Research is on the edge of a revolution in the way it conducts its business. Key changes include: research communities, mobile devices, social media, and Big Data. Research needs to work out what these new strands can add to the mix, rather than trying to fit them to some hypothetical and outdated model of what research is and how it should be evaluated. Continue reading »

I’ve seen a lot of discussion on various boards and blogs about making surveys more fascinating for respondents, in order to encourage higher response rates. Ideas have ranged from short-term solutions (have in-person interviewers use iPads, to create interest in the project) to the slightly absurd (give each respondent a free trip). There have even been lengthy arguments about replacing the word survey with something “sexier,” such as market intelligence or research science.

I think these arguments tend to have things a little backwards. In my own humble opinion, response rates are falling because we’ve been abusing respondents for years, and they’re tired of it. Continue reading »