QRCA

QRCA is a global network of the world's most innovative, collaborative & passionate qualitative research professionals.

QRCA is a global network of qualitative research professionals, including market research, UX, CX, sociologists, ethnographers, linguists, social media and other qualitative experts, and the resource for elevating qualitative research expertise at all levels, where members network and share best practices, trends and technology, and take advantage of unique educational content.

09/02/2026

How do you build the kind of credibility that turns a research partner into a trusted advisor?

One week from today, join Jessica Broome, Chris Kann, and Tom Rich for a practical Qcast on earning and maintaining client trust throughout the qualitative research process.

The panel will explore aligning around the decisions at stake, navigating challenging conversations, communicating findings, handling pushback without losing credibility, and becoming someone stakeholders seek out for perspective.

📅 September 9, 2026

Register today: https://www.qrca.org/events/Q4E799e9HXWFX3C68

Presented in collaboration with QRCA’s Young Professionals Committee.

09/01/2026

Applications are now open for the Lloyd J. Harris Memorial Scholarship!

Established in honor of beloved QRCA member and trailblazing researcher Lloyd J. Harris, the scholarship provides formal moderation training through RIVA Market Research & Training Institute or Burke Institute.

Qualitative researchers within the first five years of their careers are encouraged to apply by November 30.

Learn more and apply: https://www.qrca.org/site/lloyd-harris-scholarship

08/31/2026

🚨 Last chance to apply!

Today is the deadline for the QRCA Young Professionals Grant!

If you’re an emerging qualitative researcher age 35 or younger, this is your opportunity to experience the 2027 QRCA Annual Conference in Palm Springs, connect with the qual community, and invest in your professional growth.

Grant recipients receive:

🌴 Registration to the 2027 QRCA Annual Conference
🤝 A one-year QRCA membership
💡 Access to 30+ educational sessions led by qualitative experts
🌐 Opportunities to connect with researchers from across the industry

Since 2014, the YPG has helped more than 150 young qualitative researchers take the next step in their careers. You could be next!

Applications close TODAY, August 31.

👉 Submit your application: https://www.qrca.org/site/young-professionals-grant

08/30/2026

🚨 Tomorrow is your last day!

There’s still time to experience "Qual Tech Days 2026: New Era, Bigger Questions" on demand.

Get access to 9 sessions exploring AI, emerging technologies, and the questions shaping the future of qualitative research—all available to watch on your schedule.

Plus, earn 9 QRCA Advance Credits along the way.

Purchase the on-demand program by TOMORROW, August 31 before access is no longer available for purchase.

👉 Get it before the deadline: https://qualology.qrca.org/item/qual-tech-days-2026-era-bigger-questions-demand-790043

08/28/2026

What makes a qualitative researcher someone clients trust—and continue to seek out for perspective?

Join QRCA’s upcoming Qcast with Jessica Broome, Chris Kann, and Tom Rich for a practical conversation about building credibility throughout the research process—from early scoping and fieldwork to communicating findings, navigating pushback, and following through.

Whether you’re early in your career or looking to strengthen your client relationships, you’ll leave with practical guidance from seasoned qualitative research professionals.

📅 September 9, 2026

Register today: https://www.qrca.org/events/Q4E799e9HXWFX3C68

This Qcast is presented in collaboration with QRCA’s Young Professionals Committee.

08/27/2026

Explore QRCA VIEWS—a global destination for thought leadership in qualitative research.

📚 NEW book review

Insights on the Brink by Brett Townsend and Tim Hoskins — reviewed by Paula Rosecky

What if the real value of insights isn’t in the research we deliver—but in what happens because of it?

In her review of Insights on the Brink, Paula Rosecky explores the book’s challenge to insights professionals: move beyond the role of data collectors and methodology experts and become strategic partners who help organizations make better, more human decisions.

The book asks researchers to reconsider what success looks like. Did we use the perfect methodology—or did our work actually move a decision, solve a problem, or create meaningful change?

