Conversations for Research Rockstars

Designing B2B surveys can look straightforward at first glance. But in practice, business-to-business market research comes with constraints that can quietly undermine data quality, respondent experience, and the value of the results. In this episode of Conversations for Research Rockstars, we walk through some of the most common B2B survey challenges—and the practical questionnaire design strateg...

In this Conversations episode, we tackle a familiar challenge in market research: delivering strong work—only to see it go unused. Why do well-designed studies and thoughtful analyses still fall flat with stakeholders? Often, it's not a data problem. It's a communication problem. Specifically, a utilization gap between what research shows and how decision-makers absorb and apply it. We explore how...

Many market research, UX, and CX teams now use AI for brainstorming, writing, and various research tasks. But it's not always easy, especially when using AI to help researchers craft surveys and discussion guides. The recurring issue isn't effort—it's uneven quality from ad hoc prompting. In "Prompt Engineering for Researchers," host Kathryn Korostoff demonstrates two structured approaches that ke...

As we plan for 2026, many CX, UX, and Market Research teams are focused on anticipating project volume, evolving method mixes, AI-enabled workflows, and resource allocation. But regulatory policy deserves attention too—with changes coming that could directly shape how we run qualitative and quantitative projects.  In this episode of Conversations for Research Rockstars, Kathryn Korostoff interview...

Struggling with overloaded discussion guides in qualitative research? In this episode of Conversations for Research Rockstars, Kathryn Korostoff shares practical ways to handle clients, colleagues, and stakeholders who want to pack too much into a focus group or IDI guide. Learn how to: Keep discussion guides aligned with project objectives Push back—professionally—when feedback risks data quality...

In this Conversations for Research Rockstars episode, host Kathryn Korostoff tackles one of the trickiest challenges in survey design—choosing the best possible answer options for the questions we've so carefully crafted. Using clear, real-world examples, she offers practical guidance on: When to use unipolar vs. bipolar scales How to choose between odd- and even-point scales—and explain your choi...

What happens when clients feel dissatisfied after the very first in-depth interview? Often, it's not about objectives or discussion guides—it's about mismatched expectations on style. In this conversation, Kathryn Korostoff unpacks the difference between highly structured and semi-structured IDIs and why alignment upfront is essential for success.  Learn more about Research Rockstar's training and...

Contracts may not be the most exciting part of our work as researchers—but they can make or break a project.  In this Research Rockstar Conversation, Kathryn Korostoff talks with Benjamin de Seingalt, Esq., Corporate Counsel and Director of Privacy and Compliance at MarketVision Research, about the growing complexity of contracts in market research and insights work. Together, they explore: Why co...

In this episode, Kathryn Korostoff, market research thought leader and founder of Research Rockstar, tackles an often-overlooked challenge in successful AI deployment: organizational structure. While AI promises efficiency and innovation in market research and customer insights, many teams are still held back—not by technology, but neglecting the value of small wins and organizational silos. Kathr...

In this episode, we explore the Jobs to be Done (JTBD) framework, a model embraced by many companies, including leading CPG brands, financial services, tech companies, and more. Your host, Kathryn Korostoff, gives you a brief overview of what JTBD is and how market researchers can use it to move beyond a superficial understanding of customer needs. Whether it's for physical products or services, u...

Join host Kathryn Korostoff and special guest Dan Braker, President of Breakthrough Research, for a deep dive into the power of authenticity in shaping consumer decisions and brand loyalty. This episode explores the critical role authenticity plays in building lasting connections between brands and their customers. Drawing on psychological research, learn how authenticity impacts consumer decision...

What is your team's position on the continuum from basic to bold of AI so far? Is the status on the basic end, with AI used for personal productivity but not much else? Or is your team looking to leapfrog conventional methods with new AI-driven customer insights-driving products and services? Hint: your team is more on the bold end if it is already piloting solutions that include components such a...

