Hart Business Research

Methods

We use a combination of sources for our research: customers, industry participants, experts, your company’s own documents and data, and third-party material. Alone, each source has its own biases and flaws. When used together, these sources create a rich and accurate picture for decision making.

>> Individual Interviews and Group Discussions

Every company, because of its priorities and assumptions, has difficulty listening objectively to customers. We are your neutral third-party interviewers — we listen to customers, industry participants, and experts. We learn about customer needs, desires, feelings, motivations, lifestyle, activities, and product impressions. We often use this qualitative data as the basis for a survey.

>> Surveys

We produce data-rich, idea-inspiring, cost-effective, and reliable surveys. When we design surveys, we think first about the information you want and problems and opportunities your company faces — then design a survey to deliver that information and idea material. Our surveys are cost-effective because we use small yet reliable sample sizes, elicit high response rates, and work well with your own in-house resources. Our training in statistics and survey design enables us to ensure each survey is statistically reliable and valid.

>> Information Searches and Analysis

Give us an information challenge, and we’ll find the answer. We conduct research using search engines (Google and others), government databases including those of the SEC, Commerce Department, and US Census, proprietary magazine and newspaper article archives, current publications, association data and publications, national yellow pages, and your company’s own information.

>> Usability Studies

We conduct usability studies in as real-life situations as possible, to generate feedback that reflects actual use. Usability testing will help you identify product improvements and competitor weaknesses in a vivid way. We can test with mockups, prototypes, or actual products.