Category: Market Research

To help clients determine the marketplace value of their products or services, Rockman conducts usability studies, focus groups to review products or services, and customer surveys. Drawing on our broad understanding of the education market, we capture reactions of the users of products and services, identify new markets for existing materials, and help for-profit companies—and not-for-profit agencies—position their efforts in a competitive environment.

Brokers of Expertise In partnership with WestEd and AIR, REA contributed to a statewide assessment of the need for professional development training and resources among California educators for the California Department of Education (CDE). REA led the development of a statewide survey of California educators and conducted focus groups with educators across the state in order to get both a broad, as well as in-depth, picture of the needs of California educators. more» Client: WestEd Funding Agency: Cal State Sacramento Topic: School Reform, Web Sites, Technology and Education

Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration: Vistas Project REA completed a two-year study of the Lake Coastal Waters Project, a partnership with schools in the Lake Coastal Waters of northern Indiana funded by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Science classes in five schools participated in a community-centered science inquiry, exploring environmental issues on the northern edge of Lake Michigan. Students investigated specific problems, and, based on their research, offered viable solutions to enhance the ecology of the lake coastal area. more» Client: Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) Funding Agency: Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) Topic: Assessment, Instructional Materials/Programs, Community Outreach, Technology and Education, Distance Learning

Digital Photo Web Site Focus Group Research Rockman et al conducted ten focus groups on digital photography Web site content and formats in four regional locations across the U.S. to help the client understand the different reactions of novice, intermediate, and experienced photographers. The study was designed to inform this large consumer IT company’s sales division about revising their Web site to be more targeted and effective. more» Client: A large consumer IT company Funding Agency: Topic: Web Sites

Evaluation of the Student Friendly Services Web Site The Intersegmental Coordinating Committee (ICC) contracted with Rockman et al to perform an in-depth assessment of the Student Friendly Services (SFS) Web site. The goals of the study were to give the ICC insights about users’ thoughts and opinions on the site’s navigation, appeal, content, and application in order to inform decisions on improving the site, attracting new users, and meeting the needs of current users. Rockman gathered feedback on key aspects of the site from more than 200 target audience members (students, parents, and educators). more» Client: Intersegmental Coordinating Committee (ICC) Funding Agency: Topic: Web Sites, Community Outreach

Focus Group Study for Edutopia REA conducted a series of focus groups for the George Lucas Education Foundation (GLEF) to support and extend the work associated with its Mott Foundation grant that produced the New Day for Learning report. more» Client: George Lucas Education Foundation (GLEF) Funding Agency: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Web Sites, Technology and Education, Informational Media

School Improvement Media Rockman et al worked with the George Lucas Education Foundation and Vulcan Productions to conduct an evaluation of school improvement media resources for various educational audiences. more» Client: George Lucas Educational Foundation and Vulcan Productions Funding Agency: George Lucas Educational Foundation and Vulcan Productions Topic: School Reform

Science Fiction Museum During the first part of 2004, Rockman et al conducted a series of research activities for the Science Fiction Museum that were designed to identify potential museum visitors’ perceptions of the relationship between science fiction and science. more» Client: Experience Learning Community (ELC) Funding Agency: National Science Foundation Topic: Informal Learning, Museum

Seeing in the Dark Seeing in the Dark, a documentary film about stargazing directed by Timothy Ferris, is based on Ferris' book (of the same name) that was named by The New York Times as one of the 10 best non-fiction books of 2002. The program is in part personal documentary, as well as profiles the work of amateur astronomers. more» Client: Tim Ferris Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF): Informal Science Education (ISE) Program Topic: Informal Learning, TV/Radio, Web Sites, Informational Media

Staff Development Study In 1999, APEX was considering entering the arena of online educational professional development, credentialing, and certification in collaboration with several institutional partners. APEX needed to define its market, identify the features and attributes of its offerings, position its courses and services against a growing set of competitors, and explore the pricing, marketing, and distribution of the products to teachers and school administrators. Rockman et al conducted phone interviews and collected survey ratings from district and building level staff development coordinators, technology coordinators, and teachers to help APEX identify the critical issues and inform the company’s plans and goals. more» Client: Apex Learning Funding Agency: Apex Learning Topic: Professional Development, Distance Learning, Informational Media

University of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP): Exploring Evolution/Evolution All Around Us (EE/EAAU) REA conducted a thorough, multi-component evaluation of University of California Museum of Paleontology's (UCMP) Understanding Evolution website. The site provides an online resource for teachers to use in teaching evolution. The site also provides classroom resources: a conceptual framework, a suite of evaluated lessons appropriate for different grade spans, and teaching strategies to avoid or overcome roadblocks to teaching evolution. more» Client: University of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP) Funding Agency: National Science Foundation and Howard Hughes Medical Foundation Topic: Assessment, Instructional Materials/Programs, Museum, Web Sites, Technology and Education