Learn how to avoid analysis bias in global market research studies. Conducting global studies requires careful planning and data collection, but analyzing the results can be even more challenging. Human beings have inherent biases that can impact data analysis, compromising the quality and accuracy of research reports. In this video, we share three types of bias that can infiltrate our research re...

As professional market researchers, one of our biggest challenges is access to quality sample. We have all had the experience of having to toss out 10% or even 20% or more of research respondents because they were likely bots, fakes, or otherwise low-quality responses. While online sample is problematic for both B2B and B2C studies, the "solutions" may be different. In this episode, our experts ta...

Newer researchers may not realize how much of the work in Market Research and Insights is in socializing the results. We don't just send a report out by email and nothing else... not unless we want the research to be ignored. Successful researchers help their clients/stakeholders socialize the research results to influence and persuade. In this episode, Kathryn Korostoff is joined by Kory Grushka,...

How will AI impact the work, and careers, of Market Research & Insights Professionals? Is it doom and gloom, a welcome revolutionary advancement, or does it lie somewhere in the middle? Enjoy this video of instructors Jim Newswanger and Kathryn Korostoff for a discussion about AI's current, and potentially future, impact on the entire cycle of market research projects.  Conversations for Research...

When making methodology recommendations, many market researchers find ethnography desirable but intimidating. The biggest worry is often about recruiting: how do we find qualified people from the target population of interest  and motivate them to participate in ethnographic research? Join Instructor Kathryn Korostoff as she shares 5 specific ways to recruit individuals or groups for ethnographic...

In the world of professional-quality market research, data visualizations are not just aesthetics; they are critical to research success. You don't need to be a graphic designer, but knowing how to ensure your data captivates and convinces does reduce risk. Join us in this enlightening episode of Conversations for Research Rockstars, where Instructor Kathryn Korostoff unveils the pivotal role of d...

Qualitative research professionals often create top-line reports as a key deliverable. Sometimes the top-line is the only deliverable, and in other cases, it is a preliminary one (followed later by a more thorough, full report). Unfortunately, the term "top-line" is often misused. But as a Research Rockstar, we want you to know the correct use, and in this Conversations episode, your host, Kathryn...

When confronted with superficial research participant responses, how can market researchers dig deeper? How do we design questionnaires so they uncover deeper insights without becoming lengthy? Using neuroscience-based understandings of human behavior can help uncover non-superficial demand drivers and help researchers prioritize questionnaire design. We spoke with Hunter Thurman, founder of Alpha...

Surprise! Contrary to popular belief, many clients LIKE slide-deck style reports. In this Conversations episode, Research Rockstar Lead Instructor Kathryn Korostoff shares two important reasons why many clients like slide-style reports, and insider tips for how to structure a slide-style report (including 3 options for structuring qualitative research reports in a way that will show your clients t...

Have you ever conducted market research in support of Thought Leadership (TL) programs? Thought Leadership programs are used by companies in many industries, especially in B2B, and can be used to establish or strengthen their visibility in their market. Within TL programs, conducting survey research is very popular, as it provides a quick and compelling way to showcase data-driven insights. After...

How do you handle over-rationalized and contradictory responses in research interviews? For the sake of high-quality qualitative data, we strive to recognize and resolve these issues, but doing so in a real-time conversation can be tricky. In this Conversation, Lead Instructor Kathryn Korostoff shares some tips and tricks to turn these sticky situations into insights gold.  Conversations for Resea...

What makes a market research objective "good"? What makes it precise enough to guide a project such that, at the conclusion, the project will be likely to be perceived as successful? In this video, Research Rockstar Lead Instructor Kathryn Korostoff teaches the 4 components used to assess objectives. Too often, market research projects start with vague objectives that lead to operational delays or...

As a Market Research & Insights professional, you have likely heard the term "insights democratization." The phrase invokes a vision of organizations that have numerous data sources, and data-based findings, that are seamlessly shared within and between various functional areas in a friction-free manner. Everyone with appropriate permissions has access to all the customer data they need--whether f...