What We Do: Qualitative Research

At Dan Joseph & Associates, we obtain answers with depth and meaning to richly satisfy our clients' research objectives.

Every moment of a discussion is valuable, so we engage respondents on several levels at once. We design research that spurs them to express their thoughts not just verbally but visually as well, enabling us to unearth deeper, fuller responses. Our in-depth interviews and innovative exercises probe beneath the ready replies to get at kids' true reactions.

Then we analyze their responses in light of our research and child development experience. The resulting report presents the results of our analysis: not just the answers to client questions but the reasons behind those answers and possible actions to take. Our reports are richly detailed with direct quotes and images from the interviews to bring the responses into sharp focus.

Our research philosophy

• Discussions, not surveys – Carefully crafted conversations feel more natural to respondents than rigid question-and-answer sessions do, and are therefore more conducive to free, uninhibited, discussion.
• Projective exercises – Every discussion includes a projective exercise to tap into respondent creativity, add texture and dimension to the discussion, stimulate new discussion veins, and reenergize tired respondent brains.
• Resident expert – We regard respondents as experts in their own experience, and we tell them so. It empowers both kids and adults to know that their information is critical to our report, and they are more open and candid as a result.
• Respondent language is paramount – Our discussions are deliberately devoid of moderator-generated answers. We use open-ended prompts during discussions, and we report respondents’ actual words in our analysis to convey the truest reactions.

Interview styles we employ

• Focus groups – six to eight participants in a focus group facility
• Mini-groups – both in a facility or at home
• Buddy groups – both in a facility or at home
• One-on one interviews – both in a facility or at home

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