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Research Roundup: Agencies Big & Small & Juicy

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Here are the Top 5 most retweeted stories of the week on the #MRX Twitter community:

1. Our Take: Omnicom Group Acquires Communispace (by @tamarabarber) – Tamara Barber of Forrester views this announcement as significant to research in general because it “confirms the importance and value of client relationships”, prepares for the globalization of MROCs, reflects the need to integrate multiple research methodologies and points towards accelerated consolidation among research firms.
2. Researcher, Research Thyself (via @researchlive) – As research agencies consolidate, what do clients want from them? @RelishResearch asked 10 insight managers and found that, for one thing, they’re not always in favor of larger agencies, which can be impersonal, rigid in their methodological approach and a poorer value. The article has much more.
3. When Do You Need A Market Research Vendor? (by @rinsights) – Michaela Mora argues that users of DIY research tools should consider agencies more often than they do: when they are pressed for time, don’t have access to the population to be researched, lack expertise in the methodology needed, require respondent anonymity and confidentiality, or need an impartial third-party to legitimize the research results.
4. Examining the Role of Focus Groups (via @brainjuicer) – A jaded focus group moderator tells us why he uses other methodologies today.
5. My Working Theory of Online Qual (via @GambleGamble): Victoria Gamble provides advice on best practices for moderating bulletin-board focus groups, including: structure incentives to motivate ongoing participation, respect time demands on participants, be authentic, recognize differences in abilities of participants and look to create conversations not just to ask questions.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of the great content under the water line on Twitter. You can fish out fresh stories for yourself in the #MRX Twitter community.