Consumer Research FAQs
How are consumers recruited for studies?
How many are enrolled on line?
Do you have other means of recruiting consumers?
What kind of equipment can you use to prepare test samples?
What is a Central Location Test (CLT)?
What is a Home Use Test (HUT)?
What is a hedonic question?
What is a Just About Right (JAR) scale?
What is a focus group?
What is a consumer advisory group?
How are consumers recruited for studies?
Consumers self enroll on line at www.ComeTestWith21st. When a study has been scheduled, they are notified of the dates of the test, duration and incentive to be paid. If they are interested, they click on the link and fill out the screener. Those that match the target profile are called and scheduled for the test.
Back to Top
How many are enrolled online?
About 2000 with more signing up every week.
Back to Top
Do you have other means of recruiting consumers for studies?
Back to Top
What kind of equiptment can you use to prepare test samples?
Back to Top
What is a Central Location Test (CLT)?
In a central location study, consumers are recruited and invited to a testing facility or site to participate in the study. 21st Sensory central location tests are conducted at the 21st Sensory Consumer Testing Center located in downtown Bartlesville, OK. A benefit of a good central location study is that the test administrators have control over the test design, product preparation and presentation.
Back to Top
What is a Home Use Test (HUT)?
Consumers are recruited to take products home and use them according to instructions. They fill out questionnaires and return them after they complete the study. This testing provides more of a "real life" test than when products are tested at the testing center.
Back to Top
What is a hedonic question?
The word "hedonic"is based on the Greek word for delight. In hedonic tests, consumers are asked to rate an experience on a scale that goes from "dislike intensely" to "like intensely". Comparing the hedonic scores of products allows data analysts to benchmark the consumer liking of one product against another. Another useful use of this scale is to have consumers taste an original formulation and a "new and improved" prototype and see if the consumers like the new formulation as much or more than the original.
Back to Top
What is a Just About Right (JAR) scale?
Sometimes called the Goldilocks scale, the Just About Right scale allows the consumer to rate how closely the object, concept or product being tested aligns with the individual's perceived ideal.
Back to Top
What is a focus group?
A focus group is a technique in qualitative research where about 8 to 10 consumers participate in a semi structured interview that is moderated by a trained facilitator. The purpose is to discuss a range of topics of interest to the client company and probe the consumer's perceptions, opinions, beliefs and attitudes.
Back to Top
What is a consumer advisory group (CAG)?
A consumer advisory group is a pre-recruited standing panel of consumers that are product users. For example, a client might want a consumer advisory group of young mothers that use baby wipes. As needed, the group would be scheduled to meet with the 21st Sensory facilitator to discuss new prototypes under development and competitor products.