Boosting Survey Quality in Dropout-Prone Segments

Combining Real-Time Filtering and Synthetic Augmentation to Maintain Data Integrity

Client Situation

A leading FMCG brand was preparing to launch a new health-focused product line aimed at low-income, rural populations across Latin America and Southeast Asia—segments known for low digital literacy, survey fatigue, and high dropout rates. Traditional online panels struggled to maintain respondent engagement, and the client’s previous research vendor had delivered incomplete datasets, riddled with inconsistent and poor-quality answers.

The client approached DataDiggers with one pressing goal:
“We need trustworthy, complete insights—even from hard-to-reach or dropout-prone segments. No shortcuts. No compromised data.”

The Challenge

Targeting dropout-prone segments presents dual risks:

1. High attrition during survey participation, which results in sample gaps.
2. Poor response quality from remaining participants, driven by survey fatigue or insufficient engagement.

Conventional fixes like extending field time or relaxing quality checks only introduced new issues—like increased costs and even more data noise. The client needed a hybrid solution that could preserve quality without compromising representativeness.

DataDiggers' Integrated Solution

DataDiggers designed a two-pronged strategy leveraging the best of both real and synthetic data methodologies.

✅ Phase 1: Real-Time Filtering with Brainactive

Using the Brainactive DIY research platform, we deployed advanced real-time filters and live quality monitoring:

• Smart routing and adaptive logic to personalize question paths and reduce dropout rates
• Live fraud detection via IPQS, reCAPTCHA, digital fingerprinting, GeoIP matching, and deduplication
• AI-driven quality scoring for speeding, straight-lining, and gibberish detection mid-survey
• Panel balancing and refresh every 6 hours using Brainactive’s integration with 250M+ verified profiles worldwide

Result:
38% improvement in completion rates and a 42% reduction in invalid responses during fieldwork—well above industry benchmarks.

🔄 Phase 2: Synthetic Augmentation with Syntheo + Correlix

Despite gains from filtering, coverage gaps still existed for niche respondent groups. To avoid skewed insights, we complemented the dataset using synthetic augmentation via:

• Syntheo’s digital persona engine, simulating credible responses based on behavioral and demographic archetypes drawn from regional data
• Correlix’s statistical modeling, applying pattern-preserving machine learning to augment datasets while ensuring no data duplication or privacy compromise

All synthetic data was clearly flagged, benchmarked against real responses, and used only for exploratory, non-regulatory decision-making—fully in line with ESOMAR and ISO 20252:2019 standards.

Result:
Synthetic augmentation helped close critical gaps in the underrepresented 45–65 rural female demographic without distorting the overall data structure or quality benchmarks.

Key Outcomes

Client Feedback

“What we got from DataDiggers wasn’t just clean data—it was data we could believe in. Their hybrid model made the difference. We now use Brainactive for all our exploratory work in difficult markets.”
— Insights Lead, Global FMCG Company

Why It Worked

At DataDiggers, we understand that quality and completeness are two sides of the same coin in modern market research—especially when working with complex, underrepresented audiences. By fusing Brainactive’s high-integrity respondent sourcing with Syntheo’s persona realism and Correlix’s data science precision, we ensured:

• High-quality input from real people
• Ethical and transparent synthetic supplementation
• Faster, more affordable insights without compromising on trust

Ready to Achieve Better Survey Results in Hard-to-Reach Segments?

DataDiggers delivers actionable, quality-verified insights—whether you need them from verified panelists or intelligently modeled synthetic personas. Explore our suite of solutions:

• Explore Brainactive
• Learn about Syntheo
• Discover Correlix

About DataDiggers

Founded in 2015, DataDiggers is a technology-driven market research agency that empowers smarter decisions through trusted insights. With proprietary panels, strict quality protocols, and cutting-edge platforms like Brainactive, Syntheo, Modeliq, and Correlix, we deliver precision at scale—globally.