What I've been reading - Dec 18, 2019

It’s that time of the year when ‘best of’ lists are published. A few have recently caught my attention:

  • The greatest innovations of 2019 from Popular Science. There’s a lot of goodness here, including a drug for postpartum depression, the AirWrap by Dyson, Impossible Burger and so many others

  • So many best books lists including NPR’s, BuzzFeed’s, and the Tournament of Books.

  • Twenty five best films from OMG Blog. I have to admit I’ve hardly seen any of them.

  • i have seen many of NPR’s best television shows. Legion? Yes. Fleabag? Yes. Mrs. Maisel? Yes. The finale of Veep was incredible. A perfect ending to a near perfect show.

What I've been reading this week - November 26, 2019

This time of year can be very stressful for many. I enjoyed this article on how the Navy SEALs beat stress by box breathing. A nice tool to get you through the holiday season.

The 2020 Tournament of Books has released their long list. I use this list to drive my reading selections. I’m looking forward to working my way through many of these options.

I’m not a big fan of nonfiction, but I’m always willing to consider a good story. Here’s Slate’s list of the best nonfiction books of the past 25 years. I recommend Fun Home and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (mostly because they’re the only 2 on the list that I’ve read!)

What I've been reading this week - November 16, 2019

My friend and colleague Colin Hynes wrote a great article on the biggest flaws of usability testing (and how to fix them.) It’s a great reminder that we need to push back on ‘good enough’ thinking.

Remember when the Internet was free? Good times. Of course there are still free options on the Internet, but to get the ‘good stuff’ you have to pay. The Times did a story this week about how subscription services are evolving into status symbols.

Andy Baio - always a good guy to follow - started experimenting with separating audio tracks on songs. He created Spleeter and, well, if for no other reason you should check out the vocal tracks they’ve isolated. Amazing.

What I've been reading this week - November 7, 2019

I find that if I spend enough time scoping research projects and articulating (and documenting!) research objectives up front, writing the report becomes a more simplified exercise. However, there are times when things get complicated - new stakeholders come in, primary clients shift, corporate goals change after the study has been fielded, etc. So while there are times when it is straightforward there are times, of course, when it’s not.

Over at GreenBook, there’s an article on the quality of marketing research agency reports. Personally, over my career, I’ve seen a lot of bad reports. So many, in fact, that I’ve created types of bad reports in my mind: reports that are missing annotations, reporting that don’t tell a story, reports lacking objectives, reports that don’t tell me the ‘now what’, reports that treat qualitative data as quantitative, etc. This article lines up with many of my own classifications, and adds a few others.

I came upon this article about the use of AI in marketing research that grabbed my attention. Honestly, I keep hearing about the promise of AI, and the likely shifts the industry will see because of it. I certainly see the application in the examination of open ended data, but I’ve yet to fully understand how it’s going to shift the industry. I’m optimistic and definitely keeping an eye open to learn more.

What I've been reading this week - October 21

In the McKinsey Quarterly, there’s an interesting research summary on the business value of design. Essentially, McKinsey found, through the examination of 2 million pieces of financial data and 100,000 design actions by 300 publicly listed companies, that those companies with the strongest commitment to design and the most adept executions of design principles had 32% more revenue and 56% more total shareholder returns.

Here’s a nice overview of the value of coding qualitative data. It’s always time intensive, but it’s also always so valuable!

Did you see the all-woman spacewalk? Exceptionally cool.

What I've been reading this week - October 14

An interesting read on the struggles of the American middle class. While the definition of middle class - a steady job, the ability to raise a family, home ownership - has remained fairly consistent over time, the ability to achieve those things has become more challenging.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story on weeknight dinners from around the world.

Remember Schoolhouse Rock? The great Jonathan Coulton has created a Schoolhouse Rock styled cartoon about impeachment. Enjoy!

What I've been reading this week - September 15th

Ignite Research LLC’s headquarters are located in Westwood, MA. This week I found an interesting article on the town pound, which features prominently in the town seal.

It’s that time of year again - time for MR professional to take the annual GRIT survey. I have to admit that, as a freelancer, I’m always challenged to find the correct path through that survey.

I was reminded this week of an old Dave Brubeck song in 7/4 time. I added to my playlist for some inspiration while working.

