Business Matters

The Moderator Reimagined: Lessons from a Season Away

Veteran moderator Judithe Andre draws on her experience as a national board-certified health & well-being coach and wellness studio operator to reimagine what it means to listen. In this reflective, practice-focused article, she explores how motivational interviewing, mindfulness, and behavioral science can strengthen qualitative research. Her integrated approach—what she calls Moderator Methodology—offers a roadmap for researchers seeking to balance presence with precision, empathy with insight, and human care with analytical rigor. […]

Quant Lens

Why AI-Moderated Surveys are a Qualitative Opportunity

Traditional surveys? They’re overdue for reinvention. Data quality is slipping, participants are disengaged, and rigid formats no longer reflect how people actually express themselves today. With qual-infused-quant, we can bring back what was missing all along—empathy, rapport, and human connection. Discover how adding a qualitative dimension can transform quantitative research into something more engaging, enabling, and exploratory. […]

Global

FROM SKIN TO SELF: BEAUTY BEYOND GENDER

Globally, genderless beauty and semiotic design are reshaping the cultural meaning of skincare. Moving beyond traditional gendered marketing, it reveals how emerging visual codes, materials, and color systems invite consumers to express identity with greater fluidity and authenticity. Discover how semiotics, shifting aesthetics, and Gen Z and Gen Alpha are driving a more fluid, expressive, and value-driven beauty landscape. […]

Book Reviews

Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering

Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders and the Rise of Social Engineering is Malcolm Gladwell’s thought-provoking follow-up to The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. In it, he explores how small, often hidden changes made by those in power can shape behavior and drive social outcomes. Gladwell argues that we all share responsibility for ensuring these forces are used in ways that support—not undermine—our democracy. […]

Travelwise

The Impactful Travel Quest: Preparing for an Immersive Cultural Conference Experience in Japan

Come along with academic researcher Nick Wise as he prepares for his first visit to Japan – a culture he has studied academically for years. His journey will include a deep dive into the traditions of rice and tea – symbols of nourishment, harmony, and connection in Japanese society; business etiquette, and how it can ensure meaningful professional interactions, and how he plans to embrace immersive travel, by engaging authentically with local people, traditions, and communities. […]

Quant Lens

Idea Screening in New Product Development

Quant expert Robert Walker explains how qualitative researchers can expand their role in new product development by offering idea screening to their clients. Using a proven set of evaluative and diagnostic measures, researchers can identify the best candidates to take into the next step of any new product development process, adding value to their clients in new ways. […]

Toolbox

Striking the Right Balance Between Human and AI Transcription for Qualitative Research

By now we all know AI transcription of interviews is anything but flawless–especially when cultural references are critical to insights, as they can easily be missed by machines. But, if used properly, AI transcription can add efficiency to projects. In this article, multilinguistic researcher Jill Kushner Bishop outlines a decision-making framework to help researchers decide when to consider human or blended human and AI solutions to optimize resources and maximize the quality of insights. […]