Some researchers believe summer can be a slower season for research. Vacations, travel plans, and lighter routines often make it harder to reach participants or maintain strong response rates. As fall begins, consumer behaviour shifts again. Participants adjust to the school year, many return to the office after summer Fridays, others move back to the city, and shoppers begin preparing for the holidays.
For researchers, this means new challenges and opportunities. How can we improve response rates, reduce no-shows, and create stronger survey experiences in the months ahead?
Combat Survey Fatigue
Consumers are constantly asked for feedback, and when surveys feel repetitive or too long, engagement drops. Keeping surveys concise, mobile-friendly, and visually engaging makes a big difference. Quick turnaround options like OmniUber gives you the ability to gather rapid feedback through short, targeted studies that keep participants engaged while still delivering reliable results.
Reduce No-Shows in Fieldwork
Qualitative research can quickly go off track when participants fail to attend. Even a single no show can impact timelines, quotas, and the overall quality of results. That is why it is important to work with a partner who has a streamlined qualitative research recruitment process. At Canadian Viewpoint, we minimize this risk through a structured approach that keeps participants engaged from the very beginning.
Our recruitment begins with carefully programmed screeners designed to identify only qualified and interested candidates. Those who pass are contacted by trained interviewers for a re-screening call, where we reconfirm their responses, explain study expectations, and answer any questions. Once confirmed, participants receive reminder emails or calls both the day before and the day of the study.
These multiple checkpoints not only reduce no-shows but also build trust and preparedness among participants. The result is smoother field days, stronger show rates, and higher quality outcomes for our clients. For more on why careful planning is essential during this season, read our blog on fieldwork planning for fall success.
Ask us about our fall recruitment success rates and see how our process reduces no-shows
Our panel
In addition to targeted recruitment, we also leverage our proprietary Canadian panel. This panel is comprised of thousands of engaged and responsive individuals who have been extensively profiled and validated through physical incentive cheques mailed to their Canadian addresses. It is double opt-in, bilingual, and actively managed. We also use digital fingerprinting to ensure each device has a unique identity, preventing duplication and blocking non-Canadian IP addresses.
To further maintain quality, our project managers review data throughout the project lifecycle, remove fraudulent responses, and ensure full compliance with PIPEDA regulations. This combination of rigorous recruitment and a trusted panel allow us to deliver reliable participants and dependable results.
Download our Quality Control Handbook to learn more about our processes, protocols, and how we ensure reliable, accurate research outcomes every time.
Boost Participation with Intercepts
When it is difficult to bring people into a facility, intercept research provides an effective alternative. By engaging consumers in the places, they naturally spend time, such as retail settings, events, or community spaces, researchers can capture real-time reactions and spontaneous feedback.
This approach not only complements traditional methods, it also makes participation easier. Someone who is already in a mall or store is often more willing to take part in a central location study compared to being recruited through phone or email. The result is higher participation rates and more representative data. Even in fast-moving intercept studies, participant privacy and consent remain top priorities, ensuring data is both reliable and compliant
To understand more about how intercepts can strengthen fieldwork, read our Intercept Research Guide.
Contact us to learn how intercepts can strengthen your seasonal studies
Seasonal transitions always reshape how participants engage with research. By keeping surveys short and creative, planning ahead to reduce no shows, and meeting participants where they are through intercept methods, researchers can approach the Fall season with greater confidence.
At Canadian Viewpoint, we partner with clients through every stage of the process to ensure fieldwork runs smoothly and delivers clean, reliable data. If you are planning your next study, connect with our team to learn how we can help you recruit the right participants, design the right approach, and deliver the results you need.