SurveyDigital - Techniques

SurveyDigital uses the following techniques for its research projects.

• Desk research - SurveyDigital uses a variety of research tools and partnerships in order to undertake desk research on behalf of a client. Specialists in the field of investigation are normally recruited if the skillset that is needed is outside the company staff skills. Internet technologies and archive research are employed to provide as full a picture as possible for the client.

• Data segmentation - SurveyDigital can offer data segmentation services, developing data sets to specified criteria, particularly for the purposes of sampling. In this instance, standard sampling techniques are employed to ensure that samples are fully representative of the "universe" being addressed and match the objectives of the research project.

• Web surveys - Internet technologies are at the heart of SurveyDigital's operation. Web surveys have the benefit of ease of use, ease of access and immediate datacapture. Raw results are provided to the client on a daily update, indicating how the project is progressing. All Internet-based surveys are backed up with options for paper editions that may be requested by potential respondents.

• Postal surveys - SurveyDigital provides a full mailing service including design, print, mail-merge, packing, post, reply-paid envelopes and collation of responses. Paper questionnaires are scanned for tick-box data and datacaptured by hand for free text. All free text responses are encoded to ensure that the responses may be profiled.

• Mobile phone surveys - SurveyDigital uses mobile phone technology to capture real-time responses from customers, employees or other survey groups. Responding is free to the respondent and invitations can be made either by direct texting to a list of mobile numbers, or by the publication of a keyword which the potential respondent then texts to SurveyDigital.

• Multi-lingual surveys - SurveyDigital offers clients the opportunity to address potential respondents in a number of languages. Using sophisticated software techniques, questionnaires are designed to collate answers in a single language for the purposes of analysis, but present the questions and pre-coded responses in a number of answer versions. Respondents may switch between languages on web surveys, or receive multiple editions of the paper questionnaire in order to choose which to complete.

• Telephone focus groups - This medium allows clients to investigate in greater depth any issues that have been identified previously in questionnaires. The principle of telephone focus groups is to encourage participants to exchange views and understand others' points of view in a dialogue, which follows a broad structure. Chaired by one person, the telephone focus group can take place outside work time, often in the evening. This engenders a relaxed atmosphere in the comfort of their own home, free from the pressures of work, free from the need for staff cover, and encourages participants to be more expansive. Typically, a telephone focus group has a maximum of 10 participants, calling in on a freephone telephone number.

• Interviewing - Interviews, by telephone or face to face, look in-depth at issues from the respondent's point of view. All interviews are conducted using a structure which has been designed to guide the discussion and enable the objectives of the research project to be met.

• Case studies - SurveyDigital has an excellent reputation for clear, concise and readable case studies. These are developed in conjunction with the subject of the study and the client, ensuring that the study meets the needs of the research project, highlights the benefits that are being showcased and is validated by all parties concerned.