Rosecky also reflects on the importance of storytelling, empathy, judgment, and staying involved beyond the final report—especially in an industry increasingly shaped by speed and technology.

💡 Being “on the brink” doesn’t have to mean decline. It can mean choosing to elevate insights from output to influence, prioritize decisions over deliverables, and remain human-first.

https://www.qrcaviews.org/2026/08/04/insights-on-the-brink-revitalizing-the-market-research-and-analytics-industry-by-brett-townsend-and-tim-hoskins-quester-2024/

08/26/2026

Looking to grow your qualitative research business? You don’t have to figure it all out on your own.

Join QRCA’s BizDev SIG for the August Mastermind Group Meeting—a peer-to-peer space for qualitative researchers to share ideas, work through business challenges, and learn from one another.

Whether you’re looking to grow your client base, streamline your operations, strengthen your network, or simply stay accountable to your goals, this group is designed to help you keep moving forward.

📅 August 28
⏰ 9:00–10:00 a.m. Pacific
💻 Virtual via Zoom
👥 Open to all QRCA members

RSVP at: qrca.org/events/thm8x5W5TKXJnmJes

08/25/2026

⏰ One week left!

Missed Qual Tech Days 2026? There’s still time to catch the full program on demand—but not for long.

Explore "New Era, Bigger Questions" and hear how qualitative researchers are navigating AI, emerging technologies, and the evolving role of human insight.

With 9 sessions and approximately 9 hours of content, you can watch, learn, and earn 9 QRCA Advance Credits on your own schedule.

Qual Tech Days 2026 is available for purchase through August 31.

👉 Don’t miss your chance to access the full on-demand program: https://qualology.qrca.org/item/qual-tech-days-2026-era-bigger-questions-demand-790043

08/24/2026

⏰ ONE WEEK LEFT TO APPLY!

Ready to take your qualitative research career to the next level? The QRCA Young Professionals Grant could take you to Palm Springs for the 2027 QRCA Annual Conference!

Young qualitative researchers age 35 and under are invited to apply for a grant that includes:

✨ Registration for the 2027 QRCA Annual Conference — a $1,300 value
✨ A one-year QRCA membership
✨ Access to 30+ educational sessions led by qualitative experts
✨ Opportunities to connect, learn, and build relationships across the qual community

Since 2014, the Young Professionals Grant has supported more than 150 ambitious qualitative researchers as they grow their careers and connections.

📅 Applications close Monday, August 31.

Don’t miss your chance to discover more, connect deeply, and find your qual oasis in Palm Springs.

🔗 Apply today: https://www.qrca.org/site/young-professionals-grant

The 13th Annual Young Professionals Grant is sponsored by Sylvestre & Co.

08/20/2026

Explore QRCA VIEWS—a global destination for thought leadership in qualitative research.

🧰 NEW article from our Toolbox column

Cognitive Interviewing 101: Adding a Crucial Blade to Your Qualitative “Swiss Army Knife” by Darby Steiger and Andrew Stavisky, PhD

When a respondent answers a question, how do you know they understood it the way you intended?

Cognitive interviewing goes beyond the answer to explore how people interpret questions, retrieve information, make judgments, and decide how to respond. For qualitative researchers, those skills can uncover confusing language, hidden assumptions, and potential problems before a survey, product, website, or other material reaches a larger audience.

In this practical introduction, Steiger and Stavisky break down three approaches to cognitive probing—concurrent, retrospective, and think-aloud—and demonstrate how seemingly simple questions can reveal unexpected challenges when tested with real people.

🤖 And as AI takes on more research tasks, the authors make the case for cognitive interviewing as a particularly human skill: noticing confusion, probing thoughtfully, and understanding the nuanced thinking behind an answer.

A valuable addition to any qualitative researcher’s toolkit.

https://www.qrcaviews.org/2026/08/04/cognitive-interviewing-101-adding-a-crucial-blade-to-your-qualitative-swiss-army-knife/

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