This is the most cost-effective method for obtaining up-to-date information. Where all respondents have an email address, they can easily be sent a link to the questionnaire. It is also a way to incorporate visual materials necessary to obtain opinions. Security is in place to ensure that the participant's responses are confidential and they can only complete one interview. Respondents can be recruited using internet panel, email, phone or website access. Live focus discussion groups can also be conducted online.
All interviewers are conducted by experienced telephone interviewers. They are trained on each individual project and determine the appropriate person to interview through use of screening criteria. For Business-To-Business (B2B), the interviewers are trained to introduce themselves to the receptionist/secretary.
Joan Hendershot has been moderating focus groups for over 20 years. Participants are recruited according to the specific research criteria. A total of 8 - 10 participants attend per group and each group typically takes 1.5 hours to complete. She has extensive knowledge of the professional focus group facilities available in Southern Ontario.
The respondents are interviewed directly at the facility location. Depending on the criteria of the research study, respondents are interviewed as they are leaving the facility. It is important that age and gender quotas be established to obtain a representative sample.
Questionnaires are sent directly to the respondent for completion in a certain time period. This method is specifically effective for respondents who are part of a membership base or have a vested interest in the outcome of the research. It is very important to have an updated database for this research methodology.