Methods, resources and quality control

Quantitative methods

Online surveys

online-survey

 

We have been carrying out online surveys since 2011 and recommend this method for solving a wide range of issues. Our experience shows that online method is as good as any other quantitative method, including semi-formalized personal interviews (F2F); moreover, it has many advantages:

Higher control and efficiency

Increased quality of data — minimization of human error:

Comfort for a specialist — respondent has a possibility to fill out the questionnaire in any convenient setting (if we talk about F2F interviews, for instance, the interviewer is invited to the clinic – doctor is constantly distracted with telephone calls, colleagues, patients, etc.; in some cases, if it is prohibited to hold surveys in the clinic – specialist becomes nervous, hastens the interviewer – all these factors lead to worsened quality of data).

Reduction in project cost by 25-30% as compared to F2F interviews

MAR CONSULT has in-house software and server for posting online questionnaires. Questionnaire programming is performed directly by employees working in Programming and Electronic Data Quality Control Unit of MAR CONSULT.

Online survey of specialists is performed with those respondents who are preliminary recruited according to Client’s requirements.

For instance, recruitment in PHARMA Unit is performed over the telephone by full-time employees of the CATI Center (in the central office) who specialize in projects on medicine and pharmaceutics.

Recruitment is made relatively quickly owing to available up-to-date and constantly revised database of specialists from different sectors.

Telephone surveys

We carry out telephone surveys of both private consumers and specialists. We recommend using telephone calls in case of shorter surveys. If interview length is not more than 25 minutes, we will quickly receive information of our interest and save time and money on visit to respondent.

call-center

 

MAR CONSULT opened an in-house CATI center in 2007. Our full-time employees working there have vast experience of communication with various audiences, including such complex respondents as doctors, patients with relatives, managers of different levels in companies, specialists from automotive, chemical, machine building, oil and gas and other sectors.

100% of telephone communications are recorded and can be provided to Clients upon request.

Personal surveys

Personal interviews are the most convenient tool in case of work with hard-to-reach target audience, as well as in places where products are either purchased or used directly.

personal-survey

MAR CONSULT has experienced team of interviewers in Moscow and extended network of regional contractors in over 50 RF cities, as well as in Kazakhstan, Azerbaidzhan, Belarus.

Respondents are recruited only in the central office of MAR CONSULT. We perform 100% quality control of interviews held and data received.

MAR CONSULT holds personal interviews with tablet PCs: we program a questionnaire, upload it to the tablet, and an interviewer comes to a respondent with a tool for conducting the interview quickly and without errors.

Interviews on tablets are recommended, if the questionnaire’s structure contains many switches and logical links, because a programmed questionnaire will automatically lead the interviewer to a question required. The tablet allows to make an audio recording of the interview, video records and photos, as well as to determine interviewer’s location.

Qualitative methods

Focus groups

 

focus-group-2

We recommend holding mini focus groups with 4-5 participants for achievement of the best result. If a small number of respondents are involved in the discussion, knowledge and opinion of each participant can be used very effectively; moreover, you have a better control over respondents and can discuss in a greater detail each issue actively involving all group participants.

The central office of MAR CONSULT has an in-house, technologically advanced focus group facility: groups can be monitored behind the mirror and broadcasted online.

The Moderators of PHARMA Unit have vast experience of holding focus groups, creative groups, expert interviews in medicine and pharmaceutics.

If it is necessary to hold groups in regional cities, an in-house moderator is involved (employee of the central office goes on a business trip). Regional contractors can also be involved, but only those who already have shown their professionalism in previous projects.

The moderator is directly responsible for analytical work and report development, thus, the quality of data and recommendations remain at the high level.

In-depth interviews

interview

If we need to receive information either from top-level officials, or discuss sensitive areas, or build a clear decision-making tree and analyze individual, unique cases, we recommend to use the method of in-depth interviews. MAR CONSULT has experience of holding in-depth interviews with complex target audiences, for instance, chief specialists, key opinion leaders, technical specialists, well-off audiences, administrators working in large medical institutions, relatives and close persons of patients (caregivers), patients with rare or incurable diseases.

Ethnography

MAR CONSULT offers a set of ethnographic methods in order to immerse oneself in the everyday life of the target audience, understand in-depth needs, values, beliefs that influence motives and trigger purchases, the specifics of using the target products and so on. Such methods include home visits to consumers, visits to the working place – to consumers, doctors, etc., accompanied visits to points of sale (household appliance stores, pharmacies, etc.)

In some cases the Client can participate in the visit, and the report is provided in the format of a video which can be used, among other things, for inspiring colleagues from non-marketing departments.

We also have vast experience of using classical methods, for instance, interprofessional dyads, creative focus groups and workshops, creative sessions, as well as digital format: QualBoards, qualforums, SocialSpace, diary studies.

Quality control

The information we provide to our Clients is a basis for important managerial decisions determining business efficiency and development.

High quality of data provided is one of the priorities of our company. Accurate data are essential for making deep insights and intelligent recommendations!

quality-control

The quality control system includes several elements:

Use of “electronic” questionnaires for all types of surveys.

Compulsory briefing of interviewers before the survey.

The briefing includes the following elements:

Analysis of interviewer’s / CATI center operator’s performance.

Listening to audio records of interviews:

Analysis of interviewer’s location:

Comparative analysis of the key survey results: