Seratti Group

The Challenge

Riverdeep wanted to understand the appeal of a new instructional science software program. Results from a previous quantitive study indicated that, while initial responses were positive, more extensive feedback was needed in order to best inform the development of the new product line. Riverdeep commissioned the Seratti Group to conduct a qualitative study to further clarify and probe in those areas which required more depth and reflection.

The following objectives were identified:

Confirm appeal of winning concept, instructional model and unit structure
Explore relevant ways the features could be integrated
Investigate the level of confidence and comfort educators have when teaching science

The Strategy

Working in tandem with Riverdeep, The Seratti Group helped identify those research objectives that would elicit relevant insights needed for informed decisionmaking. The Seratti Group recommended an online bulletin board research study as an ideal mode for gathering the information needed from the prospective audience set, as the convenience and efficiency of such an approach appeals to the target research group: busy educators. By utilizing this type of research setting, educators could participate from the comfort and convenience of their own home or office, and at the time of their choosing. The only requirement was that they complete the survey by a certain date.

The Results

Since the goal of this researsch study was qualitative in nature, participant recruitment focused on finding the right subject matter experts vs. a larger, but potentially more fractured, pool of respondents. The Seratti Group met the client's goal of obtaining a number of participants similar to that of traditional, off-line focus groups.

The Seratti Group found that overall, there appears to be enormous opportunity for Riverdeep to provide educators with an instructional science program that enables their students to make relevant and meaningful connections between scientific themes studied and their own lives. Results showed that in addition to science instruction being sacrificed for reading and math, educators do not possess the technical knowledge nor the tools and necessary techniques required to teach science. Given these factors, the appeal of an instructional science program is, in the words of one educator, "too good to believe." The Seratti Group recommended that Riverdeep continue the development of this program, finding ways to level the activities so that the content can be adapted to a broad range of students, and designing the program interface such that it engages and accommodates even those students whose lack of ability in other areas, such as reading, may serve as a barrier to interacting with the core material.



Financial Technology Consumer Partners BEA Riverdeep Apple	The Challenge Riverdeep wanted to understand the appeal of a new instructional science software program. Results from a previous quantitive study indicated that, while initial responses were positive, more extensive feedback was needed in order to best inform the development of the new product line. Riverdeep commissioned the Seratti Group to conduct a qualitative study to further clarify and probe in those areas which required more depth and reflection. The following objectives were identified: Confirm appeal of winning concept, instructional model and unit structure Explore relevant ways the features could be integrated Investigate the level of confidence and comfort educators have when teaching science The Strategy Working in tandem with Riverdeep, The Seratti Group helped identify those research objectives that would elicit relevant insights needed for informed decisionmaking. The Seratti Group recommended an online bulletin board research study as an ideal mode for gathering the information needed from the prospective audience set, as the convenience and efficiency of such an approach appeals to the target research group: busy educators. By utilizing this type of research setting, educators could participate from the comfort and convenience of their own home or office, and at the time of their choosing. The only requirement was that they complete the survey by a certain date. The Results Since the goal of this researsch study was qualitative in nature, participant recruitment focused on finding the right subject matter experts vs. a larger, but potentially more fractured, pool of respondents. The Seratti Group met the client's goal of obtaining a number of participants similar to that of traditional, off-line focus groups. The Seratti Group found that overall, there appears to be enormous opportunity for Riverdeep to provide educators with an instructional science program that enables their students to make relevant and meaningful connections between scientific themes studied and their own lives. Results showed that in addition to science instruction being sacrificed for reading and math, educators do not possess the technical knowledge nor the tools and necessary techniques required to teach science. Given these factors, the appeal of an instructional science program is, in the words of one educator, "too good to believe." The Seratti Group recommended that Riverdeep continue the development of this program, finding ways to level the activities so that the content can be adapted to a broad range of students, and designing the program interface such that it engages and accommodates even those students whose lack of ability in other areas, such as reading, may serve as a barrier to interacting with the core material.