Types of Online Research

Online Focus Groups

Online Focus Groups take place in real-time and are usually 90 minutes to 2 hours in length. The purpose of most online focus groups is to get your initial or gut reaction to a product, brand, or concept.

These projects usually take place when a company needs to make a quick decision about a new product launch, advertisement, marketing campaign, and other time-sensitive initiatives.   Study topics are limitless; brands, advertising, new products, new concepts, etc.

Online Bulletin Board Discussions

Online Bulletin Board Discussions usually take place over a 2 or 3-day period, but sometimes longer.  Typically, you as a participant are required to login twice per day; once in the morning to answer a set of questions posted for that day, and once in the afternoon/evening to answer any follow-up questions the moderator may have.

The purpose of most bulletin board discussions is to get you to think more deeply about and consider a new product, brand, or concept. The longer period of time for these studies gives you more opportunity to really give some thought and consideration to your responses before you provide your feedback.

Surveys

Surveys are probably what you think of most often when you think about market research studies. For example, when you see in the news that X% of the population in the U.S. drives SUVs...that percentage is the result of a survey.  Surveys draw conclusions about the population as a whole.

Online surveys are typically short in length (5 minutes to about 30 minutes). And unlike online focus groups or bulletin boards which contain mostly open-ended questions, survey questions are usually multiple choice, yes/no, or single choice.

Other types of Online Research studies:

• Journaling: You would be asked to keep an online journal on your thoughts and/or behaviors for a given period of time
• Video Focus Groups: You would participate in a focus group via a webcam
• Usability: Test out a website, software, advertising, or new concept