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Panel Research 2007

2007 events

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Online panels are unsustainable: online communities are the future
A BBC World Service case study

Kelly Shephard & Pete Comley

Abstract

The paper discusses why the current model of online panels is unsustainable in the current Web 2.0, participatory world. It contends that the era of ‘peak panel’ (like ‘peak oil’) may soon be upon us and radical solutions are required. It argues that we need to consider new models, such as running online communities. It provides a case study example for the BBC World Service of this method and describes more of the theory and issues behind running online research communities.

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Kelly Shephard

BBC World Service, UK

Pete Comley

Virtual Surveys, UK

Pete Comley is the Chairman of Virtual Surveys, a company he started in 1998 to specialise in Internet and website research. However in recent years, he has been spearheading the development of online communities for Virtual Surveys’ clients.

Pete has a Psychology degree. He started work at Research International in 1981. He then worked at both Nestle and Lever. He was then a director at Simon Godfrey Associates (SGA), where he was responsible for Internet research and also worked on NPD research. Indeed, Pete has been heavily involved in developing the Internet as a method for data collection since 1995. He has presented numerous papers and run courses on this subject for ESOMAR, the MRS and many others.