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Program

From Start to Finish: Managing Qualitative Research with Confidence


Total Credits: 10

Average Rating:
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Categories:
Analysis & Reporting |  Business Practices |  Research Design
Speaker(s):
Roben Allong |  Kristin Ameruoso |  Michael Collins |  Jo Ann Hairston |  Bruce Hutchison |  Jessica Kurth |  Mary Beth Solomon |  Susan Sweet |  Maria Virobik |  Jeff Walkowski |  Jay Zaltzman
Course Level:
Intermediate
Duration:
5 modules, 10 hours of learning (2 hours each)

Dates
Schedule at a glance



Overview

From Start to Finish: Managing Qualitative Research with Confidence

Five-Module Series offered through Qualology

Who Should Attend:

If you lead, manage, or execute the qualitative research function within your organization we invite you to join us for our upcoming series, "From Start to Finish: Managing Qualitative Research with Confidence"!  

This series is designed for professionals who might not have previously been introduced to the background and fundamentals of qualitative research (or this series can serve as a great reminder). You will be introduced to topics such as establishing clear research objectives, navigating in-person and online qualitative methods, selecting third-party providers, crafting effective screeners and discussion guides, and championing qualitative research results! The information learned will help those who manage qualitative vendors, including moderators, analysts and research facilities.

This is not a series for those who wish to learn how to be a moderator or facilitator for qualitative research. 

What to Expect:
  • All 5 modules will be offered live online, and will be recorded for viewing later.

    • Don’t worry if you can’t make each one for the live module – your registration includes the recordings!

  • The presentation decks for each module will be available and serve as the series takeaway/workbook.

  • Modules will be interactive! Homework may be assigned to include exercises such as critiquing screeners and discussion guides, designing methodology for sample case studies and creating a sample RFP.

  • After completing this series, you will have the opportunity to earn a "Fundamentals of Qualitative Management" certificate by passing each module's quiz.

Schedule-at-a-Glance

Module 1: September 5, 2024; 11am - 1 pm CDT
  • The Importance of Clarifying Research Objectives and Reaching Consensus About Them - Susan Sweet
  • Overview of In-Person Qualitative Methods - Jo Ann Hairston
Module 2: September 12, 2024; 11am - 1 pm CDT
  • Overview of Online Qualitative Methods - Mary Beth Solomon
  • Identifying the Best Research Method Options for a Given Situation - Jeff Walkowski
Module 3: September 26, 2024, 11am - 1 pm CDT
  • Best Practices for Selecting Third-Party Providers (Recruiters, Facilities, Moderators, Analysts) - Michael Collins
  • Best Practices for Writing Screeners - Jessica Kurth & Kristin Ameruoso
Module 4: October 10, 2024, 11am - 1 pm CDT
  • Best Practices for Developing/Evaluating Discussion Guides - Jay Zaltzman
  • Best Practices for Analysis and Reporting - Maria Virobik
Module 5: October 24, 2024, 11am - 1 pm CDT
  • Best Practices for Managing Stakeholders Through the Research Process - Roben Allong
  • Best Practices for Being a Champion of Qualitative Research Results - Bruce Hutchinson

 

Interested in registering for individual modules only? Click the module numbers above to be redirected to the individual module registrations. 

Speaker

Roben Allong's Profile

Roben Allong Related Seminars and Products

CEO

Lightbeam Communications (M\WBE)


Roben Allong is founder and CEO of Lightbeam Communications, a market research and strategy boutique firm, based in New York City. Lightbeam is known for its unique cultural approach and perspectives. With over a decade of marketing research, and strategy development, as well as consumer culture and trend analysis expertise, she is an expert conductor of B2B and B2C in-person and online research methodologies.

She is an expert in brand positioning and communications, as well as, new product development, category mapping, and market exploration across a wide range of industries. Roben employs cultural intelligence to decipher and decode organization stakeholder and consumer attitudes and behavior. She is often described by her colleagues as the Oprah of the focus room. Her empathetic curiosity and cultural savvy always make for sensitive, yet energetic in-depth interviews and insightful analysis.

She is a past President of QRCA (Qualitative Research Consultants Association), Co-Founder of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force. Roben has also been recognized as a 2024 Insights Association Laureate—a lifetime designation of distinction in the fields of market research, consumer insights, and data analytics. Roben has also moderated panels and presented on various emerging trend topics at Universities and Research conferences in the U.S. and internationally, as well as published articles on culture, consumer trends, and inclusive research methodologies.


Some of her published work include:
One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Post COVID Implications for Marketers and Market Research

Do You K.N.O.W Today’s BIPOC consumer?

Understanding Cultural Insights: The New Next Consumer Normal

The Rise of Cultural Empathy and its Implications for Marketing Research and Marketers
 


Kristin Ameruoso's Profile

Kristin Ameruoso Related Seminars and Products

Vice President of Qualitative Research

Recruit and Field, Inc.


Stumbling into the world of Qualitative Research at the age of 18, Kristin did not know what she was getting herself into. Starting off on the bottom of the totem pole as a recruiter and proving herself was no easy task. List recruiting came easier than speaking up, sharing ideas and creative ways to recruit! Clearly that was a long time ago, now we cannot get her to STOP talking. There is a lot to say about someone when you see the passion, they hold for what they do.

Twenty years later she is making an impact with Recruit and Field, as well as those in the industry she strikes up a “simple” conversation with. We all know nothing in ever simple in MR. All the pieces that make recruiting a success from within the engine, is more than just finding the perfect respondents, it starts the moment that RFQ hits your inbox. Kristin inspires those around her, builds a continuous culture of improvement, a proactive stance in business that bleeds out into everyday life. Her knowledge and expertise in this space of MR—gleaned from first-person hands on experience over the years-- has ignited a need to share what has been proven to be successful when partnering with clients on Qualitative research projects as well as learn more about industry areas outside of her current expertise.

