Meet4research
Meet4research is a market-leading research agency that has specialized for more than 15 years in perception research in public transport and public spaces. With perception research, better known as experience research, we enable our clients to make the right policy decisions by providing them with concrete and accessible advice.
Our Evidence-Based Design is core to our approach. In other words: Meet4research uses scientifically proven strategies. We have built up our knowledge from intensive collaboration with NS working together with our colleague Dr Mark van Hagen, senior consultant, and the University of Twente.
In the research process, we adopt a cooperative attitude: we more than understand that you do not carry out research for a client, but with a client. We, therefore, attach great value to investing in collaboration with our clients and research partners.
Experience
More often, experience and behaviour are mentioned in the same breath. Yet this is about two different mental states, that are in line with each other. Human behaviour is influenced by the environmental stimuli we perceive with our senses, mostly, subconsciously. In fact, more than 95 per cent of the environmental stimuli - sound, temperature, colour and smell, influence our feelings and ultimately our behaviour.
Meet4research makes the experience measurable so that you can use hard facts to determine behaviour.
Research
Research among visitors to public spaces and travellers in public transport often focuses on functional aspects; the so-called dissatisfiers. An example of a dissatisfier is hygiene in a room. However, little attention goes to factors that make a space more attractive - the so-called satisfiers, for example, the careful use of colour, and music in a waiting room or, a bicycle route where attention focusses on natural greenery.
The overall opinions of visitors and travellers are, on average, determined by no less than fifty to sixty per cent satisfiers. We use experience research to map the score of these satisfiers. Perception sounds like a "soft" concept, but it is actually "hard" and measurable.
From an economic standpoint, investing in satisfiers is much more cost-effective. It is why perception or experience research is an attractive tool for identifying valuable investments.
The Quality Dimensions model of Dr. Mark van Hagen (senior consultant NS) is central to our evidence-based research approach.
Outcome
Experience research offers concrete tools for improvement programs or policy decisions. By attuning stimuli in a room, for example, scent, colour or music to the function of that environment, you can positively influence emotions and thereby, behaviour. Because the environmental stimuli are logically related to this, you create a higher experience value.
A higher experience value leads to new or higher returns, through a longer stay, more loyalty, more spending and repeat visits.
Example
New SLT upholstery
| Experience train as quiet | + 0,5* |
| Experience smell in train as pleasant | + 0,4 |
| Furniture meets wishes | + 0,7 |
| Experience interior as neat and clean | + 0,9 |
| Train makes a neat impression | + 0,7 |
| Furniture attractive | + 1,1 |
| Well maintained | + 0,8 |
| Clean impression furniture | + 1,3 |
| Color seats match NS | + 0,4 |
*Measured on a ten-point scale.
Trash Tree leads to more positive park experience
| Park attraction | + 0,4* |
| Park liveliness | + 0,4 |
| Colorfulness of the park | + 0,3 |
| Judgment waste bins | + 0,5 |
*Measured on a ten-point scale.
Clients
Our clients are based primarily in the Netherlands, and also in the UK, Germany and elsewhere in Europe. They are, among others, concession providers, public transport operators, Provinces & Municipalities responsible for mobility and urban renewal.
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Development of a Monitor of the Experience Chain of fair visitors - from arrival in Utrecht till leaving the venue.
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Support in the development and implementation of the Station Experience Monitor.
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Support in the development and implementation of the Train Experience Monitor.
In addition: to determine effects during experiments and events. -
Development and pilot: a set of instruments to measure the experience in the customer journey (tram, bus, metro).
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Train Experience Monitor
(Based on knowledge of NS) -
Project Waiting Experience at Small Trains stations.
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Test / pilot to develop the Public Transport Barometer in the future into an Experience Monitor (nationwide, tram-bus-subway-ferry).
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Support in the development of a tool to measure the customer experience at European stations in a standardised method.
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Based Measurement perception at all stations in the province of Groningen project Facelift Northern stations.
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Experience Survey Train Station ‘Voerendaal’ regarding large renovation project.
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Experience Survey (atmosphere-experience and execution time-outflow) in Almere Center and at its seven squares.
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Experience Survey for the Improvement of Squares in Breda and Tilburg.
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Image Survey among its residents.
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Employee Survey and exploration of strategy and provision.
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Group Sessions with MCB accounts on current developments in the steel industry.
Themes
Some themes on which Meet4research conducts research are:
● Public transport experience (travel and station experience)
● Nuisance experience (for construction and maintenance projects)
● Cycling experience
● Experience in city centers and specific public spaces
For the implementation of perception research Meet4research works closely with consultancy firm
Highlights
Satisfaction
Ambience, comfort and safety in the (semi) public space.
Cooperation
In exploration, together with our client.
Research
Research and studies in different surroundings.
Meet4research
Designing, implementing and testing research.
Result
Improved satisfaction leads to new or higher provenance.