{"id":4983,"date":"2018-10-29T14:54:28","date_gmt":"2018-10-29T18:54:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/?p=4970"},"modified":"2019-09-24T01:51:59","modified_gmt":"2019-09-24T05:51:59","slug":"beware-the-data-junkyard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/beware-the-data-junkyard\/","title":{"rendered":"Midnight in the Data Junkyard"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s that spooky time of year\u2026 \"david-dibert-499250-unsplash\"<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

As the light dims and the nights grow longer and darker, we reflect on our <\/span>greatest survey fears<\/span><\/a>, try to <\/span>save our surveys (SOS!) from obscurity<\/span><\/a>, and maybe even <\/span>kick back with a few classic horror flicks<\/span><\/a> to learn from all the cliched mistakes made over and over again (listen to the music, fools!)…<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Last year, we focused in on the terror that is <\/span>The Low Response Rate<\/b>. Scary indeed! Think of all the time spent, the energy burnt, and the hopes crushed as the engaging conversation you thought you\u2019d have turns out to be a soliloquy to the mirror\u2026 The horror! (Stuck on this issue? <\/span>We\u2019ve got a webinar for that!<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

This year, an even more terrifying issue looms large: <\/span>The Data Junkyard<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

You\u2019ve seen it before: That dark data spilling out of bulging three-inch binders, crammed in dusty filing cabinets, and creeping around in your nightmares\u2026 whispering and muttering — <\/span>Nothing good will come of this…<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

All that data — it never did anything wrong. Questions were asked, answers were given\u2026 and that was it. Disappointing! Deflating! Devastating! Now that scorned data is haunting you\u2026 and scaring off future participants.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • When you don\u2019t act on your data, your participants notice.<\/li>\n
  • When you don\u2019t act on your data, you\u2019ve wasted your own time.<\/li>\n
  • When you don\u2019t act on your data — really?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Don\u2019t let this happen to you! Here are three quick tips to trick your way past that spooky data junkyard:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. CUT IT OUT. <\/b>Clearly define your purpose. Why are you even doing a survey in the first place? Probably you\u2019re trying to learn something, maybe to make a decision? Get rid of everything that doesn\u2019t serve your purpose. You\u2019ll save time for yourself and your participants, making sure you\u2019re focused on the answers that matter most.<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. DROP THE DISGUISE. <\/b>Be transparent. Communicate with participants about how the data will be used. Hold yourself accountable by setting expectations up front.<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. CHOP CHOP! <\/b>DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Review your results with internal team members as soon as possible, then make plans and take action. Let your stakeholders know how their answers were used.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Don\u2019t leave data in the dark. Whether it\u2019s good news or bad, there\u2019s a reason you asked the questions, so there\u2019s something to learn from the answers. In the season of tricks and treats, make sure your data and your participants end up well treated, otherwise next year\u2019s tricks will be on you!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      It\u2019s that spooky time of year\u2026  As the light dims and the nights grow longer and darker, we reflect on our greatest survey fears, try to save our surveys (SOS!) from obscurity, and maybe even kick back with a few classic horror flicks to learn from all the cliched mistakes made over and over again (listen to the music, fools!)… Last year, we focused in on the terror that is The Low Response Rate. Scary indeed! Think of all the time spent, the energy burnt, and the hopes crushed as the engaging conversation you thought you\u2019d have turns out to be a soliloquy to the mirror\u2026 The horror! (Stuck on this issue? We\u2019ve got a webinar for that!) This year, an even more terrifying issue looms large: The Data Junkyard. You\u2019ve seen it before: That dark data spilling out of bulging three-inch binders, crammed in dusty filing cabinets, and creeping around in your nightmares\u2026 whispering and muttering — Nothing good will come of this… All that data — it never did anything wrong. Questions were asked, answers were given\u2026 and that was it. Disappointing! Deflating! Devastating! Now that scorned data is haunting you\u2026 and scaring off future participants. When you don\u2019t act on your data, your participants notice. When you don\u2019t act on your data, you\u2019ve wasted your own time. When you don\u2019t act on your data — really? Don\u2019t let this happen to you! Here are three quick tips to trick your way past that spooky data junkyard: CUT […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":5048,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[60,242,67,281,257],"yoast_head":"\nMidnight in the Data Junkyard - Sogolytics Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It's that spooky spot where un-used data rots, decaying the trust of your participants and stakeholders... 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