Several weeks ago, we shared a proud moment for our Shapiro+Raj family: for the third year in a row we made the top-25 most innovative market research companies list per the GRIT survey. As you can imagine, we exchanged plenty of virtual high fives during the company-wide Zoom meeting we held to celebrate.
Another stat that gave us a reason to revel…our peers and clients voted us #2 in the world in terms of qualitative research excellence. Considering #1 is an app, that makes us the best human and full-service qualitative house in the world!
So, what is the secret to our success? It starts with our goal: give every client insights and inspirations they can take to market with speed, confidence and success. Our rubric…a multidimensional team, strategically smarter recruiting, mastery of art & science in the virtual world, and deeper insight extraction.
A multidimensional team: Most companies have smart social scientists, but we’ve got that and more. Every learning agenda is crafted by a team of social scientists, marketing strategists and expert moderators, a multi-talented crew blending academics, psychology and real-world business success. They tap the right methods and resources (e.g., GLG panels, our curated bench of expert moderators from around the world, advanced technologies, etc.) so you get the most out of the engagement. Like Farmers Insurance®, “we know a thing or two because we’ve seen a thing or two.”
Strategically smarter recruiting: Most companies do a good job with basic specs, but the more you know the more revealing the interview. So, we add dimensions to screeners that enhance actionability or future-proof insights. Take innovations research, tricky because most folks aren’t innovative which means good ideas could fail and bad ideas flourish. That’s why we love our PROsicians algorithm, which clues us in to a respondent’s innovation sensibilities so we can customize the conversation. It’s one way we think ahead to get the most from every moment.
Mastery of art & science in the virtual world: Virtual interviewing is a staple of the industry but many companies have only recently adopted or clumsily adapted. We on the other hand are experts in the virtual arts, never needing to compromise our methods due to the media. For instance, S+R Guided Deliberations™ is one of our most popular methodologies but usually works best in an in-person setting due to the need for break out groups and rooms. No problem. We partnered with Civicom to seamlessly replicate this experience in the virtual space, not missing a beat nor compromising the full impact of this great method (click here to learn more about it).
Deeper insight extraction: OK, sounds a little harsh. After all, qualitative is the warmer side of research that usually relies on good conversation, note taking and an organized memory. But technology offers a superpower to find things our brains may miss. So, every qualitative project includes our proprietary S+R AQuA™ analytical technology. Along with Luminoso, a partnership with MIT Media Labs, we use transcripts and machine learning to find hidden connections across concepts. That way we squeeze out every ounce of insight and illuminate previously “dark data.”
These are just a few of the ways we make sure our qualitative efforts fuel every client’s business with insight and inspiration. There are of course other details (logistics, communication, etc.) that come into play, but we’ll save that for another day.
We are more than happy to give you a deeper view of what makes us the best qualitative shop in the business, so please feel free to reach out (just press #1 on your smart phone to connect immediately…OK, that was a stretch).
Shapiro+Raj
S+R is a research and strategy firm that uses social and behavioral sciences to solve the toughest business and marketing challenges. Our next-gen methods dig deep to unlock market-ready insights. Then our brand planners turn these into strategic marketplace actions that create brand evolution and innovation; customer experiences and loyalty; and new platforms for growth.
