Innovative Market Research Company
Touchstone Research is an innovative market research company helping brands uncover meaningful insights with advanced methodologies and next-generation technology. Trusted by global leaders across industries, we deliver research solutions that inspire smarter decisions, build stronger connections, and drive lasting growth.
Our Mission as an Innovative Market Research Agency
At Touchstone Research, our mission is to deliver innovative and actionable insights that help our clients make informed decisions. Through a combination of advanced research methodologies, cutting-edge technology, and a team of experienced professionals, we provide the highest quality market research solutions that drive business success. We are committed to building long-term relationships with our clients, exceeding their expectations, and delivering insights that inspire growth and change.
The Touchstone Difference
Innovation & Excellence
As an innovative market research company, Touchstone is built on the principles of creativity and excellence. We combine proven methodologies with emerging approaches to deliver insights that inspire smarter decisions and strategic growth.
Innovation & Tech-Driven Research
Founded on the principles of innovation and excellence, Touchstone Research embodies these values in every aspect of our market research work. We offer a comprehensive suite of next-gen quantitative, qualitative, qualitative recruitment, user experience (UX) research, custom online panels & insight community services, alongside proprietary tools like Dial Tester and Secure Content Testing (SCT) and our AI-Powered market research services conversational AI surveys and augmented sampling. As a tech-driven market research company, continually integrate new technologies into our processes, being early adopters of innovations such as online and mobile research, Generative AI, and VR/AR.
Comprehensive Expertise Across Industries & Audiences:
As a full service market research agency, our team of over 40 researchers bring extensive expertise across a range of industries and audiences. Our market research firm coverage includes Media & Entertainment, Technology, Youth & Family, UX, Education, CPG, Sports, Wellness & Fitness, Toys & Gaming, Food, Beverage & Restaurant, Retail & Apparel, Healthcare, and more. Audience expertise includes general consumer and B2B targets as well as specialization in conducting market research with diverse multicultural groups, creators & influencers, children, teens, and young adults/Gen Z. We also have our own COPPA-certified Youth & Family research panel, Panelpolls, and an extensive worldwide partner network.
Data You Can Trust, Backed by Rigorous Quality Control:
As a trusted market research agency, our rigorous, multi-layered quality controls ensure the highest level of data accuracy and reliability. Our expert marketing research team and cutting-edge data quality tools consistently safeguard against emerging threats, providing trusted data for critical decisions. Our market research agency is Data Quality Certified by Imperium and holds the Sentry Certified Quality Seal.
Unmatched Data Security and Privacy Compliance
Our marketing research agency is committed to the highest standards of data security and privacy. We are SOC 2 Type 2 compliant, active participants in the Data Privacy Framework, and our market research services are in compliance with CPRA and GDPR. As an approved market research vendor for some of the world’s largest brands and agencies, you can rest assured that our market research firm will tick all the boxes when it comes to meeting your data security requirements.
Flexible, Full-Service Research Solutions Tailored to Your Needs:
Whether you need qualitative or quantitative research, market research participant recruitment, custom online panels & insight communities, UX studies, or hybrid solutions, our full-service approach is tailored to your needs. Touchstone acts as an extension of your team, delivering research solutions that fit seamlessly into your workflow.
Our Story: From Innovation to Trust
Founded in 1991 by Steve Burch, Touchstone Research was built on the core principles of innovation and excellence. These values are integrated into everything we do. From the beginning, Touchstone has been an early adopter of disruptive technologies, creating custom research methodologies around them. As a tech-driven market research company, we pioneered online surveys with the advent of the internet, mobile surveys with the first iPhone, market research online communities with early bulletin board software, and online focus groups using the first web conferencing technologies. Today, we leverage VR/AR and Generative AI to continue pushing the boundaries of market research.
When our clients need solutions that don’t exist, our innovative market research agency builds them. This includes our proprietary Youth & Family panel (Panelpolls), Secure Content Testing system, and the kid-approved Dial Testing tool, Dial Tester. Our commitment to excellence in service and insights has fueled our growth, and we now have a full-service market research agency with a team of over 40 research experts providing global coverage across quantitative and qualitative research, customer insight communities and online panels, UX research, qualitative recruitment and fieldwork. Clients trust and remain with us not only for our technical expertise, but also for our integrity and adherence to the highest ethical standards, data privacy, and data security.
In ancient times alchemists used a special stone—known as a touchstone—to grade the purities of precious metals such as gold and silver. Similarly, Touchstone Research sets the standard for excellence of work and exceptional customer service in market research.
