“Mega Groups”

Double, triple or quadruple the size of your groups

Have you ever felt you needed to do groups or depth interviews because the research issues dictated it, but knew that you also needed to deliver “statistically reliable” results?

What it is: “Mega Groups” can include as many as 50 participants in a single session.  Thus your “qualitative research” can yield a much more reliable sample.  (You can even use this technology during business conferences to poll conferees.)

Applications: When you need a “statistically reliable” sample for your research, but your concepts require time and focus to be understood or demonstrated; when you have a large number of stimuli which you just need preliminary feedback on, to narrow the options.

How it Works: Only facilities that can accommodate large groups are used - more and more facilities are capable of this and ad hoc arrangements can easily be made.  Individuals are recruited for a standard two-hour session.  The room is set up “auditorium-style,” with rows of chairs.  After typical introductions (during which some discussion is used to help identify “prime respondents”*), participants are exposed to stimuli, asked to provide scalar response, e.g., ratings.  Only Q&A for clarification is conducted.  After the larger group has provided all the scalar ratings, most respondents are dismissed; those 9-10 who remain are selected by the Client and/or Moderator based on key criteria (e.g., ability to communicate, conceptualize, or based on some behavioral or attitudinal criteria).  They are taken through an abbreviated “round-table” discussion period designed to drill down on certain issues in greater detail.

Benefits: Client gets feedback on a large number of stimuli, and gets both qualitative feedback and quantitative results.

Suggestion: Mega Groups work well together with Perception Analyzer™ and Resonance Technique.

·         This identification of “prime respondents,” alternatively, may take place as the result of pre-screening, such as a question posed to them at check-in, to which they give a written response.  Clients would review and select during the first part of the group.