Online qual: group consensus, rapid feedback, gut reactions

An online focus group is a text-based, geographically unconstrained, discussion held in real-time. They are similar in character to face-to-face focus groups in that they are excellent for project components where group consensus / split, gut reactions, high levels of interactivity, or focused debate are required. Typically, they take 1-2 hours, involve 2 moderators, 5-10 participants, and one or more client observers. We would recommend at least 3 online focus groups to adequately explore a particular research question.

Our real-time online focus group services are facilitated using Rich Focus™, the UK’s market-leading facility, which hosted over 1000 discussions worldwide in ’09, including groups for Microsoft, Unilever, Nokia, MacMillan, Sony and RBS. Rich Focus™ is a secure, online chat room with a whiteboard and host of specialist research features, all designed to elicit the highest levels of social interaction, rich and honest conversation, and to allow the display, sharing and transforming of a wide range of display materials, including images, videos, documents and websites.

You can join a Rich Focus™ online focus group discussion from anywhere in the world, and during your discussion you’ll be able to converse publicly and privately with colleagues, and guide your moderators. Transcripts are available immediately, together with screenshots of key whiteboard activities and an expert summary of findings at both group and project levels. What clients have been saying

“What marks Rich Focus out for us is the ability to participants to interact with visual stimulus, giving us feedback to build directly into the creative development process”

Head of Research Services, Dr Foster Intelligence

“The use of Rich Focus has been a revolution to our end clients. The software is simply unrivalled”,

Global Research Director, The ID Factor.

“Deceptively simple but intelligently thought out capabilities…a versatile set of tools which opens up endless possibilities for concept testing, ideation, co-creation and more”,

Software Review, Research Magazine

“The impressive functionality and flexibility of Rich Focus compared with other offerings are making e-groups a genuinely realistic, viable and cost-effective option for business.”

Executive Chairman, Consensus Research