Our commitment is to state-of-the-art methods in every aspect of quantitative and qualitative research.

State-of-the-art technology is essential for producing the most accurate, comprehensive, and useful information in a timely fashion.

State-of-the-art knowledge means using professional researchers who are highly skilled in both quantitative and qualitative studies and are therefore in a position to be objective about the methods they recommend and to use qual and quant methods in ways that build on the strengths of each.

State-of-the-art in surveys means…

1. . …knowing how every aspect of fieldwork can affect the answers given by respondents—from the sex and voice inflection of the interviewer to the stated purpose of the study and the order of the questions
2. … using the most up-to-date sampling and weighting procedures so that each sample truly reflects the population from which it is drawn
3. …utilizing the most advanced interviewing software to record answers accurately and protect respondents from fatigue
4. … knowing how to achieve high response rates in an era of increasing respondent resistance
5. …knowing when and how to conduct telephone, in person, web, email, fax, and other surveys and panels.

State-of-the-art in qualitative research means…

1. … the most up-to-date professional thinking about focus group moderation—for example, knowing when groups should be homogeneous (e.g. same sex) or heterogeneous
2. … knowing when to recommend controlled experiments for exposing paired groups to positive and negative views of the topics under discussion
3. …using Perception Analyzer [links to COMPAS Interactive] (dial) technology when such technology would dramatically improve the value of qual or qual-quant research
4. … using 3M’s advanced, dual mode Digital WallDisplay [links to COMPAS Interactive] to allow participants to interact in real-time with the material being analyzed
5. …knowing when and how to use the full range of new Interactive [links to COMPAS Interactive] technology coming on stream.