience, therefore reducing panel fatigue.

Once we have a broad list of potential candidates, we email them a pre-screener with core qualifying questions. This helps us narrow down the initial list to a more manageable size. Our recruiting team then contacts those who meet the pre-screening criteria by phone. They ask the same core questions a second time to confirm consistency in responses.

Tracking Fraudulent Panelists

The success of a research project depends on many variables, but respondent quality is the most important one. Recruit validation isn’t simply about verifying screening criteria and quotas; recruiters must also confirm the recruit is providing honest responses.

It’s becoming increasingly common for fraudulent panelists to deceive researchers by submitting inaccurate information. It’s important to fight back by enabling safeguards to flag and ban dishonest panelists from future research. Including “red herring” questions in screeners to conceal correct responses. Prior to initiating the screening process, we collaborate closely with our clients to identify and address any potentially biased or leading screening questions. This collaborative effort is key in mitigating the risk of fraudulent panelists. Our recruiters and project managers carefully review screening responses to identify any potential warning signs, such as panelists who frequently select all options at the highest frequency. For instance, it’s highly unlikely that someone ordered 97 sandwiches from a restaurant last week. (To give you an idea, this is a real example of an absurd response that we came across a few years ago!)

Dealing with professional respondents

In addition to excluding fraudulent panelists, there’s a danger you’ll run into a “professional respondent”, those who provide honest responses but have participated in research too many times. Ideally, consumer panelists should participate in 1-2 research studies in a calendar year and, at most, 10-12 research studies ever. If panelists are recycled too frequently, their responses may lose the fresh perspective needed; in other words, they may subconsciously or inadvertently become familiar with the process of a research interview and may begin to answer questions differently based on their research experience. Participation is limited to conform to industry-standard parameters, and previous research is monitored. Additionally, we have implemented a recruiting metric that aims to ensure at least 30% of first-time respondents.

Crafting effective screeners, ensuring response consistency, and safeguarding against fraudulent panelists are key steps to build a high-quality research panel. In your research journey, remember that quality remains the bedrock of impactful insights.

Recipe for the perfect qual panel: Step Three

DWG Admin on July 28, 2023

Recipe for the perfect qual panel

Step Three: Quality Qualitative panels

This is probably one of the most important ingredients in our recipe: the panel. After exploring the planning phase and looking at the importance of good project management, we’re now at the key stage of finding and engaging with the perfect panel for best outcomes.

Finding the right panelists

Quality recruitment brings quality research, and this is why it’s important to have the support of an agency that knows how to build panels specifically for qualitative research, that understands consumer behavior, and knows how to engage respondents. Recruiting through companies who aren’t specialized might bring participants who are not prepared for the depth of answers, or length of surveys that qualitative studies require.

Panelists need to be willing, and honest, and need to be prepared for the tasks they will need to complete. It is critical to only use data from participants that meet these criteria, and your agency partner should always abide by best practices for removing suspicious responses. Completing qualitative research without these processes can waste time and money and is likely to leave companies without a clear direction about key business decisions.

A big community is also important to find the perfect target audience for your research project. The volume of available panelists provides an array of behaviors and opinions, and the feedback necessary for your research objectives. For example, our nationwide qualitative panel has more than 1.25 million members. Some projects might also require custom panels, especially when seeking a low incidence audience that is challenging to find. For example, in the healthcare space a custom panel can be critical when the product or service caters to a niche target, such as a patient with a rare condition or a highly specialized professional.

How to reach them

In a digital world we can utilize a variety of outreach methods to both grow our nationwide panel and to target specific audiences for current projects. Different channels can have different benefits and bring different results; for example targeting via social media directly is often more efficient in prescreening, saving time and money while searching for qualified participants. Also, some niche groups are very difficult to find using traditional methods. With social media it’s easier to access those hard-to-reach respondents hiding in online support forums and communities featuring specific interests.

Posting ads in newsletters, newspapers, radio, television, etc. can also be an effective outreach strategy for select audiences.

Keep them engaged

Keeping panelists engaged is as important as finding the right people. So, how do you do it? First, understand the research participants’ motivations to maintain engagement; while a monetary incentive is key, there are other motivating factors, such as feeling like a part of the community, seeing new products before anyone else, or simply wanting to be heard and share their opinions. We know that strong communication throughout the life of a project is also critical to set expectations, and it should be combined with a well-planned project that keeps panelists engaged to avoid losing them along the way.

