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Watch Beyond the Focus Group Webinar
Original Presentation Date: 11/19/2009
Presented by: Qualvu
Speakers:
John Williamson, Chief Executive Officer, Qualvu
Charlie Rader, CoP Tools Leader, Procter & Gamble
Q&A Topics
Cost
Q: Can you give a sense of what the cost is for this solution
A: Costs for VideoDiary are variable – that is, they are driven by the number of participants. Costs include licensing, recruiting, incentives and video clipping for highlight reels. We’ve opted not to publish our pricing, however we’d be delighted to provide a detailed quote on your potential project if you contact us.
Q: Do moderator’s costs increase due to more data/volume to evaluate?
A: Yes, driven primarily by the amount of raw video minutes, which are a function of the number of participants and number of questions.
Q: How does the cost of a project compare to a traditional focus group (all-in costs)?
A: Typically 20-30% less, and savings can be dramatic in the case of retained panels for continuous insights.
Recruiting
Q: Do you handle participant recruitment and tech support?
A: Qualvu handles all the technical aspects from recruit to report, which includes welcoming calls, participation tracking, and technical support. Return to Q&A Topics
Segmentation
Q: Are there some target groups that the methodology is particularly suited to, and equally some target groups that it is not suited for?
A: Since the methodology allows researchers to interact with participants in their homes, at work, and even on-the-go, it is an ideal solution in reaching hard-to-reach recruits. Qualvu has successfully conducted projects for teens to the elderly, and in geographies throughout the world.
Q: Clients will ask what the demographics are of respondents willing to participate in video diary research. Do you have data or a canned response on this to overcome barrier to try this?
A: Since Qualvu does not recruit only webcam-enabled participants, and rather ships cams regularly to qualified participants, we are able to eliminate any demographic skews specific to this requirement. We only require that participants have a computer and Internet access.
Incentives
Q: Do you pay the same level of incentive to the participants as you do the offline world?
A: The incentive may vary on the segmentation, however usually the cost will be less since participants can respond from home, and in many cases they receive a free webcam.
Q: How do you incentivize participants?
A: Typically a cash incentive upon completion of the assignment, and often a free webcam.
Participants
Q: Can participants get an alert that a question is waiting for them – in the panel situation – or do they need to login each day
A: Alerts are generated within the Qualvu portal and sent to each participant when a question in waiting in queue.
Q: How does Qualvu support participants with technical set up? Assuming the moderator does not have to handle this aspect.
A: Qualvu provides a completely turnkey solution for moderators, and handles all participant set-up, tracking and support.
Q: Can participants edit or delete their written and video diaries?
A: They cannot delete their response but they are provided the option to record multiple responses for any question.
Q: How long does the respondent record usually?
A: Typically 3.5 minutes per response when utilizing a PC-based webcam, and up to 5 minutes per response when using a handheld webcam. Projects typically include 3-6 questions requiring responses.
Q: How well do older people use this program?
A: Our experience indicates quite well – driven in large part by our well-designed participant enlistment processes undertaken by Qualvu Participant Managers.
Q: What’s your “success rate” with keeping participants engaged throughout the entire duration of the project?
A: Once started, virtually all participants complete the project requirements. However we do typically over-recruit by 20-25%, similar to offline qualitative over-recruit rates.
Q: Are the participant comments on the topic (say oral care) during the routine while conducting or do they tape the routine and then talk about what was recorded on the video?
A: Both actually – some were recording during the routine, while other questions allowed for them to respond in any setting.
Panels
Q: Can you tell me more about the panels you mentioned? Can a panel be available over a longer period of time for additional questions about the topic?
A: Panels are a very cost effective way to provide virtually real-time feedback on any topic, and clients can utilize general population panels, mom’s panels, or any custom-designed panel for a specific topic. Panels can be maintained over long periods of time, with typical retention of 6-12 months.
Q: Is the panel through a partner or are you suggesting we would use our own proprietary panel?
A: Both options are available.
Probing
Q: Does the method allow for probing and follow-up on particular elements that are particularly interesting, or that could benefit from more elaboration and clarification?
A: Yes, a ‘follow-up’ feature allows researchers to pose follow-up questions to individual respondents or an entire participant group.
Q: How do you get the richness that comes from probing if you are using pre-recorded moderator questions?
A: You’ll be surprised at the richness of participant responses in an asynchronous setting, since there are no time requirements and typically the questions prompt thorough and thoughtful answers. However we also have a probe feature as mentioned above as well.
