Yesterday's Approach to Patient Research
Over the years, survey panels have been the preferred choice for brands engaging in survey-based research. With the consumer research industry shifting towards fresh, inventive methods, panels are surpassing their usefulness. Although a larger sample size may appear to offer a more comprehensive understanding of a topic, it comes with numerous limitations.
What is a Survey Panel?
A survey panel is a research method that involves repeatedly collecting data from a group of individuals or respondents over time. This group of individuals, known as a "panel," typically remains the same or is sometimes refreshed periodically to maintain its composition. Survey panels are used to track changes and developments in attitudes, behaviours, or characteristics of the panelists over an extended period. While survey panels offer the ability to analyze trends and make longitudinal comparisons, they also have limitations.
Limitations of Survey Panels:
Large Sample Sizes: When the size of a panel is finite, the ability to effectively gather data from specific subgroups or niche populations becomes restricted. As a panel size grows, it becomes harder to maintain the engagement and motivation of panelists, leading to higher dropout rates and potentially lower data quality. Additionally, a larger panel may still suffer from issues of sampling bias if it doesn't accurately represent the broader population. The increased number of responses can create a burden for researchers, making it difficult to efficiently analyze and derive meaningful insights from the vast amount of data collected. The quality, representativeness, and manageability of a panel survey are often more critical factors than simply having a larger sample size.
Outdated Results: Survey panels often fall short in delivering real-time results due to several inherent limitations. First and foremost, survey panels typically involve pre-recruited participants who may not be readily available for immediate data collection, causing delays in response times. Additionally, panelists may only be surveyed at specific intervals, making survey panels ill-suited for applications where real-time insights are crucial. Technological advances and shifts in consumer behaviour may make the panel's data less relevant, particularly if it doesn't adapt quickly to new platforms and channels, often leading to a lag in obtaining up-to-date information, especially in rapidly changing markets or situations. Consequently, for time-sensitive research or situations requiring current data, alternative methods are often preferred over traditional survey panels.
Demographic Changes: A lack of new participants in survey panels can lead to outdated information primarily because it restricts the panel's ability to refresh its demographics and perspectives. Over time, as panel members age or their circumstances change, they may no longer represent the current population accurately. Without a steady influx of new participants, the panel becomes less reflective of evolving demographics, behaviors, and attitudes. As a result, the data collected from the panel becomes increasingly skewed towards the characteristics of its long-standing members, potentially leading to misrepresentations of the broader population. This limitation can render the information gathered from the panel outdated and less relevant for making informed decisions or drawing accurate conclusions about current consumer trends and preferences.
Bridging the Gaps of Patient Research with
Welltigo, Oromo’s digital research tool, provides a fundamental understanding of patient journeys, while removing assumptions and blindspots. Welltigo achieves real time results through the use of a proprietary process that actively acquires patient data as it becomes available. The use of readily available patient data enables the swift acquisition of patient insights, resulting in enhanced quality, representativeness, and ease of management compared to traditional panel surveys. Rather than making assumptions about the accuracy of your panel's representation of current demographics and patient experiences solely based on past disease experiences, Welltigo ensures the utilization of current patients. This approach provides an actionable insight report that empowers you to tailor your tactics precisely to your specific patient segment.
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