This interview with Professor McIlwain was conducted in 2016 but the information is still relevant so it was worth a revisit in the lead up to this year’s presidential debates. Enjoy… Most of us within the research community are approaching next week’s first Presidential Debate with excitement and fascination. But […]
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Here’s the Technology Behind Political & Public Policy Research
Any successful political campaign starts with having a strong candidate. But, to be successful in today’s volatile political climate, campaigns need to be nimble with their message, and keep pace with the shifting moods of voters and the 24-hour news cycle. For this, campaigns need a crack research team that […]
Dial Testing Group vs. Focus Group: How are they Different?
I’ve been moderating focus groups and performing dial testing many years. What I have learned is that dial testing puts your message under a microscope in a way that traditional focus groups cannot. Dial Testing can provide far more value than traditional focus groups. Here’s why… Imagine you were giving […]
5 Best Practices for Honing Political Messaging
It’s essential to test your message (in all its iterations) outside the echo chamber of your campaign team. They aren’t your audience. They already (probably) agree with you, and they (obviously) support you, and they (likely) could be inclined to tell you what they think you want to hear. […]
Political Research: Dial Testing the Texas Governor’s Debate
As it has for years, dial testing was again front-and-center during coverage of a key election event, aiding in the reporting and analysis of how the candidates’ responses to key campaign issues resonated with voters. This time it was the Texas Governor’s debate between incumbent Governor Greg Abbott and Democratic […]
Security for Online Mock Juries and Online Litigation Research
High-profile clients. High-stakes results. Privacy and security are crucial. The Covid 19 outbreak has caused most courthouses to pause in-person hearings. But the caseload hasn’t disappeared; in many cases, it’s moved online. Lawyers working virtually still need trial research and trial consultants still need to conduct mock juries. Trial research […]
The (Not-So-Secret) Secret to a Smooth Online Qualitative Research Project
Online Qual Success Hinges on Comprehensive Tech Checks Assessing the tech capabilities of your respondents in advance is CRUCIAL. Tech checks- If you have done online qual, then you know that technology is the lynchpin of the operation. But it’s not just about the platform you use. If you want […]
Why Testing Your Message Outside the Beltway is Crucial
If you are based in the Washington, DC, metro area, whether you’re a corporation, a trade association, a Think Tank, or a politician, here’s some wise advice… Test your message outside the Beltway. That’s what we’ve been telling our clients for nearly two decades. And even though they know […]
Dial Testing’s Legacy with the State of the Union Address
For twelve years running, Dialsmith has been conducting dial testing research on the president’s State of the Union Address, and this year is no exception. Why has dial testing become so ingrained in scoring the State of the Union?
Behind-the-Scenes Tips for Better Focus Groups
Moderating to Maximize Insights and Mitigate Common Pitfalls. Pulling off an effective focus group that gets you the type of insights you’re looking for, is hard work. You have to know the tricks of the trade to really garner insights that are deep and valuable. And you can’t have a […]