What I've been reading this week - April 22

Great piece in the Times summarizing some new research that shows some people carry a genetic alteration that mutes appetite. It impacts about 6% of the population and, unfortunately, not me.

As a proud Gen Xer, I often notice we’re left out when articles come out about the generations. It’s all Boomers and Millennials. I guess the first rule of Gen X is you never talk about Gen X.

Who doesn’t love the Barefoot Contessa? In this fun article, a ‘superfan’ imagines imagines fun and silly future episodes. Can you imagine Ina and Dolly Parton hitting the streets of Nashville?

What I've been reading this week - April 8th

Ethnographic research is hard. Maybe the hardest of all approaches that I’m asked about. It requires active listening and deep consideration and exploration, both of what’s been said and what's not been said, what’s been seen and what’s been experienced. I often pivot my clients away from the word ethnography because what they really want is some ‘quick and dirty’ in home qualitative. This isn’t ethnography. I came across an article this week in QRCA When Ethnography Becomes A Joke, and I highly recommend taking a read through. It highlights many of challenges associated with ethnographic research, and also touches on the deep analysis required to do it correctly.

I sometime worry about the amount of coffee I drink (2 cups a day, on average) but I have friends who drink so much more I figured my 2 cups keep me going and don’t cause any real issues. I found this article on caffeine interesting, both in understanding how much a cup of coffee contains, and in understanding the potential health risks of overindulgence.

Did you know er is on Hulu? Oh how I’ve missed Mark and Elizabeth and Abby and Carter…

What I've been reading this week

Over at the GreenBook blog they’ve got a good overview of how using chats via messaging platforms affects the survey respondent experience. It provides a good overview of the approach and highlights some recent insights about the experience it provides. A really nice “research on research” piece for practitioners.

Early in my career - honestly, even mid-way through my career - I often found it difficult to speak up in meetings. A lot of it had to do with personal confidence. But as I gained experience and expertise, it became easier to contribute, and, more importantly, it demonstrated my commitment to the work, the team, and the company overall. Over at HBR, there’s a good piece on understanding how to speak up (and when to hold back) that I found very interesting.

Have you see Free Solo? We watched it last weekend and were on the edges of seats through the entire movie. The story is engaging and the visuals amazing. Highly recommended!

Hello 2018!

It's been another busy year at Ignite Research! I'll be trying to update this blog more often. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this list of some of the books I read last year.

My favorites

  • The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
  • Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
  • Mrs. Fletcher by Tom Perrotta
  • Hunger: A Memoir by Roxane Gay
  • Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
  • Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
  • My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
  • What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton

Very good books

  • What we Lose by Zinzi Clemmons
  • All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
  • White Oleander by Janet Fitch
  • Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney
  • A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab
  • Fresh Complaint by Jeffrey Eugenides
  • Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
  • The Dinner by Herman Koch
  • News of the World by Paulette Jiles
  • Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
  • Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham
  • Saints for All Occasions by Courtney Sullivan

Good books

  • The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand
  • Honolulu by Alan Brennert
  • Marlena by Julie Buntin
  • The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticat
  • Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett
  • The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
  • Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
  • Sweet Lamb of Heaven by Lydia Millet
  • The Confidence Code by Katty Kay
  • The Child by Fiona Barton
  • One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus

Busy times

I recently attended the Quirk's Marketing Research Event in Los Angeles. It was great to connect with old friends and colleagues, and make some new connections for potential partners. The event was very well organized and when the power went out at the facility on the second day, the team jumped in with a strong - and certainly quickly organized - Plan B. All in all a great event. 

Happy New Year!

It's hard to believe 2017 is already upon us. As an avid reader, I'm often asked for recommendations of good books to read. Here's what I read last year, roughly classified into some sort of categorizations. Hope you find something to inspire you.

