In several cases researchers who have picked up skills in moderating groups while working for larger research companies have split off on their own to set-up as one person research companies. Such companies usually have one or two continuous clients for whom they function almost as an in-house researcher. The work of actually ringing on doorbells and getting people to come for groups is outsourced to independent field recruiting companies. To be fair, nearly all research companies, big and small, use these independent recruiters. The difference is that bigger companies have enough work to engage recruiters almost exclusively or the clout to ensure that they stick to certain standards.
Smaller companies have no option but to share recruiters.
This is ethically dubious in itself, since they can work for competing clients which threatens the confidentiality of the research, but obviously it also increases the possibility of repeat respondents. Copyright 2000 Times Internet Limited. All rights reserved.