Data Collection
Yes, We Can Get It Done.
With 40 years of experience, we know all about getting it done. Your deadlines are our deadlines and we have the capability to deliver any end product you need, when you need it. With our proven history of communication, flexibility and action, you can trust that your partnership with AIS will result in the flawless project you need.
AIS is capable of collecting data using a wide range of methodologies including (click on each item for more details):
- Phone Interviewing
- Online Interviewing (both NATI and Recruit)
- Focus Groups
- Executive Interviewing
- Intercepts
AIS Now Has WinQuery! Click here for more info!
Phone Interviewing
AIS has a 50 station CATI phone bank with a rotating staff of interviewers working day and evening shifts. We use WinQuery as our CATI software. These stations are fully capable of playing and recording music mp3 files for those hard-to-get radio studies. AIS can conduct comprehensive data tabulation and statistical analysis in-house using WinQuery. Final data sets can be delivered in SPSS or other compatible formats. Of course, remote monitoring is also available for our clients to call in, listen to interviews as they are happening and provide input or quality assurance on a project.
AIS has a 50 station CATI phone bank with a rotating staff of interviewers working day and evening shifts. We use WinQuery as our CATI software. These stations are fully capable of playing and recording music mp3 files for those hard-to-get radio studies. AIS can conduct comprehensive data tabulation and statistical analysis in-house using WinQuery. Final data sets can be delivered in SPSS or other compatible formats. Of course, remote monitoring is also available for our clients to call in, listen to interviews as they are happening and provide input or quality assurance on a project.
Training
An essential element in the quality of the AIS data collection product is a team of trained and experienced interviewers. Every interviewer at AIS goes through a proprietary, six-hour training program called NIT (New Interviewer Training) prior to their first respondent contact. This program educates them on the standards of market research such as impartiality, consistency, quality, validity and sample monitoring. As well, it provides in-depth training on interviewing techniques such as probing for details on open-ended questions, gaining trust and cooperation from respondents, avoiding the leading of respondents by not adding verbiage to the survey and so on. At the end of each session, trainees are tested by role-playing to ensure that they have knowledge of the core competencies to deliver interviews in a consistent manner.
As they continue to develop their interviewing skills, each interviewer begins to demonstrate a particular skill set in terms of type of interviewing and subject matter. The interviewers are therefore divided into interviewing teams, divided by type of project. One team for consumer opinion, another for executive interviewing, another for healthcare and so on. This specialization of interviewing teams allows AIS to efficiently deliver projects and gather data that is beyond expectations for quality and completeness.
Online Interviewing
It is no secret that the respondent cooperation rate is continuing to drop as respondents are becoming wary of answering surveys via the telephone. This has lead to the increasing use of online interviewing as an alternative method for securing respondent participation. In an online venue, respondents can respond on their own time and at their own terms. AIS recognizes this and has incorporated online interviewing as a primary service offering.
AIS uses the online venue in a couple of unique ways. The traditional online interviewing process includes sending an email solicitation to an email-based sample and conducting regular follow-up until the quota is completed. While we do that, and experience 5-10% response rates, we have found that doing a telephone pre-recruit with a follow-up confirmation email is much more effective at securing participation. As well, AIS has developed a proprietary online portal to allow us to conduct NATI (Net Assisted Telephone Interviewing) surveys. Using an online surveying instrument (as opposed to a CATI instrument), AIS conducts the interview via the phone. The advantage of using the online instrument is that the data can be monitored, summarized and downloaded to the client in real-time.
It is no secret that the respondent cooperation rate is continuing to drop as respondents are becoming wary of answering surveys via the telephone. This has lead to the increasing use of online interviewing as an alternative method for securing respondent participation. In an online venue, respondents can respond on their own time and at their own terms. AIS recognizes this and has incorporated online interviewing as a primary service offering.
AIS uses the online venue in a couple of unique ways. The traditional online interviewing process includes sending an email solicitation to an email-based sample and conducting regular follow-up until the quota is completed. While we do that, and experience 5-10% response rates, we have found that doing a telephone pre-recruit with a follow-up confirmation email is much more effective at securing participation. As well, AIS has developed a proprietary online portal to allow us to conduct NATI (Net Assisted Telephone Interviewing) surveys. Using an online surveying instrument (as opposed to a CATI instrument), AIS conducts the interview via the phone. The advantage of using the online instrument is that the data can be monitored, summarized and downloaded to the client in real-time.
Executive Interviewing
AIS has a unique set of experience in the executive and one-on-one interviewing arena, having conducted hundreds of such surveys. A specific team of interviewers has been developed to serve exactly this type of target group. Knowing the constraints and pressures placed upon an executive respondent, our executive team of interviewers is well-versed in being sensitive to their time, moving quickly through surveys, arranging and performing call-back surveys at convenient times and answering specialized requests or questions as appropriate. As well, our executive interviewing team consists of those interviewers who have proven their ability to get to the decision makers and earn their trust during an interview.
AIS has a unique set of experience in the executive and one-on-one interviewing arena, having conducted hundreds of such surveys. A specific team of interviewers has been developed to serve exactly this type of target group. Knowing the constraints and pressures placed upon an executive respondent, our executive team of interviewers is well-versed in being sensitive to their time, moving quickly through surveys, arranging and performing call-back surveys at convenient times and answering specialized requests or questions as appropriate. As well, our executive interviewing team consists of those interviewers who have proven their ability to get to the decision makers and earn their trust during an interview.
Intercepts
Intercept interviews require friendly, non-threatening and well-spoken interviewers who aren't afraid to approach potential respondents and secure their participation. We have them, with an available team of up to 25 intercept interviewers. AIS has conducted all types of intercept interviews; from fast-food, supermarket and consumer retail to governmental, political and employee studies.
Intercept interviews require friendly, non-threatening and well-spoken interviewers who aren't afraid to approach potential respondents and secure their participation. We have them, with an available team of up to 25 intercept interviewers. AIS has conducted all types of intercept interviews; from fast-food, supermarket and consumer retail to governmental, political and employee studies.