Research Rockstar’s training options have been expanded, and now include 4 options:

• Online Training: Self-paced, Flash-based classes. These fully narrated classes are super convenient—learn the topics you want, from wherever you want, whenever you want. These classes are $129 each, and include 30 minutes of instructor access.
• On-site Training: Have a group that needs training? Want to train them all at once? On-site sessions range from 3 hours to 12 hours, and are available on many topics including Market Research Basics, Questionnaire Design, Market Segmentation, and more.
• Real-time Single Classes: Taught in our virtual classroom, these classes combine the convenience of online training with the power of real-time instructor access. At $245 per class, this is best for students who desire interactivity.  Click here for the current schedule.
• Four-week Power Programs: Also taught in our virtual classroom, these 4-week programs offer a deeper dive into market research topics, and include interactive exercises that boost retention. Oh, and they are also fun. Our January 2012 offerings are Market Research Project Management (starts January 10^th) and Online Research Methods for 2012 (starts January 19^th).  All classes start at 1:00 p.m. EST. Psssst…if you miss a class, they are all available for replay.

What is a virtual classroom? Students see slides, hear the instructor, view a white board, and can ask questions. Plus the whole class is recorded and is available for replay for 30 days.

By taking classes virtually, students avoid the cost and aggravation of travel, while still enjoying instructor access. The classes are each designed to be very real-world; the 90 minute sessions are fast-paced and focus on practical information.  After completing a class and a brief assessment quiz, students receive a certification of completion.

Any questions? Please contact Cathy Leonard 508.691.6004 ext 701 or CLeonard@ResearchRockstar.com.

But since not everyone has room in their calendar, or budget, for conferences, Research Rockstar is offering an alternative—a way to get market research learning the week of TMRE, but in the convenience of your own workspace, and without spending thousands of dollars.

The other market research event, Market Research University Week, will take place during the same week as TMRE. Students will get a bundle of four great classes and an hour of one-on-one time with instructor Kathryn Korostoff for $579.  And with Research Rockstar’s on-demand scheduling, you can choose exactly when to take each class, any time between November 7th and 10th.

At Research Rockstar’s Market Research University Week, students will gain fresh, practical market research knowledge from the comfort of their home or office. Students can pick four classes from the following set of options:

• Ask It Right: All About Scales and Answer Options for Questionnaire Design
• How to Hire a Market Research Agency: Practical steps for a Successful Process
• Learning from History: Using Win/Loss Research to Improve Sales Success
• Market Segmentation: Practical Steps to Research Success
• Product Concept Testing: Practical Steps to Research Success
• Reorganizing the Market Research Function
• Social Media Meets Market Research: Social Media and Social Networking as Market Research Resources

Each class is 40-80 minutes long. After registration, students will be sent an email link that will allow them to specify their four selections and  choose the time slots that will best suit their needs.  All four classes can be taken in one day, or spread out over four days. For more information on Market Research University Week, please click here.

Me too.

Announcing, “Think Outside The Survey”, a new eBook from Research Rockstar. Members can access it on the Members’ pages. All others, please click here.

Today, some business professionals dismiss market research. Thanks, in part, to popular books like Predictably Irrational, they have learned that self-reported behaviors and attitudes can be unreliable.  But the problem isn’t that all market research methods deal with these realities poorly—the problem is that many people assume market researchers rely exclusively on surveys and focus groups. And while these are great methodologies useful in many situations, they are among the most susceptible to the deficiencies of self-reported behaviors and attitudes.

Our goal, as market researchers, is simple: we don’t want business professionals to dismiss “market research” because they equate it with surveys and focus groups.  Our goal is to get them to understand that market research is more, much more.

That’s why this new eBook presents fourteen market research methods that aren’t surveys nor focus groups. These are the methods we need to raise awareness of, so that people, won’t dismiss market research—even if they are dismissing surveys.

Please share this eBook with your friends and colleagues. Let’s spread the word that it is time to think outside the survey.

Do you question whether your choice of scales and answer options is yielding the best data?

Has your organization ever released an online survey—only to get results that are too vague to be actionable?

Let’s be honest—a lot of people with no training write surveys these days.  And it shows.  If you or your colleagues are in New York please join me for a crash course in online survey design.

All students will receive a workbook and online access to additional materials.

Our agenda:

• 5 steps to planning a successful online survey
• How to avoid common survey design problems
• All about question types and scales
• How to minimize bias and maximize honesty
• Tips for getting people to complete your questionnaire

This event is being hosted by Research Rockstar, the NY AMA, and Greenbook.

Learn more | Register today

Based on input from attendees of the first Twitterversity, the next two topics have been selected and are scheduled as follows:

July 19: Social Media Research: 101 Social Media Research Tips

July 28: Principles of Market Research Project Management

Thanks to all who provided suggestions and ideas. Your input has been instrumental in planning these next two events.

For those who missed the first Twitterversity, this is a Twitter-only event where mini-lessons are released with the hashtag #MRXU. It’s a great way to capture facts, definitions, and best practices.

To join the mailing list for details, agendas and updates, please sign up here. You can unsubscribe at any time.

In terms of what many organizations can most easily test today, social media monitoring, social sampling and prediction markets are great options.

If you want to learn more about these methods, their pros and cons, and suggestions for getting started with them, please check out Research Rockstar’s new class: Social Media Meets Market Research.

Sign up for the class before May 25^th with coupon code 472Z1 and the class will be just $99.

This 73-minute online, self-paced class includes an automated, interactive self-quiz. With this fast, easy market research training, you will be ready to start “tasting” the samples, without the risk of a nasty BassOMatic mess.

Please check out the class preview: PREVIEW LINK.

Then please join me for a practical, fast class on June 9th, in Waltham MA. In just under three hours, attendees will learn the basics of planning, designing and writing great online surveys.

This is a small class format, so everyone will be able to ask questions and get answers. All attendees will receive a class workbook and sample survey designs.

Click below for details!

Research Rockstar Survey Design Class June 9

• Market segmentation
• Questionnaire planning
• Product concept testing
• Delivering research
• And more

The three winners are…drumroll…Yuchen Chen, Cassie Rhodes and Katrina Gan. All three have been notified by email.

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Office hours:

6:00 AM Basic Concepts & Common Jargon

8:00 AM Introduction to Market Research Project Planning

10:00 AM About Survey Projects

12:00 PM (Noon) About Qualitative Research

2:00 PM Emerging Research Methods

4:00 PM Receiving Research Results

5:00 PM Delivering Research Results

7:00 PM Tips for MR Buyers

9:00 PM Market Research Career Planning

Be sure to follows hashtag #MRXU Tuesday January 11th to capture the 117+ mini-lessons.