bACKGROUND
Since 2003, Nielsen has worked with The Candor Company to conduct over 350 qualitative projects for clients. By working with us, you can offer your clients a range of qualitative services for product development including:
Audience identification
Concept testing and refinement
Naming
Packaging development
In-home usage evaluation
Some of the most frequent clients of NOQR have been Mondelez, Colgate, SC Johnson, and P&G. Most projects have fielded in the US, but we have conducted studies in many foreign countries, including Mexico, France, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, and Hong Kong.
SERVICES WE OFFER
video discussion group
Since 2020
With NielsenIQ, video
We use Discuss.io – a secure, research-specific platform that allows us to further screen respondents prior to the session and check their internet connection prior to the session in order to ensure a more seamless group.
video in-depth interview (IDI)
Video in-depth interviews are best suited to “drilling down” on the specific experiences or thoughts of an individual when doing so might be tedious for others to listen to during a group.
Again,
discussion groups are ideal for exploring experiences, ideation, and probing emotions
We use Discuss.io – a secure, research-specific platform that allows us to further screen respondents prior to the session and check their internet connection prior to the session in order to ensure a more seamless group.
Client:
Project Objective:
Scope:
Date:
Costs:
NielsenIQ Contact Person For More Information:
Video discussion groups are ideal for exploring experiences, ideation, and probing emotions
We use Discuss.io – a secure, research-specific platform that allows us to further screen respondents prior to the session and check their internet connection prior to the session in order to ensure a more seamless group.
Video diary
text chat discussion group
NOQR is an online text only qualitative methodology. No matter where they live, participants login to a chat group at a specified time for moderator led discussion. Clients can observe virtually and the online chat platform enables them to privately communicate with each other and the moderator without interrupting the participants’ discussion.
Actual online chat group interface from a recent project
Process
Whether a project is NOQR or NFQ, the process is the same and includes the following steps:
Nielsen project manager or account lead contacts Candor about the study.
Internal briefing call where Candor receives information about the study, the background, the objectives, and potential timing.
Conference call with clients where they can elaborate more on their desires for the study, provide additional background information, etc. During that call, we also discuss timing for participant recruitment, discussion guide development, the online groups, and reporting.
Clients know that Candor moderators are Nielsen sub-contractors and that the relationship is longstanding. Candor moderators typically communicate directly with clients and copy Nielsen team members on all emails.
Roles and Responsibilities
Candor – professional services provider responsible for:
Discussion guide development
Moderation
Reporting
iTracks (www.itracks.com) – online platform provider.
Candor is the administrator of the Pinecone Research iTracks account and does the following.
Books / schedules the groups (note: this requires a PO# from Nielsen).
Sends email invitations and reminders to participants.
Sends observer invitations to Nielsen and client team members.
Uploads all discussion materials and stimuli to the platform.
Creates the transcripts and distributes them to Nielsen and client team members.
Nielsen or Candor – participant recruitment provider:
Depending upon the availability of sample and project objectives, participants may come from Nielsen’s panel or Candor may recruit “fresh sample” using its recruitment methods and partners.
Fees
Candor bills for its services only with standard rates of:
Discussion Guide and Reporting - $300 per hour.
Moderation - $1,100 per group which includes managing the iTracks platform, loading the guides, moderation, and creating the transcripts.
iTracks (www.itracks.com) bills Nielsen directly for the platform costs.
View iTracks pricing
In the past, Nielsen has purchased a “block” of groups to obtain better pricing.
Recently, iTracks has offered groups with and without technical support. As consumers have become more tech savvy and internet speed and reliability concerns have faded, it is no longer as critical to have dedicated technical support.
However, it is still advisable to pay for this feature should clients have any issues as neither Candor nor Nielsen team members are able to provide tech support during the groups.
Participant recruiting and incentives:
Nielsen pays incentives to participants directly.
Traditionally it has been $25 for a 90 minute group but that is very low and can affect show rates.
Usually, Nielsen recruits 16 to 12 people for a group for 8 to 10 to show.
If Candor is recruiting for the project, it will recruit 10 for 7 or 8 to show and fees range from:
Recruitment – $100 to $125 per person depending upon the incidence of the target.
Incentive - $90 to $100 per person for a 90 minute to 2 hour group.
Group dyNAMICS
Ideally, groups are 90 minutes long and include 8 to 9 participants.
If necessary, groups can be 2 hours long but that duration can get taxing for participants.
Groups larger than 8 to 9 participants can be overwhelming for everyone with too much text for everyone to read.
Groups smaller than 5 participants tend to feel “slow” and not advised. All participants are on the same “schedule” which creates the feeling of long pauses while everyone reads and types.
During the groups, the moderator can share stimuli such as written product concepts, images, ads, and videos. Candor moderators have developed numerous unique project techniques to get discussion beyond the rational and into more emotional territory.
iNTERNATIONAL cAPABILITIES
NOQR can occur in practically any language / country and Candor arranges the moderators. However, Candor has especially strong relationships with moderators in the following countries:
UK
India
France
China
Italy
Russia
Germany
Netherlands
Hong Kong
Russia
Brazil
Mexico
As many clients are based in the US, Candor can provide real time translation as follows:
During the groups, there is a conference line for all team members and the translator. (Note: Nielsen is responsible for arranging the conference call.)
A translator translates the native language chat stream into English for those on the call.
The conference call is recorded and transcribed.
Typical charges for translation are $200 per hour for the translator and $1.00 per minute for transcription.
reporting and deliverables
Reporting deliverables vary by the project and client:
Transcripts - provided for all projects and are sent within 24 hours of the groups.
Full PPT report (often integrated with quantitative findings if applicable) with executive summary, verbatims, and recommendations. 2 week typical delivery time.
Email “top-line” summary. 2 to 3 day typical delivery time.
For report samples. please contact Jonathan Schneider per below..
cOSTS FOR TYPICAL PROJECTS
Example 1 – 4 chat groups with 8 to 9 participants in each recruited by Nielsen
4 - 90 minute sessions with 2 customer segments
Discussion guide - $1500
Moderation - $1100 per group x 4 = $4400
Reporting - $2500
Example 2 – 6 chat groups with 8-9 participants in each recruited by Candor
6 - 90 minute sessions with 3 customer segments
Discussion guide - $1500
Moderation - $1100 per group x 6 = $6600
Reporting - $3500
Recruitment - $6900
Incentives - $6000
In some circumstances, Nielsen may opt to write the full report and request Candor to provide a topline / email summary. In such situations, fees range from $750 to $1250.
Other ServiceS
Although not used as frequently as online chats, Nielsen has worked with Candor to conduct several other types of qualitative research including:
In-person focus groups
In-home and shop along interviews
Bulletin board discussion
Photo and video journals / diaries
Video chats
For more information on these services, please contact Jonathan Schneider (jonathan@thecandorcompany.com, 404-660-9400)or Liz Moore (678-458-2391, liz@thecandorcompany.com).