Why Touchstone?

The Touchstone Difference

Innovation & Excellence

Tech-Driven Research Services & Methods:

Founded on the principles of innovation and excellence, Touchstone Research embodies these values in every aspect of our work. We offer a comprehensive suite of next-gen quantitative, qualitative, community, and panel services, alongside proprietary tools like Dial Tester and Secure Content Testing (SCT). We 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:

Our full-service team of over 40 researchers brings extensive expertise across a range of industries and audiences. Industry 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 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:

Touchstone’s rigorous, multi-layered quality control ensures the highest level of data accuracy and reliability. Our expert team and cutting-edge tools consistently safeguard against emerging threats, providing trusted data for critical decisions. Touchstone is Data Quality Certified by Imperium and holds the Sentry Certified Quality Seal.

Unmatched Data Security and Privacy Compliance:

Touchstone 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 research services are in compliance with CPRA and GDPR. As an approved vendor for some of the world’s largest brands and agencies, you can rest assured that Touchstone will tick all the boxes when it comes to meeting your data security requirements.

Flexible, Full-Service Research Solutions Tailored to Your Needs:

Touchstone provides a range of full and flexible service, qualitative, quantitative, hybrid, community & panel, and custom research service programs depending on your specific needs and objectives. We serve as an extension of your team and fit in exactly where you need us.

Our Story

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 methodologies around them. We pioneered online surveys with the advent of the internet, mobile surveys with the first iPhone, 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, we build them. This includes our proprietary Youth & Family panel (Panelpolls), Secure Content Testing system, and the kid-approved Dial Tester tool. Our commitment to excellence in service and insights has fueled our growth, and we now have a team of over 40 research experts providing global coverage across quantitative and qualitative research, communities and panels, UX, and fieldwork and recruitment. 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.

  • 1991

    Founded

    Steve Burch launches Touchstone, partnering with early clients like Levi Strauss, Kodak, and Nickelodeon.

  • 1991

    Surveys & Kids Tech Panel

    Touchstone begins survey work and launches the first kids’ technology panel.

  • 1993

    First CAPI Survey with Kids

    Touchstone conducts first ever CAPI survey with kids.

  • 1997

    Online Surveys

    Shift to online survey service offerings.

  • 1999

    Online Panels

    Touchstone offers custom proprietary online panel services.

  • 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.

  • 2009

    Mobile Surveys

    Launch of mobile research service offerings begins.

  • 2009

    Insight Communities

    Introduction of insight community and community panel offerings.

  • 2009

    Online Focus Groups

    Early-stage online focus group services begin with webinar software.

  • 2010

    Social Media Integration

    Touchstone develops an app that integrates social media with community platforms.

  • 2012

    iGamelab

    Establishment of the first mobile app and beta tester research community tool.

  • 2012

    V-Room

    Touchstone launces it’s own online qualitative research suite “VR-Room”.

  • 2014

    Mobile Ethnography App

    Rolled out our mobile ethnography app for smartphones & tablets.

  • 2015

    Online International Market Coverage

    Expansion of research services to international markets.

  • 2015

    Virtual Reality Research

    Touchstone produces groundbreaking report on consumer sentiment and launches consumer insights services for the VR/AR industry.

  • 2015

    Leadership Transition

    Aaron Burch becomes president and implements a strategy to pursue tech industry business line.

  • 2016

    COPPA Certified

    Panelpolls, by TSR, receives the kidSAFE+ COPPA Seal.

  • 2017

    New Tech Clients

    Google and Facebook join Touchstone’s client portfolio.

  • 2018

    GDPR Compliance

    Touchstone achieves GDPR compliance.

  • 2019

    SOC2 Type 2 Compliance

    Touchstone achieves SOC2 Type 2 Compliance.

  • 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.

  • 2020

    West Coast Expansion

    Addition of LA office and west coast research team.

  • 2020

    Secure Content Testing (SCT)

    Launch of Secure Content Testing watermarking solution.

  • 2020

    Remote UXR Innovation

    Development of new remote UX methods to support clients impacted by COVID-19.

  • 2021

    Top Recognition

    Rated the #1 Digital Marketing Research Company of 2021 and among the Top 5 Global Research Companies.

  • 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.

  • 2022

    Imperium Trust Shield Certification

    Touchstone receives Imperium’s Trust Shield Certification.

  • 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.

  • 2023

    Data Integrity Council

    Touchstone joins the Insights Association Data Integrity Initiative (DII) Council.

  • 2023

    Generative AI

    Touchstone publishes study results from our study on Gen Z and Generative AI.

  • 2024

    Dial Tester

    TSR launches its online dial testing tool Dial Tester for moment-to-moment content insights.

  • 2024

    Sentry Certified

    Touchstone receives Sentry Certified Quality seal. A recognition of our dedication to maintaining the highest standards in data quality and integrity.

Trusted by Top Global Brands

Kroger
Google
Nick
M TV
Strottman
Wendys
ESPN
YouTube
Sony
Paramount
Cotton
Columbia University
Nice Pak
Sirius XM
Pluto TV
Compassion
Go Health
Carnival
Calm
Sling
Meta
Zearn
Mattel
Good to Grow
Disney
The wonderful company
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Great Minds
Harvard University
Sesame Workshop
The Goliath Group
indeed

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