Steve Hopkins, a co-founder and principal of Edge Research, has been consulting with corporate, governmental, non-profit, and public affairs clients for the past fifteen years. Always ready for a new challenge, he enjoys working on a wide variety of issues and utilizing a full range of research methods. Whether it’s conjoint analyses for developing new wireless service “bundles,” usability testing for a financial services web site, or an online simulated shelf-test for software products, Steve’s clients benefit from his strong methodological background and expertise, as well as cutting-edge approach to research. “Steve is what you call a ‘research early adopter.’ He’s always the first to try a new technique or technology to answer that once evasive research question,” says his business partner Pam. “I really respect his fearlessness in that arena.”
With hundreds of surveys to his credit, Steve says that he “truly enjoys the art and science of market research because there are always new techniques to learn, which translate to more effective research studies for our clients.” Steve’s research endeavors have taken him to many interesting places around the world. Among others, he has conducted surveys supporting privatization efforts in Bosnia-Herzegovina and economic reforms in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, focus groups related to peace efforts in Northern Ireland, and dial testing of political issues in Brazil.
Steve believes that Edge’s value proposition to their clients is simple: the firm delivers strategic findings, in a timely manner, at a competitive price. “One thing that distinguishes us from other firms is our cost-efficiency,” he explains. “We have very low overhead, which enables us to offer better rates to our clients.” Steve contends that identifying clear objectives up-front is a key component to a successful project. “I want clients to feel that they’ve gotten value for their investment in the research,” he says. “To do that, we need to deliver research guided by clear objectives, the right metholodogy, and actionable analysis based on the data.”
Prior to founding Edge, Steve was a Senior Analyst at two of Washington DC's leading polling firms -- Mellman, Lazarus, Lake and Hickman-Maslin. He also headed his own private consulting business, in which he worked for a wide variety of corporate and political clients, as well as a number of other research firms.
Hopkins has extensive formal training in quantitative and qualitative research. Hopkins frequently delivers research findings and analysis at public forums, seminars and trade conventions. In addition, his writing has been featured in a number of publications, including the American Journal of Public Health. A graduate of the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research with a BA (Political Science) and an MA (Quantitative Political Analysis), Steve had the priviledge of working with leading social scientists in areas ranging from social psychology to political science to public health. Hopkins has continued to supplement his research skills through ongoing educational programs, including advanced statistical techniques and qualitative research methods. He is a member of the American Marketing Association.
