Boardtalk™: Bulletin Board Research
Puts the Power of the Internet to Work for You!
What is a Bulletin Board Session?
It is a discussion that takes place through the Internet.
15-20 participants are recruited just as they would be for an in-person research project, except that they are given a website address and login information so they can take part online.
Typically, a bulletin board discussion takes place over three days: participants log in three times per day – at times and locations that are convenient for them – to answer questions posted by the moderator and to interact with each other.
When Should You Consider a Bulletin Board Session?
When your target group is spread out across the country, or too busy to sit down around a table When there is a need to get reactions over an extended period of time When exploring personal/sensitive topics When travel is restricted or budgets are tight When conducting research with tweens and teens
What are the Benefits of Bulletin Board Research ?
A virtual "whiteboard" can be used to show concept images, websites, or audio/video files. These images can be revised based on participant feedback and re-posted as often as needed throughout the course of the session.
Obtaining unbiased, honest responses is easier than with in-person group research. Not only are participants invisible and anonymous, our software has a feature that can require each participant to answer a question first before seeing others' answers.
Tweens and teens actually prefer to talk online rather than in-person, so bulletin boards create a more natural environment in which to express themselves. In addition, the bulletin board method overcomes typing limitations that can be problematic with live chat.
The client team saves time and money by not having to travel. You can view the bulletin board discussion anywhere there's a computer with Internet access.
A "backroom" client feature allows observers to post messages exclusively to the moderator and each other.
You can download transcripts from the session at any time; no need to wait for a transcriber.
How is a Bulletin Board Different from a Live Chat?
Participants are free to spend as much time as they need (and want) to answer a question. This results in considerably greater breadth and depth of responses. With a live chat, answers are shorter and less meaningful due to the limited time frame.
With live chat, answers are posted in the order in which they are received, whether that order is logical or not. Because a bulletin board takes place over time, the discussion can be visually organized in a way that makes the conversation easy to follow. (See attached example: BulletinBoardSample.doc)
How Much Does a Standard BoardTalk(TM) Session Cost?
One standard three-day session will provide the equivalent of about four focus groups worth of output at a cost of $15-$17,000 (including all aspects of the project from recruiting to reporting).
