The Association for Qualitative Research
The Hub of Qualitative Excellence

The Qualitative Research Directory

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W XYZ 0-9

The AQR Directory is the premier information resource for people searching for suppliers of qualitative services. Each entry in the AQR Directory is placed into one of the following types of business found within the industry.

Qualitative Research Agencies
A qualitative market research agency will offer most things relating to this area, from expert moderation to sensitive analysis and interpretation. Techniques and specialisation may vary by company, but many will use traditional and online approaches.
Suppliers Of Services
These companies supply specialist services to the qualitative research industry such as digital platforms, equipment hire, streaming services, financial services, notetaking including verbatim conversation recording, transcription, translation services, and report writing etc.
Market Research Agencies
Market research agencies may offer qualitative research, quantitative research, or both, and increasingly consultancy services, workshop facilitation and so on. Staffing can range from one or two individuals to several hundred.
Freelance Qualitative Research Consultants
Researchers may also operate independently from larger agencies, often working on their own or with at least one other. The bonus from the client's point of view is that they can be brought in on an ad hoc basis, and may provide specialist skills.
Viewing Facilities
A location specifically designed for hosting research interviews and group discussions. Sometimes known as a viewing studio, it comes with recording and playback facilities and enables client observers to watch an interview or group discussion in progress, often via a two-way mirror.
Viewing Facility Locations
For face to face interviews and product testing, the location of viewing facilities can be key. This listing shows, at a glance, companies with a viewing facility and the location of that facility (town, county, or postal district).
Field Agencies
The professional function within market research that handles respondent recruitment project management and quality. Usually treated as a specialist activity, this function may be carried out by a department within a market research agency or by an external specialist field agency.
Recruitment Agencies
Recruitment, the way participants are screened and selected against set criteria, then persuaded to take part in qualitative research, is generally carried out by specialist freelance recruiters or recruitment agencies in the UK. In the USA it is generally carried out by viewing facilities.

Other ways to search the AQR directory

Business Sectors
Qualitative research is applied in almost all sectors of society, commerce and industry. You can search the AQR directory for businesses which have experience or specialist knowledge of specific business sectors.
Areas of Expertise
Qualitative research involves a broad range of skills, expertise and delivery of specialist services. You can search the AQR directory for businesses which can offer the specific skill, expertise or service you require.
Recruitment Expertise
Companies which perform qualitative recruitment often have specialist knowledge of respondents in particular demographics and cater for specific respondent categories.
Country of Origin
The country in which the business is based. However, for more general qualitative services, keep in mind that many qualitative researchers and agency are able to work and provice services in more than one country.
Graduate Training Programmes
This listing shows the companies listed in the AQR directory which have a specific training programme for people making a career in qualitative research.
Advanced Search
Search by a combination of features from business types, operating sectors, areas of expertise, and so on, to find the most relevant results.

Other useful contacts for qualitative researchers

Market Research
Market Research organisations and associations not directly connected to qualitative research, including MRS, ESOMAR, VFA, ICG, AURA, and BIG.
Advertising
Advertising organisations representing advertisers, and promoting standards in advertising, including ASA, and APG.
Direct Marketing
Organisations which are involved in direct marketing, both B2B and to the consumer, including The Marketing Society, DMA, and CIM.
Miscellaneous
Other organisations and associations which are not primarily invovled in qualitative research including ONS, CBI, and ICO.