At the end of the day, that is what we all want. Isn’t it?


Michael Collins's Profile

Michael Collins Related Seminars and Products

Independent Qualitative Research Professional

Independent B2B Researcher


Former co-CEO of B2B fieldwork company. Currently a Qualitative Researcher for market research agency clients.


Jo Ann Hairston's Profile

Jo Ann Hairston Related Seminars and Products

RIVA Market Research & Training Inst


The work Jo Ann does for RIVA is diverse. She works in both the Research and the Training division, shifting hats with ease. As a researcher she is – assigned to focus group projects that range from medical issues to health and beauty aids and from politics to new products. After leading more than 3,200 groups, and earning the title Master Moderator, Jo Ann helps clients access POBAs [Perceptions, Opinions, Beliefs and Attitudes] from respondents that range from homemakers to the homeless and from ages 7 to 97.

As a Co-Founder of the RIVA Training Institute she serves as a Master Trainer and developer of the framework and curriculum for both standard courses and custom courses designed to meet the needs of clients in a variety of industries. She is a credentialed Master Coach for Qualitative Researchers, as well as, individuals transitioning from one career to another.


Bruce Hutchison's Profile

Bruce Hutchison Related Seminars and Products

Manager

State Farm


Bruce Hutchison is both an avid qualitative and applied ethnography researcher, plus brings a history of senior marketing officer experience to his work. Today, he leads a team of mixed methods researchers at State Farm headquarters in Bloomington, IL, that is focused on informing projects for innovation teams and executive leadership across the enterprise. Bruce is an enthusiastic advocate for actionable research and has had the privilege of launching and building national brands, products, and services throughout his career.


Jessica Kurth's Profile

Jessica Kurth Related Seminars and Products

President

Now What, LLC


Jessica is a freelance market research project manager and qualitative analyst. She brings peace of mind to busy researchers by meticulously handling the details of research logistics, recruiting management, qualitative analysis and more so her researcher partners have space to focus their creative genius on conducting research and building relationships with clients. 


Mary Beth Solomon's Profile

Mary Beth Solomon Related Seminars and Products

Founder / Owner

Solomon Solutions


Mary Beth is an independent consultant offering qualitative solutions in branding, the customer experience, and usability at its intersection with technology. Mary Beth has worked in the Qualitative Research field since 1993. In 2002 she launched her own consultancy. She has conducted thousands of studies in consumer and B2B categories across industries, and is one of the first moderators in the world to conduct online research. As a moderator, Mary Beth’s goal is consistent: To help businesses and brands understand customer perspectives, motivations, and behaviors so that clients can create and deliver high-quality products, services, and user/customer experiences. Mary Beth is a member of the Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA), the User Experience Professionals’ Association (UXPA), and the American Society of Trial Consultants (ASTC). She has authored articles about online focus groups that were published by Marketing Research Magazine and Quirk’s Marketing Research Review. She also serves as a co-trainer for the Online Moderator Training Institute (OMTI) with colleague Jeff Walkowski, OMTI’s founder. Mary Beth lives and works in the New York City metropolitan area. She is also a published fiction author, a musician, a writer, a reader, and a Wordler.


Susan Sweet's Profile

Susan Sweet Related Seminars and Products

President

Sweet Insight Group


A passionate qualitative researcher focused on uncovering and illuminating insights, Susan aims to make the research process fun for both clients and participants. For the past 25 years she has incorporated both innovative and tested research methods, continually working to keep research as real-world as possible while using a mix of in-person and tech-based tools. Susan is a leader in both the QRCA and AQR, working toward global collaboration in the marketing research industry. She has presented at local, national and international conferences, guest lectures at universities, and serves as a mentor through WIRe (Women in Research). Susan loves hiking with her dog, traveling with her husband and sons, and volunteering near her home in Boulder, Colorado.


Maria Virobik's Profile

Maria Virobik Related Seminars and Products

Owner

ResearchScribe


Maria Virobik is a seasoned qualitative market researcher with more than 25 years of experience in analysis and report writing. She has worked with clients in a wide range of categories, including automotive, packaged goods, pharma and technology. Maria enjoys tackling qualitative data to find the story and collaborating with moderators to deliver sparkling insights to their clients. She joined QRCA in 2017 and co-founded the Reporting & Analysis SIG a year later. She is also a member of the 2023-24 QRCA Board. Originally hailing from Southern California, Maria and her husband now live in Santa Fe, NM with their marginally obedient French Bulldog, Ruby.


Jeff Walkowski's Profile

Jeff Walkowski Related Seminars and Products

Owner/President

QualCore.com Inc


Jeff Walkowski is 25+ year member of QRCA.  His passion is training.  He co-founded the Online Moderator Training Institute, is a RIVA trainer, and he was the lead developer of the MRII’s Online Principles Express course in qualitative research.  He is known as one of the early adopters of online qualitative approaches, and in 2023 he published, “Mr. Online’s Playbook: 125 Pro Tips for Online Qualitative Projects.”  Jeff loves donuts, and he chose to live in Minneapolis partly because he loves cold weather.


Jay Zaltzman's Profile

Jay Zaltzman Related Seminars and Products

President

Bureau West: Helping Companies Grow


Jay Zaltzman believes that qualitative researchers can offer true value to clients by combining empathy with creative methodology and analytical rigor.  Jay has been president of Bureau West Market Research for the past twenty years.  He is an active member and past president of the QRCA.