So, you should watch out for the factors that could lead to research and screening disengagement: a poorly designed or overly lengthy survey, challenges with the selected research platform, or external variables like distracting surroundings.

Having a panel readily available that has been built specifically for a long-term engagement can lead to quick insights. This requires a meticulously well-planned project from the onset, with parameters for activities defined so that expectations are accurately communicated over the lifecycle of the project. A successful project means stronger trust, which leads to a higher retention rate and deeper level of engagement.

Completing this stage of finding the right panel and keeping them engaged is extremely important for the success of the project. That’s why it is key to find the right partners with the right experience, and a big enough community to be able to provide you with the right audience and quality outcomes.

The Latest in Qualitative Research Technology – Part 2

DWG Admin on December 7, 2021

New Tools for Better Insights

In part one of this blog, we discussed using AI to aggregate feedback and tap into data sources that may be too large or complex to analyze without AI. Yogi is emerging as a useful platform to identify and analyze data efficiently.

Yogi uses AI to aggregate, organize, and analyze data, which adds structure and meaning to reviews and ratings. Yogi power comes from combining consumer sentiment with topics of conversation to make it easy to identify likes, dislikes, competitors and challenges.

Live Conversations with 1,000 Participants

One of our newest partners, Remesh, allows customers to have a live conversation with audiences at a much larger scale, using AI to analyze and organize responses in real-time. In a live Remesh conversation, it’s possible to collect responses from up to 1,000 panelists in a single session.

The client develops the discussion guide for their exploratory qualitative research while L&E Research recruits the target audience to participate. The discussion guide can be customized using open-ended questions, polls, and even images or videos. The moderator selects pre-loaded questions from the discussion guide or can modify or write new questions in real time as the audience responses stream in, making the discussion fully customizable based on the responses received.

Quality Recruiting is Still Key

L&E Research taps into our panel of over one million US members to find the appropriate targets so customers can get the answers they need, and stakeholders are equipped to make decisions to solve their brand challenges.

Once the target audience has been secured, and the discussion guide has been developed, the Remesh session can be conducted. This is a fantastic way to brainstorm a topic without panelists influencing others opinions, so that a large variety of fresh perspectives are brought to the proverbial table for the client to review.

On the other hand, if idea sharing within the session is desired to stimulate ideas, that can be achieved – it’s all fully customizable! As new ideas are presented, and feedback is provided, the moderator can make alterations to the discussion and add or remove questions if changes are warranted. Remesh can collect quantitative and qualitative responses within a single session, cutting down on time and expenses when both need to be achieved. Due to its scalability, it can reduce moderation time as one session can collect responses from up to 1,000 panelists.

If further in-depth discussions are necessary to complete the qualitative analysis, individual or small group sessions can be facilitated through L&E Research’s Virtual Facility via a video conferencing platform. Finishing the research with a smaller scale discussion offers researchers the opportunity to answer any pending questions or tie up loose ends they may have.

Multiple Tech Solutions, One Vendor

This hypothetical, multi-phased approach to both identifying and solving a research problem using just three vendors could streamline and simplify a company’s process and save researcher time. As Yogi and Remesh are both partners of L&E Research, this could all be done on one invoice though L&E, saving the finance and procurement departments time and resources as well.

The Latest in Qualitative Research Technology – Part 1

DWG Admin on September 23, 2021

Covid-19 Changed the Way We Conducted Research

Covid-19 impacted the market research industry in a countless number of ways. L&E Research, like many other qualitative research firms that offer in-person facility solutions, saw a drastic decline in face-to-face research. While researchers were already exploring remote options including asynchronous activities like bulletin boards, shop-alongs, home-use tests, and diaries, these were never meant to replace the importance and value of having a conversation in a one-on-one or group setting with a live audience.

The pandemic led to an increase in conducting synchronous sessions via video-conferencing software, and an overall increase in asynchronous research. But what about the projects that still needed to be conducted face-to-face? Qualitative research firms that offer in-person facility solutions had to implement changes that would reduce risk for all parties involved. By making their facilities as safe as possible for staff, clients, and participants, in-person research became a viable option once again.