Reporting/Clipping
Q: What if you want to organize the data in a way differently than the software allows?
A: This question likely requires a follow-up conversation to better understand your specific needs, however it might help to note that all video content is available in raw and clipped form, “machine-based” transcriptions are made available through the VuPoint portal, video data can be immediately converted to either Windows Media or iMovie files, and can be downloaded to your desktop.
Q: Could you please explain again how the interpreter interface works again?
A: Interpreters log into the project, provide a voiceover translation of each participant response, and clients can watch either the original language version, or select the English translated version with a press of a button within VuPoint.
Q: How secure is the raw footage?
A: All footage is only available to the client, in a secure and password-protected Qualvu server environment.
Q: Who writes the report?
A: The preferred researcher observes, analyzes the footage and drafts the report to client specifications.
Cameras
Q: Does the camera need to be attached to the computer?
A: In the case of a PC-based webcam, yes. In the case of handheld webcams, participants can record their answers and experiences, and upload the data at their leisure within the VideoDiary project experience.
Q: Are these cameras flip video type cameras?
A: Yes – and Qualvu loads a proprietary driver on each camera to facilitate an easy and streamlined experience for the participants.
Q: Is the population that you recruit from only participants that have your cameras –– or do you send cameras out. Also, when you send cameras out, do you get them back or does that person become part of your recruiting population?
A: While we always ask if a qualified recruit already has a webcam, we will send participants a free webcam which they can keep once the study is over. Those webcam-enabled participants can be utilized again in future projects.
Q: Does it require the respondent to download software to facilitate the camera being wireless? Do they need a “port”?
A: No special software or participant configuration is required, however in order to view video participants must have the Flash player installed within their browser – the same requirement to watching YouTube. Subsequently Flash is installed in 97% of browsers worldwide.
Q: Can you use other types of cameras or do you have to use wireless webcams?
A: The VideoDiary platform is primarily used with PC-based and handheld webcams, however will accept video input from any recording device, including digital cameras and even video-enabled mobile phones.
Q: Do the web cameras only work in the home near a computer or do they work if a consumer is in a store?
A: In the case of the handheld web cameras, participants can go to any location to record video content as part of the project assignment.
Moderators
Q: Do you use in-house moderators or outside suppliers?
A: Qualvu utilizes the services and support of world-class supplier network for moderation and report writing.
Q: Is the moderator observing all the sessions as users are documenting their experiences? If No, how do you get into the “Why’s”?
A: Participant responses are available immediately after they are recorded, and moderators can set up an email alert to be notified whenever a response is received for immediate review.
Q: Are pre-recorded moderator questions directly on the webcam?
A: Yes – however they can also be recorded on a device, saved to a file, and uploaded to the project as well, however the self-recorder built into the Qualvu portal is the easiest and most efficient means of question recording.
Q: Where does the moderator “post” the questions? What are those pieces of equipment at the top of this slide (“selected solution”)?
A: Moderator questions are recorded directly within the project page, using an intuitive self-recorder. Regarding the equipment, I believe you are referring to the images of the two types of cams Qualvu routinely ships to participants – PC-based and handheld webcams.
Other Questions
Q: Have you ever done groups synchronously? i.e., requiring the person to be live either 1 on 1 with the moderator or in a group?
A: We have explored that technology in great depth, however feel that Qualvu’s asynchronous method provides the optimal blend of response quality and richness, combined with cost efficiency, global reach, and speed of data collection.
Q: Can you tell is about QuickVu?
A: QuickVu combines VideoDiary with purpose-built participant panels, providing an instant “on demand” access solution for any brand client. While providing greater cost efficiency, importantly QuickVu provides unmatched speed in qualitative face-to-face research.
Q: How do you deal with firewalls, etc.? I have a security software client, use their product and it’s been highly annoying in this webinar to me; not sure about participants
A: There have been rare occasions when security software interferes with video transmission, however Qualvu’s video streaming utilizes common ports for web-based video. Importantly our technical support to participants is unlimited, and Qualvu can help to remediate any possible issues.
Q: Will this work with a MAC?
A: Yes – either Mac or PC. However we do not support the Safari browser, and instead ask that participants and clients alike utilize Firefox for Macintosh instead.
Q: What’s your experience with B2B research?
A: Quite extensive – including business professionals and physicians, however we’d invite a follow-up conversation to understand your needs in more detail.