January 2006

Dear [xxxxx],

Happy New Year! May your 2006 be filled with prosperity and may your research yield valuable information.

Online registration is now available for the CfMC Users' Conference to be held in Las Vegas, May 25-26. Register early, save $50 and win an iPod Shuffle! Why should you attend the Users' Conference? Here are three big reasons to put this event on your calendar.

If you have suggestions about what you would like to see in this newsletter or topics for the Users' Conference, e-mail Brian Fowler.

in this issue

software spotlight: WebSurvent intro special

WebSurvent Special: 1/2 off for three months

Why use a tinker toy for your Web surveys when you have a workhorse like CfMC's WebSurvent within reach?

In January and February of 2006, clients leasing Survent are eligible to add WebSurvent to their CfMC portfolio at a substantial discount - 1/2 off usage fees for the first three months. To qualify for this offer, clients must schedule training by March 1 and complete training by the end of March.

The beauty of CfMC software development is apparent when comparing the code of a WebSurvent Web survey and a survey programmed for CATI (facilitated by Survent). Both products use the same base Survent programming language.

To modify a Survent survey for the Web, you need only to wrap simple HTML around your Survent code which formats the survey for screen sizes, screen breaks, and defines the look and feel of your survey. And with the CfMC-supplied Java Script, utilizing real-time quality checks is easily accomplished.

The 7.7 version of WebSurvent contains a substantial set of formatting shortcuts designed to increase programming efficiency. For instance, a re-vamped templating system allows flexibility in presenting multiple styles.

Additionally, multiple default Java Script functions are referred to in one script. Simply call the commands in your Survent script as needed.

Contact CfMC sales for more information

tips and tricks: five steps to data collection quality

Top-notch software and nonstop support™ can only take you so far.

CfMC recommends our clients take the following steps to ensure the collection of quality data.

  1. Trust, but verify. Hand-test your survey to verify you are collecting what you intended (when using skip patterns, rotates, etc).
  2. User-testing. Have someone unfamiliar with the study hand test the study from a users’ perspective.
  3. Three letters - RDG. Utilize CfMC software to test your survey program: Random Data Generator. RDG generates "dummy" data and is used by testers to make sure that, among other things, intended skip patterns are followed. (coming soon: SmartRDG for WebSurvent).
  4. Topline review. Double-check your data by reviewing topline reports and tables generated by your hand and RDG testing. The quality of your logic programming should be apparent.
  5. Monitoring. Constantly monitor your toplines once your study is in the field.

CfMC awarded MRA celebrated company honor

CfMC has been awarded the first Celebrated Company Award for outstanding volunteer efforts and support by the Marketing Research Association (MRA).

CfMC, founded in 1967, is an industry leader in computer-assisted interviewing software. MRA President Jane Cook, announcing the award at the MRA’s annual meeting in Las Vegas, said, “The recipient of this year's Celebrated Company Award has always allowed its employees to be active on both the National and Chapter levels; they seem to have been present at every MRA event for the past 15 years,” Cook noted. “They have served on several committees and task forces,” she added.

“This company not only supports MRA but also is a visible supporter of standards and practices in the industry. The staff has always conducted themselves with the highest ethical integrity reflecting well on the entire profession.” Cook added.

CfMC President Richard Rands noted, “It is a great honor for CfMC to be singled out for this distinction by one of the most significant marketing research trade associations.”

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