Ipsos borrows techniques from Big Brother for new tool

LONDON – Ipsos is launching a new qualitative research tool that uses 'Big Brother'-style conflict techniques to challenge respondents and get more out of focus groups.

The Krisis technique, taken from the Greek word for moment of truth, involves carefully selecting respondents and controlling the moderation process so conflicts arise and clients receive a different level of disclosure and insight.

In the same way that characters are chosen for the Channel 4 reality show, Ipsos willl recruit confrontational "characters" who it believes will ensure research goes beyond cliche and consensus.

Moderators will be there to encourage this and there will also be a separate room, or 'Big Brother' style Diary Room, where respondents can talk about their reactions to discussions.

French food giant Danone has already undertaken the research technique in Europe and been impressed with the results.

Christian Veysseyre, director of international research for Danone, said: "The way in which participants are able to respond and contradict one another makes it possible to differentiate and choose between superficial speech and real convictions. 

"Krisis brings a dynamic to these sessions, which is genuinely different, and we're excited by the arrival of this new innovation."

The service has been successfully trialled in Europe and Ipsos plans to launch the Krisis approach worldwide, with the UK launch being celebrated at the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden on November 2.

Anne Ward, director of qualitative research at Ipsos UK, said: "The new generation of marketing-savvy consumers can second guess the way they 'should' respond to most research questions and they can manipulate the image they present.

"If we don't acknowledge the 'expert consumer', we run the risk of missing a great many valuable insights. While use of 'conflict' has been around a long time, Krisis isn't just the repackaging of a golden oldie. Krisis is the result of real new thinking, born out of a need to understand and harness the expertise of the new consumer."

If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .

Topics

You have

[DAYS_LEFT] Days left

of your free trial

Subscribe now

Get a team licence 

 Give your teams unrestricted access to in-depth editorial analysis, breaking news and premium reports with a bespoke subscription to ±±¾©Èü³µpk10.

Find out more

Market Reports

Get unprecedented new-business intelligence with access to ±±¾©Èü³µpk10’s new Market Reports.

Find out more

Looking for a new job?

Get the latest creative jobs in advertising, media, marketing and digital delivered directly to your inbox each day.

Create an Alert Now