Dave Roberts, Ph.D.

Research Strategist
There's much more to marketing or consumer research than conducting a "project", which connotes a single methodology such as a phone survey or set of focus groups. Research Strategy should not be a "one off" exercise but a carefully thought-out,  flexible process that considers—

• Input from all or most functional areas of an organization
• The need to standardize metrics so that no matter where in the organization a research effort originates, there is consistency and trackability—Enterprise Feedback Management.
• The importance of identifying all stakeholders before launching a research initiative.

This perspective is especially important when considering specialized methodologies that are often executed by just that, specialists who often do not have the bigger picture or who only participate in a specific part of the process. For example, in the case of focus groups, where there are so many different players involved, a strategic perspective assures that the exercise is a rich source of actionable data and not a meaningless meeting of minds.

A Qualitative Research Consultant (QRC)
Dave Roberts is not only a skilled focus group Moderator (over 4,000 since 1979),  he is a true Qualitative Research Consultant (QRC), attending to all of the details that determine a successful set of focus groups—

• Assist the client in defining the research goals and determining the target audience.
• Design a Screener questionnaire that assures the recruiting of qualified respondents.
• Select a quality focus group facility/recruiting firm in each market. Dave has worked with hundreds of facilities nationwide.
• Closely audit the recruiting process on a daily basis and keep the client informed. No surprises!
• Design a comprehensive Moderator Outline to assure all topics of interest are explored.
• Design an In-Session Questionnaire to quantify certain responses such as ratings scales and open-ended lists.
• Moderate the Groups
• Prepare a detailed and actionable Executive Summary supported by Verbatim Responses, In-Session Questionnaire Data, Graphs, Tables, & Recommendations.

Dave Roberts, The Focus Group Moderator
It has been said that focus group moderating is part science and part show business. It is a process that benefits from a wide variety of life experiences. Dave is not only classically trained in quantitative and qualitative research but also spent many years as a major market radio personality and programmer, voiceover artist, Marine, college professor, corporate VP, and entrepreneur. As a Moderator, Dave calls on these diverse life experiences with a style that puts respondents at ease, earns their trust, and holds their interest. These moderating skills extend to other methodologies, including mini groups, one-on-one, dyads, triads, and in-depth phone/Skype interviews.