Our Tech-Driven Market Research Company Milestones
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1991
Founded
Steve Burch launches Touchstone, partnering with early clients like Levi Strauss, Kodak, and Nickelodeon.
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1991
Surveys & Kids Tech Panel
Touchstone begins survey work and launches the first kids’ technology panel.
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1993
First CAPI Survey with Kids
Touchstone conducts first ever CAPI survey with kids.
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1997
Online Surveys
Shift to online survey service offerings.
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1999
Online Panels
Touchstone offers custom proprietary online panel services.
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2003
Kids & Family Panel
Touchstone launches Panelpolls, an online panel comprised of Kids & Parents in the US. Over the years, Touchstone partners with leading youth and family brands such as Nickelodeon, Disney, American Girl, Mattel, Jakks Pacific, Spin Master, Mega Bloks, MTV, and hundreds of other clients, solidifying our expertise in this space.
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2009
Mobile Surveys
Launch of mobile research service offerings begins.
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2009
Insight Communities
Introduction of insight community and community panel offerings.
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2009
Online Focus Groups
Early-stage online focus group services begin with webinar software.
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2010
Social Media Integration
Touchstone develops an app that integrates social media with community platforms.
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2012
iGamelab
Establishment of the first mobile app and beta tester research community tool.
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2012
V-Room
Touchstone launces it’s own online qualitative research suite “VR-Room”.
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2014
Mobile Ethnography App
Rolled out our mobile ethnography app for smartphones & tablets.
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2015
Online International Market Coverage
Expansion of research services to international markets.
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2015
Virtual Reality Research
Touchstone produces groundbreaking report on consumer sentiment and launches consumer insights services for the VR/AR industry.
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2015
Leadership Transition
Aaron Burch becomes president and implements a strategy to pursue tech industry business line.
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2016
COPPA Certified
Panelpolls, by TSR, receives the kidSAFE+ COPPA Seal.
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2017
New Tech Clients
Google and Facebook join Touchstone’s client portfolio.
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2018
GDPR Compliance
Touchstone achieves GDPR compliance.
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2019
SOC2 Type 2 Compliance
Touchstone achieves SOC2 Type 2 Compliance.
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2020
Data Privacy Framework
TSR becomes an active participant in the Data Privacy Framework under the EU-US, Swiss-US, and UK extension of the EU-US frameworks.
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2020
West Coast Expansion
Addition of LA office and west coast research team.
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2020
Secure Content Testing (SCT)
Launch of Secure Content Testing watermarking solution.
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2020
Remote UXR Innovation
Development of new remote UX methods to support clients impacted by COVID-19.
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2021
Top Recognition
Rated the #1 Digital Marketing Research Company of 2021 and among the Top 5 Global Research Companies.
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2022
Quality Control Team
Formation of an internal data quality control team to combat the threat of bots and inattentive respondents in online research studies.
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2022
Imperium Trust Shield Certification
Touchstone receives Imperium’s Trust Shield Certification.
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2023
CIRQ Board
VP and Security Officer, Travis Santa, is selected as Board Chair for the Certification Institute for Research Quality (CIRQ). CIRQ, a subsidiary of the Insights Association, is an ISO (International Organization for Standardization) audit and certification body that certifies to ISO27001 and ISO20252.
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2023
Data Integrity Council
Touchstone joins the Insights Association Data Integrity Initiative (DII) Council.
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2023
Generative AI
Touchstone publishes study results from our study on Gen Z and Generative AI.
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2024
Dial Tester
TSR launches its online dial testing tool Dial Tester for moment-to-moment content insights.
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2024
Sentry Certified
Touchstone receives Sentry Certified Quality seal. A recognition of our dedication to maintaining the highest standards in data quality and integrity.
FAQs: Why Choose a Full-Service Market Research Agency
Here are answers to the most common questions about Touchstone Research and what makes us a trusted partner for leading brands worldwide.
Trusted by Leading Global Brands
Meet Our Team
Our team of 40+ research professionals blends creativity, technical expertise, and deep industry knowledge. As a full-service market research agency, our people are the driving force behind the innovative, tech-driven insights that clients rely on.
Latest Insights from Touchstone Research
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The Complete Guide to Dial Testing: Real-Time Feedback for Smarter Content Decisions
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Building the Best Market Research Tools: Touchstone’s In-House Approach
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Proven Strategies for Building Custom Insight Communities (Live at Quirks NY 2025)
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