Technology

• Can you protect my graphic images from being captured by a respondent?
• Do you have a real time reporting tool?
• Can you control quotas online?

Project Initiation

• What is the process for getting a bid?
• What are the next steps after I award HISB a project?

Design and Programming

• Are time and budget constraints truly relieved by the benefits of Internet-based research? If so, how?
• What is the fulfillment cycle time for HISB data collection?
• What measures are taken to ensure that side-by-side studies are as similar as possible?
• What measures are taken to ensure that the integrity/ideology of my original survey is represented in your online presentation?
• Does HISB design the questionnaire?
• What is HISB's quality assurance (QA) process?
• How do I know my CATI survey will work online?
• Does the survey have to be Harris Interactive branded? Is co-branding available?
• Does HISB have a standard set of demographics questions included with all surveys?
• Can you balance geography and demographics?

Data Collection

• Can you survey from my mail list?
• What happens when a project is bid at one incidence rate (IR), but the results yield a much different IR? Is there an upcharge/downcharge?
• Can I get real-time reports? My client wants to make some decisions as soon as results start to arrive.
• Is there any cost associated with using HISB resources to find an unknown IR?
• Will HISB allow me to include questions about panelists’ experiences that are not directly relevant to my survey subject?
• Are reminder emails an additional cost?

Project Close

• What are your recommendations for incentives?
• How can I be assured that my data is kept confidential?
• What format is available for deliverables?

Can you protect my graphic images from being captured by a respondent?

We offer a proprietary suite of online security products that

• protect non-animated GIF and JPEG images
• prevent printing of protected images
• disable screen print capability
• disable save, save as, drag and drop, and copy capabilities and defeat third-party capture applications.

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Do you have a real time reporting tool?

Real-time, online reports are available for the majority of data collection projects. It’s important that the client understand that the data is unweighted, and decisions should be made in consultation with your Client Service Manager. Remember that interim data can be misleading. We advise clients that the value of online, real-time reporting is to monitor progress and to make modifications when necessary.

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Can you control quotas online?

Yes. Response rates and the demographics of those who respond to online surveys can vary widely. Therefore, we’ve recognized the importance of controlling quotas in order to maintain the distribution of data collected.. Quotas can be ‘hard’ where panelists who respond after a quota is filled are terminated or ‘soft’ where panelists are not terminated. Many clients use this technology to control for the demographic distribution of respondents who see product concepts and ad copy.

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It’s easy to request a bid for Internet-based data collection by just providing some information to us. We will contact you to review the information sent and confirm your study specifications and aim to provide you with an estimate the same business day.

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Once you award the project and sign our contract, a Client Service Manager (CSM) is assigned and we arrange a brief ‘kick-off’ call to verify the project expectations as well as develop a project schedule for your review.

Actual work on the project begins when you provide your questionnaire in electronic format. The CSM will adapt the questionnaire for Internet use, and review final design with you for your approval.

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For most projects, data collection costs are less expensive and field cycle times are reduced. This is the rule, but there are exceptions. Of the four phases through which a project advances (design, data collection, analysis, and reporting), data collection is where the benefits of Internet research are most pronounced. Data collection is the longest phase of a traditional project timeline so time saved is usually significant with online methodologies (both quantitative and qualitative).

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Our average time is 8 to 12 days. Depending on the survey complexity and the target respondent, this fulfillment time may vary.

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Parallel studies must be coordinated in concert with one another to ensure comparable survey design and quality criteria. HISB has helped clients conduct parallel studies where we have been either the Internet and telephony provider or the facilitator with your telephone service provider. We leave the decision to you. As the client, you have the best understanding of your needs and resource constraints.

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As the client, you are involved in every step of the preparation and executing processes including review of all online survey adaptations. Our quality assurance process strictly prohibits fielding a survey without your consent. As the client, you always have final authorization.

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HISB does not create questionnaires from "scratch." We do provide value by sharing recommendations on how best to present your questionnaire online. These recommendations are based on our parallel research.

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Whether we’re using the Harris Poll Online^SM sample, your sample, or a combined sample we take pride in our workmanship. HISB takes the same protective measures your company takes with its brand identity. Whatever the circumstances, the survey must abide by our online quality standards. Our QA is Internet-focused so you can be confident our quality check takes into consideration the many nuances inherent in Internet research. We always review recommendations before implementing.

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Internet research is akin to traditional research in that good survey and research designs are crucial to success. But it doesn’t stop there. We have a thorough quality assurance step built into our standard process to ensure smooth transition to online application. This includes attention to details including visuals, the order and layout of questions, and sensitivity issues.

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Yes, all surveys using the Harris Poll Online^SM database must use the Harris Interactive brand identity and adhere to our corporate identity guidelines.

Yes, co-branding is available. In such cases, Harris Interactive is always first.

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Yes, in fact, we have a detailed set of standard demographic questions included in all surveys. Supplemental and alternative demographic questions are reviewed case by case.

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Yes, HISB can create balanced sample plans based on your first-tier demographic criteria (age, gender, region) and in further detail based on focused regions or geography.

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Yes, as long as each record has an email address collected/recorded using a bona fide opt-in policy.

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The client owns, per se, the incidence rate. We look to you as researchers to be responsible for estimating incidence rate. Therefore, should you advise HISB of an expected IR of 30% and the actual IR is 10%, you own the outcome.

If the IR is far from what was expected, we will review the project in detail with you to determine the best course of action. At that time, an upcharge/downcharge can be objectively evaluated.

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Real-time, online reports are available for the majority of data collection projects. It’s important that the client understands that the data is unweighted, and decisions should be made in consultation with your Client Service Manager. Remember that interim data can be misleading. We advise clients that the value of online, real-time reporting is to monitor progress and to make modifications when necessary.

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These situations are addressed case by case. The most popular solution is to use one of Harris Interactive’s low-cost, quick-turnaround omnibus surveys to assist confirming your incidence rate.

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Yes, as long as it is for an omnibus-type survey. If, however, inclusion of a question is included in an effort (intentional or inadvertent) to collect intelligence about Harris Interactive’s practices, we reserve the right to rephrase or exclude that particular question.

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No, reminder emails are included at no additional cost.

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HISB will make recommendations case by case. In general, we recommend offering a sweepstakes where respondents are included in a cash drawing for their participation. Where subject matter, incidence rate, and survey lengths dictate, we will work with you to determine if respondent level incentives are appropriate.

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We abide by the most stringent privacy and protection measures applicable to online research providers. This includes survey password protection and strict adherence to CASRO standards.

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Your deliverables are provided as customized electronic data files or raw data based on your individual request. Preferred formats typically include SPSS, ASCII, Quantum, or Microsoft^® Excel.

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