Archive for the ‘uSamp blog’ tag
Quirks Article: Data Privacy and Social Media
by Dinaz Kachhi, Manager of Research Insights, uSamp
The following article originally appeared in Quirk’s June 2012 Newsletter.
“It was terribly dangerous to let your thoughts wander when you were in any public place or within range of a telescreen.” – George Orwell, 1984
We may be nearly 30 years past Orwell’s apocalypse but we are closer than ever to his Big Brother predictions. While readers may have once shuddered to think that the walls of privacy might crumble to reveal private thoughts publicly, the above quote seems but a mundane observation in an age where status updates and hashtags make public what was once private – or at least confined to a tight-knit circle. Security concerns are becoming more pronounced, as more and more people engage in social networks and as data breaches force them to think and interact differently.
The topic of privacy is especially important in the world of survey research. Our industry is built on the premise of getting inside people’s minds. We pride ourselves on being able to tap in to the private and make it public for market consumption. We are not only trying to gauge perceptions but also to understand how demographics impact online interactions.
To that end, uSamp conducted a study on social media usage across three groups (U.S. and U.K. general population and Hispanics) to compare, contrast and better understand of how social media usage and willingness to share information varies across and within these groups. The studies were completed over the course of six months. The U.S. and U.K. studies were conducted with 600 respondents each and the Hispanic study was conducted with n of 650, all drawn from uSamp’s online panel. The sample was controlled for age and gender.
The results outlined variation in usage of social media platforms by these groups, along with differences in measures taken to control privacy. Additionally, there were distinct trends in the types of activities performed and willingness to share information on social networks, demonstrating different patterns for each group.
Best Practices for Panel Management: Recruitment Sourcing
by Lisa Wilding-Brown, VP Panel Operations, uSamp
Recruiting and managing an online research panel is often a challenging and complex endeavor. The respondent lifecycle poses challenges every step of the way. Methodology, management philosophy, sourcing, rewards and technology all play a key role in generating high quality online sample. These fundamentals can be further complicated by the financial investment required to develop large-scale research panels. As clients evaluate panel providers, there are many standards that should be considered to ensure success from both methodological and financial perspectives.
Panels are not bottomless wells, and like anything that lives and breathes, they need to be nurtured and fed. The following blog series will illustrate the life cycle of a panel by addressing recruitment sourcing, registration, profiling, routing, incentives, and respondent engagement. Hopefully, this detailed look will encourage an examination of our industry’s health, and inspire future discussion for improvement.
What You Should Know About Tracking Studies (Part II)
by Scott Worthge, AVP, Survey Solutions, uSamp
Part II (read Part I)
Sourcing Respondents
These are just a few of the many issues that trackers bring to a researcher. At uSamp, we are frequently asked how the respondents for trackers can be sourced, what options are available and what are the benefits and drawbacks of each? Very generally, using an online panel, as well as an intercept methodology for a River solution, are both applicable. Here are some aspects to consider before making a choice about supporting ongoing data collection.
Taking the Pulse of the Market: What You Should Know About Tracking Studies
by Scott Worthge, AVP, Survey Solutions, uSamp
This is an introduction to our series on tracking studies. Over the next few posts we will be touching on some of the salient issues around this particular type of project. Why are tracking studies important? How are they executed? How are respondents sourced? And what key questions should you be asking your sample suppliers about their procedure? We hope you will share any examples, tips or opinions you have on trackers with us during this exploration.
Anti-Social Shopping: 83 Percent of UK Consumers Don’t Care What Friends Think
Only 1% of people have bought something via a social media site, but 30% have shopped via smartphone, the findings of a new U.K. study from uSamp have revealed.
The study of online shopping habits among 1,195 people was conducted by uSamp.™
Analysis of a Hashtag: What Twitter Means for Market Research
by Ben Leet, Sales Director, uSamp
Last week, while travelling home from work, a trivial tweet of mine was retweeted by a complete stranger. My initial reaction was one of annoyance; I didn’t really want complete strangers knowing that I was frustrated by my train service that day. But then I started to question myself… why had I put a hashtag into the tweet citing the train company by name if I didn’t want it to be found in the Twittersphere?
What even compelled me to tweet in the first place? Sure I was frustrated at the delays, and the probable untruths that were being used as explanations for these delays, but did that tweet improve the situation? And more importantly, did it make me feel better that I’d voiced my anger directly at the train company, who may or may not be paying attention to the random rant of a customer on Twitter?
Sample Aggregation in Market Research: Critical Questions to Ask Online Suppliers
by Matt Dusig, Co-Founder & CEO, uSamp
If you’ve worked in the industry long enough, you’ve experienced a five-alarm fire drill. You’ve carefully plotted out what you believe will be the perfectly executed project. Everything is running as scheduled when suddenly, incidence drops without warning, response rates tank, and the client unexpectedly adds that last minute “little” change that screens out potential respondents. Your best-laid plans are no longer suitable and more resources are needed—fast. What do you do to keep your project alive and your client satisfied? Did you say…aggregation?
INFOGRAPHIC: uSamp Datapoint Study on Social Media Habits in the UK
Men are more likely to share information about themselves on social networking sites than women apart from when it comes to shopping, according to new research from uSamp™.
uSamp surveyed 600 adults in the UK in January 2012.
INFOGRAPHIC: Why 13% Don’t Engage on Social Media Sites
More findings from the uSamp’s “Social Media Habits and Privacy Concerns Survey“: Read the rest of this entry »
3 Tips for Successful Market Research Project Management
By now you’ve heard a variety of voices from uSamp, and hopefully learned a little bit about our culture and position within the market research industry. From debates on panel size and DIY to European Union forecasts and remote management strategies, uSamp’s has attempted to wrangle diverse perspectives and reveal our willingness to be transparent. We recognize the importance of contributing to the heated discourses that are happening in various MR forums across the web and at conferences. But at the same time, we realize that it is important to let you know how we operate. One of the key pillars to our success as a client-facing firm is our project management team and the methodology they use to put our panelists to good use. So without further adieu, let’s go behind the curtain, and find out how our PMs make uSamp tick. Norm Williams shares tips that are not only valuable to other PMs, but can be applied to client-services and consultants across the board.
by Norm Williams, Project Manager
In the world of project management, the definition of a successful project is one that is adequately completed according to clients’ specifications, and within their established timeline. Although this definition may sound simple, it is anything but straightforward. There are various nuances that go into managing a successful project. Years of market-research expertise certainly helps, but you never know what issues will come up that can throw even the most seasoned veteran for a loop.
All projects managers know there are a myriad of issues that regularly arise—which is why, communication, preparation, awareness and flexibility are key components in determining the success of a project.
