Company Description

The best conversational research available, authentic insights rooted in an ethnographic approach

Our qualitative research approaches get you the most authentic consumer and voter insights available. Some of the world’s leading organizations, from the AARP to the Metropolitan Museum, have entrusted us with their research.

Example: An environmental organization had what they thought was an easy ask: How can we convince farmers to use 10% less of toxic weed killers? It turns out that farmers already do everything they can to minimize the amount they use – because of the high cost of this product. Calls to “use less” won’t work, but many are very open to going fully organic—a pleasant surprise for our client.

Example: Conventional wisdom was that Appalachians are blindly loyal to coal, but our research finds that people in the region are economically pragmatic and open-minded about new development and industries that will bring in the money and resources to make life sustainable there.

We use a number of different conversational approaches to get the insights you need, depending on the audience, topic and context.

Ethnographic (community visit) research

This method involves visiting communities and talking to your audience where they live, work and play, often recruiting people on the spot, resulting in authentic conversations with people who would never be heard from in other research methods.

Our diverse team has decades of experience engaging people in communities around the country. We are highly trained, great at striking up genuine rapport, and passionate about hearing people’s unfiltered thoughts. Most of our interviews are video recorded so you can meet your audience and hear their views directly.

We are known for our ability to reach the most challenging audiences to discuss the most difficult topics. Even on a topic as sensitive and controversial as sex work, we were able to engage people in multiple regions, across demographic groups, in deeply thoughtful conversations on the topic.

Ethnographic research can also include conversations in settings like retail spaces where customers are interacting with products.

Mini Focus Groups (Table Talk)

Our Table Talk sessions (3-5 participants) strike the perfect balance, letting us see conversational dynamics on a topic, but also creating a more natural and comfortable setting than larger, traditional groups - also allowing for more groups for your budget.

One-on-one Interviews

Natural, semi-structured interviewing, rooted in our cognitive science expertise.

TalkBack Testing

This unique conversational approach is like the kids’ game of telephone, letting researchers observe how messages are heard and picked up. You know what your materials are trying to say - find out how/whether they’re understood.