The New Research Architecture with Carol Haney

“Don’t let AI make you stupid” is the warning at the center of this conversation about how research is changing. Carol Haney, Head of Data Science, Statistics & Research at Qualtrics, joins host Niels Schillewaert, Head of Research at Conveo.ai, to discuss whether declining survey response rates signal a temporary dip or a structural shift in market research and CX. They cover practical survey fundamentals (shorter surveys, fewer “kitchen sink” questions, and consistent follow-up on open ends), the rise of ambient listening from call and chat transcripts, and how organizations are blending surveys, social data, and AI into composite metrics. Carol also explains how AI can speed questionnaire design, fielding, and analytics while still requiring strong methodology and critical thinking.

00:00 Stats Meets Agentic AI

00:18 Podcast Intro and Big Question

02:55 Are Surveys Still Relevant

06:29 Fixing Survey Fundamentals

08:15 How Companies Are Adapting

10:28 Business Impact and ROI

14:14 Ambient Listening Explained

16:23 Composite Metrics and Indexing

18:55 Researcher Skills in the AI Era

22:00 Using AI Without Losing Rigor

26:35 Future of Insights Teams

27:55 Key Takeaways and Closing

Insights & Innovators Podcast from MRII | Hosted by The Greenbook Podcast Network

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