PluggedIn unlocks online community platform

US-- New York-based research firm PluggedIn has opened up its proprietary online community platform to market researchers seeking to run their own online research communities.

The platform, which combines a range of social networking and community features, can, the company claims, run qualitative studies, including online communities, virtual ethnography and diary research.

Market researchers can license one of three hosted editions of the platform, ranging from a version designed for short-term online focus group studies to a full-featured version designed for ongoing market research online communities.

Partner and senior research consultant Matt Foley said, “We are excited to launch the platform formally beyond our current work with a select group of research and consulting agencies. We believe our work with qualitative researchers will allow us to create the industry standard platform for longitudinal online qualitative research studies.”

PluggedIn has hosted research communities for T-Mobile, Kraft and Dell.

Author: Marc Brenner