Used in more than 45 countries around the world by some of the most recognized brands and organizations, the Perception Analyzer® is the gold standard dial testing research solution for focus groups, in-depth interviews (IDIs) and other live research sessions. The portable system can be set up in virtually any testing environment and can be used to test groups from 10 (or less) to 100 (or more).

Collect Real-Time Feedback With All Research Question Types

The Perception Analyzer is best known for it’s ability to gather continuous, in-the-moment feedback, but it is also an effective tool for collecting individualized response to a variety of research question types while facilitating an engaging, interactive environment for participants.

Supported question types include these and many more:

✓ Discrete Choice | Categorical
✓ Intensity Scale | Attitudinal
✓ Trade-offs | Conjoint
✓ Moment-to-moment

Your project objectives and analytical requirements drive which question types to use, what the questions should be and when to ask them. Our team can help during this project design phase. Then, if needed, we can program the system for your study or event and support your team on-site.

Here’s How Perception Analyzer Works

Questions and test media are programmed into the Perception Analyzer in advance. The system is flexible enough to allow you to add and modify questions on-the-fly during your sessions, so you can quickly adapt based on real-time feedback.

The Perception Analyzer dials give research participants the ability to individually answer each question and rate each media clip while also offering greater privacy to answer even the most private questions. This enables you to gather more accurate data and greatly reduce the impact of group dynamics.

The combination of the easy-to-use dials and powerful Perception Analyzer software simplifies and accelerates your data collection, making it easier to engage participants and allowing you to get started on analysis and report-writing as quickly as within minutes of the end of a session.

Perception Analyzer Components

The Perception Analyzer system includes:

✓  Intuitive, hand-held dials so participants can privately respond to questions and keep their focus on the testing material
✓  Software to program the system, capture individual responses and analyze data
✓  Wireless receiver and other audio visual components to communicate with the dials and display both stimulus and results

The privacy and immediacy of the dials allow research participants to answer more honestly and minimizes the impact of groupthink. With results immediately available, you can respond quickly to adapt new strategies, guide group discussions and explore new ideas. And the software is flexible enough to allow real-time analysis and/or export data to your analytic software of choice.

Purchasing a System

 
You won’t find any team more knowledgeable and passionate about dial testing than Dialsmith. Whether you’re in the market to purchase a Perception Analyzer system to run yourself or would like to tap into our expertise for consultation, equipment and on-site support, we can help. CONTACT US and we’ll get things rolling.

Perception Analyzer 9.0 + 9.0 Media

Dialsmith’s latest versions of Perception Analyzer, PA 9.0 and PA 9.0 Media, have fully modernized our dial testing research solution with support for the latest operating systems and high-resolution displays. The upgrade also adds key enhancements to output high quality, moment-to-moment overlays and export data faster and easier.

Here are some resources for more details:

✓ PA 9.0 + PA 9.0 Media release notes
✓ Dialsmith’s Dan Welch Talks New Perception Analyzer 9.0 and 9.0 Media
✓ Press release: Dialsmith releases Perception Analyzer 9.0 and 9.0 Media

Do you have a specific question about PA 9.0 or PA 9.0 Media or looking for help upgrading your system? Contact Us

Dial Testing on Any Device, Anywhere

Perception Analyzer Online delivers continuous dial testing on smartphones, laptops, desktops, and tablets, reaching participants wherever and whenever they engage with media.

Full-Featured with Moment-to-Moment Media Evaluation

Perception Analyzer Online captures real-time participant sentiment tracking. This mobile-friendly dial testing platform can be paired with online quantitative and qualitative tools such as surveys, online focus groups and communities — no plug-ins or special downloads required.

Here’s How Perception Analyzer Online Works

This turnkey dial testing solution is fully hosted and managed by Dialsmith. We handle all programming, hosting, and fielding logistics, ensuring your focus remains on insights, analysis, and delivering actionable results for your clients.

Real-Time Feedback for Recorded Media

Using an intuitive on-screen slider embedded in the media player, respondents rate content second-by-second based on how they feel. An optional hotkey button can be configured for key actions like “buy,” “skip,” “tune out,” or other action the participant would take during the evaluation. Data is aggregated into visual sentiment graphs overlaid on the media timeline, revealing high and low-performing moments.

Advanced Reporting and HD Overlay Deliverables

The secure online reporting portal provides:

✓ Real-time access to survey and dial test data
✓ Built-in tools to create banners, tables, and crosstabs for your segment analysis
✓ Exports to Excel, SPSS, and common analytic software tools

Every project includes a high-resolution MP4 video overlay of dial results—ideal for client presentations, executive reviews, and long-term archiving. This goes far beyond the typical in-portal playback offered by most providers.

Scalable, Flexible, and Tailored to Your Needs

Whether you’re adding dial testing to your own online survey or need a full-service research solution to meet your goals, Dialsmith delivers with flexibility, speed, and unmatched expertise.

Available Services:

✓ Survey programming and hosting
✓ Project management (including support for integrating with other online services)
✓ Online focus group management, hosting, and tech support
✓ Sample procurement and quota management
✓ Email invitations and reminders
✓ Verbatim coding
✓ Localization and multi-language support
✓ Seamless integration enables dial testing within your own survey or research tool

Here are a couple of useful resources for understanding more about online dial testing and/or sharing this information with colleagues:

✓  An Overview of Online Research Options (PDF one pager)

✓  Add Online Dial Testing to Your Virtual Focus Group (Demo)

Focus groups can be conducted efficiently and effectively online, but only with the right tools and the right team. Bring in our team of senior market research technicians to ensure your online groups go off without a hitch. We’ve spent hundreds of hours refining our processes and have best-in-industry technology at our disposal. Read The Anatomy of Better Online Focus Groups. 

We offer:

White-glove treatment is a hallmark of our company built upon more than a decade of going above and beyond to ensure our clients’ success. We prep for and produce your online focus group with the same high-touch, premier-level service that we’ve delivered again and again for our in-person projects.

One-stop convenience. Lean on us to do the heavy lifting so you can focus on your research. From recruitment to results and everything in-between, we’ve got you covered.

Uncompromising security. The privacy and security of your online research is critical to us. That’s why we’ve invested in the highest level of security and encryption for our online platform, which is both HIPPA- and FedRAMP-compliant. Our security protocols also include the use of password-protected, project-specific links, participant waiting rooms, restricted use of screenshare, chat and other meeting features, and many more. Security for online focus groups overview (PDF) 

Seamless dial testing integration. With our in-house dial testing expertise, we can seamlessly integrate synchronous or asynchronous dial testing into any online focus group. See how we do it.  

How It Works

We manage all the technical set-up and needs: meeting platform, respondent tech checks, etc. Additionally, our team provides live, dedicated tech support throughout the session, and a secure and confidential backroom for client observations. Each group is recorded as a deliverable.

🎯 Web-based In-depth Interviews (IDIs)

We’ve successfully conducted hundreds of IDIs. We provide the video chat platform and in-house moderator. Each IDI is recorded as a deliverable.