My favorites

  • A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
  • Dietland by Sarai Walker
  • Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
  • Age of Myth (The Legends of the First Empire, #1) by Michael J. Sullivan
  • Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

Very good books

  • The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
  • The Nix by Nathan Hill
  • Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
  • Faithful by Alice Hoffman
  • Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
  • The Lake House by Kate Morton
  • My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman
  • Mischling by Affinity Konar
  • The Mothers by Brit Bennett
  • Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
  • Orhan's Inheritance by Aline Ohanesian
  • Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg
  • The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
  • The Life and Death of Sophie Stark by Anna North
  • The Book of Aron by Jim Shepard
  • The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian
  • The Vegetarian by Han Kang
  • Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica
  • The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout
  • The Story of My Teeth by Valeria Luiselli
  • The Regional Office Is Under Attack! by Manuel Gonzales
  • Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple
  • The Invaders by Karolina Waclawiak

Good books

  • Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  • The Moth by Catherine Burns
  • Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon
  • Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks
  • The Winter Sea (Slains, #1) by Susanna Kearsley
  • The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan
  • Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova
  • Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood
  • Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta
  • Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
  • Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
  • You'll Grow Out of It by Jessi Klein
  • Zabelle by Nancy Kricorian
  • What She Left Behind by Ellen Marie Wiseman
  • The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman
  • Among the Living by Jonathan Rabb
  • Before the Fall by Noah Hawley
  • The Bassoon King: My Life in Art, Faith, and Idiocy by Rainn Wilson
  • The Best of Enemies by Jen Lancaster
  • The Turner House by Angela Flournoy
  • In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
  • The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin
  • The Girls by Emma Cline
  • The New World by Chris Adrian

I wouldn't recommend these - not because they're necessarily "bad" but just not my to my taste

  • A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.
  • The Sellout by Paul Beatty
  • Bettyville by George Hodgman
  • Oreo by Fran Ross
  • The Whites by Harry Brandt

What I've been reading this week

Although I’m not a gamer, my son is, so I try and keep track of new games, mostly to ensure that they’re appropriate for him. (Most are not…) This week a game called Fallout 4 came across my radar. This popular post-apocalyptic game series next ‘adventure’ takes place in Boston. In the trailer, there are a number of local landmarks: Fenway Park, the USS Constitution, Bunker Hill, the State House. I love representations of my hometown in movies and books. I wonder what the experience of this game will actually be like. 

 

I floss first and then brush. What about you? I had a friend who spent some time telling me I was doing it wrong – that flossing after brushing helps ‘push’ the fluoride down into your gums. Seems like there is no proven ‘right’ way to do it, but there are benefits to flossing, especially to gum health. 

Oh how I wish this were true.

Wearables

I continue to be intrigued by the development of wearable technologies. Yesterday I checked out Sunfriend, a wearable personal UV device that helps you monitor your UV exposure. You're able to customize the tracker based on your skin color and sensitivity, and it indicates when you're reached your 'safe' UV exposure for the. Interesting concept. 

Kmart is promoting the Joe Boxer’s Inactivity Tracker. The instructions? Put on the tracker, download the app, no more steps. That couch isn’t going to sit on itself. Too funny.

A little app that makes a world of difference

While I ideally request professional transcripts for qualitative research studies, it’s often outside either the financial or time budget.

While you could certainly transcribe your audio by switching between an audio playback tool (I typically use VLC) and a word processor, Transcribe by Wreally creates an all-in-one browser-based interface with playback controls similar to a professional transcription device. 

For a $20 annual license (and a free trial), you get a web-based audio-player that gives you control over the playback speed of your recording, the ability to skip forward or backwards 2 seconds, the ability to insert a timestamp, and the ability to pause the recording. You type inside of the same window in which these controls reside, so no need to switch between apps, and the software auto-saves every keystroke in your browser's local storage. Files are kept locally on your browser, which keeps everything secure and private. 

Transcribe also has a fairly strong dictation function that let’s you speak the text you want transcribed,and “templates” that let you define acronyms for frequently used words and phrases. Transcribe automatically expands these templates into their full-form as you type along. 

It's a great tool for anyone who needs to transcribe audio files. 

https://transcribe.wreally.com/

Wrist band voice recorder

I recently purchased this wearable recording device for a series of in-home interviews I’m conducting. It can be awkward for participants when you place a traditional recording device on a table – it reminds them that they’re being recorded and could impede their willingness to speak honestly. 

I’ve been thoroughly pleased with the quality of recordings this little device has yielded. The homes I’ve been going into have ranged from small, intimate environments (i.e., kitchen table in a studio apartment) to more sprawling settings (i.e.,  large, high ceilinged living room) to numerous sound distractions (i.e.,  screaming kids hurling through the room.)

In all cases, the on wrist device has captured my interactions with sufficient fidelity to enable transcription of the interviews. It’s seamless, unobtrusive, and for $35, you can’t beat the value. With 8GB of space, it will record 20 hours after a single charge.