Diners visit a restaurant in pairs and dine as they normally would. During the visit, they are asked to complete a short survey and take photos using their smartphone. A follow-up interview is conducted at the same location within a few days.

Advantages:

• Includes a 'typical' dining experience with minimal intervention
• Generates 'in vivo' insights from discrete survey/photo mobile component
• Revisiting restaurant allows for live probes of decor, menu, ambiance, etc.

A community is recruited for a 3-5 day online blog. Participants evaluate rough concepts and/or creative stimuli on the first day. Client team iterates on stimuli for reappraisal the next day.

Advantages:

• Continuity of the same participants responding to iterative stimuli over multiple days
• Instantaneous feedback and opportunity for immediate follow-ups
• Eliminates need for multiple rounds of research

Participants video chat from the convenience of their homes.

Advantages:

• Cost-effective - saves on facility expenses and travel
• Increases geographic diversity of respondents
• Allows disparate internal and agency teams to view research first-hand

The most compelling respondents from a digital research phase are recruited for follow-up deep-dive ethnographies.

Advantages:

• Approach ethno phase with foundational knowledge of participant's world
• Probe on topics that emerged during digital phase
• Highly visual, multimedia-laden reporting