Better Insight Starts with Better Respondents: Here’s How We Recruit

In research, the quality of your insight depends on the people behind the data. Whether it’s a qualitative discussion or a large-scale survey, getting the right people—those who genuinely reflect your audience—is everything. And in Indonesia, that’s not always easy.

Many clients have shared similar frustrations:
    •    Respondents who don’t feel authentic
    •    Answers that sound too textbook
    •    “Professional participants” who appear too often
    •    Profiles that technically qualify—but don’t really match

At Upsize, we believe recruitment is not just logistics—it’s a craft. It’s not always the fastest route, but we’re committed to doing it properly. Because when we start with the right people, the insight naturally becomes sharper, deeper, and more useful.

Here’s how we approach it—across any type of research we do:

1. We Don’t Just Rely on Databases
The issue: Many agencies pull from the same internal list over and over again—especially in online panels or community groups.

We go beyond. We combine curated databases with active outreach to real communities, local networks, and digital platforms. Whether it’s home users of specific appliances, emerging micro-entrepreneurs, or Gen Z beauty buyers—we go to where the audience actually is.

2. We Validate, Not Just Screen
The issue: In both qual and quant, people can give the “right” answers without truly representing the profile.

We include behavior-based filters in our screeners and questionnaires. For high-impact studies, we add light validation tasks—like usage proof, product photos, or short pre-surveys—to make sure we’re capturing people who live the reality we’re studying. Not perfect, but much closer to true.

3. We Avoid Overused Respondents
The issue: Repetitive participants distort data and dull the insight.

We track participation closely—especially in niche categories. For qualitative studies, we rotate carefully. For quant, we monitor duplicates and straightliners, and apply quality control measures to ensure fresh, reliable input every time.

4. We Make It Safe to Be Honest
The issue: Many respondents—especially in Indonesia—may hesitate to be open, or just want to “answer correctly.”

We design our studies to invite real voices. In qual, our moderators are trained to build rapport and gently probe. In quant, we craft questions that feel natural and relatable. It’s about creating space for honesty—whether on a survey form or in a group room.

5. We Stay Involved—From Start to Finish
The issue: Recruitment or sampling often gets treated as a background task—and that’s when things go wrong.

We stay hands-on. Whether we’re working with field teams, online platforms, or recruiters, we guide and check each step. Our team reviews profiles, monitors survey responses, and flags issues early. Because finding the right respondents is too important to leave to chance.

We know getting the ideal respondent every time isn’t always realistic—but aiming for it consistently makes a big difference. It’s the difference between “interesting” findings and truly actionable insight.

At Upsize, we don’t settle for just “good enough.” We put in the work to reach the right people—because better research starts there.

Let’s talk — our team would be happy to explore how we can help.
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