Technology made it possible to move research online in a meaningful way, conduct new types of remote research activities, and allowed us to find and utilize new sources of research data.

The Way We Shopped Allowed an Untapped Data Source to Emerge

Of course, market research wasn’t the only activity to see a shift from in-person to online. There was an incredible surge in online shopping over the course of the pandemic – a whopping 32.4% increase over the previous year (https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/article/us-ecommerce-sales/). As review platforms such as Yogi saw an increase in the volume of online reviews and ratings, brands began to realize the importance of this previously untapped data source. It contains a wealth of unbiased feedback that simply needs to be analyzed in order for valuable insights to be found.

As New Tools Were Needed to Analyze This Data – Enter AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the next step in automation when working with large amounts of data. While AI does not replace the insights professional, AI organizes and analyzes data and sentiments, which makes teams more efficient by removing menial tasks, such as tagging, collating, and structuring data, from the process. With advancements in AI, researchers can analyze observational data, and not simply base their findings on the “ask environment” (i.e. polling, interviews, etc.).

AI is best utilized when it can support and enhance the role of the researcher, not take the researcher out of the picture. A focus group still needs a trained moderator, and AI cannot replace that. AI can help that moderator achieve greater things with the right technology.

Using Qualitative and Quantitative for Agile Innovation

Research has been moving towards a more inclusive hybrid approach, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative into the entire innovation cycle. Rather than using an anchored “waterfall” approach, it’s more comprehensive for decision making to now use an “agile” approach that is more frequent and lighter in nature and may include more tools along the way rather than one large strategy. This gives researchers a collection of different types of data to inform their decisions.

Using the combination of these technologies to fulfill research needs could be quite the powerhouse and can leverage both the “observe” and “ask” environments. For example, a company could use Yogi to analyze their reviews and ratings across a variety of sites to identify a problem they may have with a specific product, or perhaps it may reveal an issue with their brand perception of which they were unaware, or it could simply show them how their competitor may be outperforming them. Whatever the case may be, based on their analysis of existing reviews and ratings, using observational data, they have now identified a problem and can develop a purpose statement which will guide the research team on the work that must be accomplished throughout the research process.

Developments in technology go far beyond just helping researchers shift from in-person to remote. With changes in the macro environment like massive shifts to online shopping, researchers need to have the tools to identify new sources of data and analyze them efficiently. AI and other software will never replace the insights professional, but having the right technology can allow research to become faster, more agile and more innovative.

L&E Expands To New York City

DWG Admin on May 14, 2020

Raleigh, NC – March 2, 2020 – L&E Research, the preferred choice for qualitative research in the U.S., is pleased to announce its continued expansion with the recent addition of New York Consumer Center in New York, New York. The addition of the midtown Manhattan facility gives L&E Research presence in the Northeast area of the US, in addition to the recent expansions last year in Austin, Texas, Denver, Colorado, Kansas City, Missouri and East Bay Area, California.

“This new location gives us the opportunity to provide clients with qualitative research solutions in a primary market in addition to our eleven other locations covering almost all regions in the United States,” said Brett Watkins, President of L&E Research.

“We are excited to add the impressive New York Consumer Center team to our rapidly growing network of qualitative research solutions. Coupled with our technology partnerships, we now have millions of connections for our clients. We can connect clients with their customers in exciting growth markets that present fresh research in-person or online: anytime, anywhere. We look forward to bringing L&E’s advanced technology solutions to the New York City market to make connections with the community and create conversations that help our clients make better decisions.”

About L&E Research

L&E Research is the leading qualitative research company in the U.S., dedicated to making connections with our community, to facilitate connecting our clients with our community, enabling us to give back to our communities. Services include recruitment, focus group facilities, and a host of qualitative technology solutions, allowing our clients to connect with their customers anywhere, anytime. L&E has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies in the U.S. multiple times. In addition to a virtual presence nationwide utilizing proprietary technology solutions to connect clients with customers throughout the U.S., L&E has facilities in 12 markets, including Austin, TX; Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Charlotte, NC; Denver, CO; Kansas City, MO; Minneapolis, MN; Raleigh, NC; San Francisco – East Bay Area, CA; St. Louis, MO; Tampa, FL; and our new office in New York City.

Contact

Elizabeth Wollenberg
Marketing Manager
L&E Research
919-438-3045
www.leresearch.com

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