We are barking mad about dogs at Directions. Not only is our logo a pointer dog, but we also have our own canine mascot, in the form of Basil, who comes to visit us in the office regularly. It’s not surprising that researchers like dogs, because there are big similarities between these two species.
Approachable and Friendly
One of the most important things a qualitative researcher can do is to put their respondents at ease, so that people can open up to you. Dogs are the greatest at doing this. Dog walkers are some of the easiest people in the street to talk to, as their dog acts as a natural conversation starter. Researchers should channel their inner dog to get their interviews off to a positive, welcoming start.
Empathy
People often say that there dog will try to comfort them when they are feeling down, displaying a high level of empathy. To truly understand the reasons behind a respondent action the researcher also needs empathy, to be able to walk in their shoes and really feel the WHY behind the behaviour, not just the WHAT.
Curiosity
Dogs are always sniffing around, investigating. We also want to understand the world better. Not satisfied with the surface response we will always dig deeper when talking to our respondents. We have a genuine passion for truly understanding people and the choices they make.
Perseverance
Like a dog with a bone we will hunt down the insights you need to make a difference to your business, doggedly pursuing the truth.
Enthusiasm
We love our jobs and go into each research project with great enthusiasm and energy. We will do everything we can to design and execute the best research possible to answer your business questions.
Loyalty
We stay true to what the respondent tells us. We do not spin what we hear, but give the reality.
Don’t go chasing your tail or barking up the wrong tree on your next research project. Speak to us and we’ll point you in the right direction!
