Central Michigan University Visits RDA Group

On April 10, at its corporate headquarters in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., RDA Group hosted about 20 students and faculty members from Central Michigan University's School of Marketing.

For the past eight years, Dr. Holt Wilson, a professor of CMU's School of Marketing has selected 20 of his best students to participate in the annual visit to RDA Group. The visit allows students a first-hand opportunity to better understand how market research topics taught in the class room are put to practical use at RDA Group everyday.

The visit began with a one-hour presentation and discussion session. Topics covered included a brief overview of RDA Group, a discussion of a completed project, and advice on market research as career choice.

The highlight of this session was a detailed look at an RDA project, which tied classroom learning with real-life examples. All major steps of a market research project were covered including project quotation, proper understanding of client objectives, survey methodologies, questionnaire design, sample sources, data analysis, conducting focus groups and project lessons learned.

After the presentation, the group took a tour of RDA Group's facilities. During the tour, students not only saw one of the two on-site focus group rooms, at RDA but many of its production areas in action including the mailroom, data collection and call center.

From his note of thanks to RDA Group, Dr. Wilson wrote: “I heard many very positive comments about the morning visit to RDA and personally thought it was one of the best sessions we have had there over all these years. I know that the students get a great deal from these visits so I am especially appreciative that you are willing to take the time from your busy schedules to meet with them.”

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