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Your partner in decision science

We uncover objective truths through custom quantitative research programs built for impact. Our team blends curiosity, rigor, and advanced methods to help you make smarter, more confident decisions.

Meet the team behind the insights—curious, rigorous, and driven by purpose.

Our values shape how we work—with each other and with every client.

Join our remote-first team and help shape the future of decision science.

Let’s talk through your big questions and figure out the evidence that matters.

How we do research differently

For us, research isn’t about numbers in a spreadsheet—it’s about answering your most important questions with clarity, purpose, and real-world impact.

We begin with the decision you need to make—then design lean, focused research to get you there.

Spotting trends is simple. Uncovering why takes rigor. Our statistical models reveal hidden drivers that turn data into confident action.

AI is powerful, but it can’t replicate lived experience. We use it to streamline our process—not to replace the human responses that are central to our research.

See what insight can do

We believe sharing knowledge is as important as creating it. That’s why we’ve built a library of resources designed to inform, inspire, and empower decision-makers like you.

See how we’ve answered complex questions with research backed insights and creative problem-solving.

Our point of view on what’s happening in research, strategy, and human behavior.

Stay ahead with our regular roundup of fresh ideas, actionable advice, and the stories shaping the future of market research.
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Find the audiences who matter, and know how to reach them.

We help advocacy organizations segment audiences by beliefs, values, and motivations, so you can focus on the right people, with the right messages, at the right time.

Move beyond demographics to target who’s truly persuadable

Demographics tell you who people are. Mindsets tell you how they think. We help you map the values and beliefs that define your issue, so you can focus your energy where persuasion and mobilization are possible (and avoid wasting resources where resistance is entrenched).

Uncover deep-seated values and beliefs
Uncover the moral frameworks, cultural lenses, and identity drivers that shape how people engage with your issue, often below the surface of traditional polling.
Segment audiences by persuasion potential
Distinguish between those who are supportive, movable, conflicted, or firmly opposed so you can match your message strategy to each group’s level of engagement.
Prioritize outreach for maximum impact
Target your efforts where belief shifts are possible, resources are best spent, and mobilization will have the greatest return for your campaign or issue.

The Gradient difference

  • Clarify values and belief dimensions
    We start by identifying the core values, belief systems, and identity factors that drive engagement on your issue, giving you a deeper lens on persuasion potential than standard demographics ever could.
  • Design targeted research
    We build surveys rooted in behavioral and political psychology to capture how people perceive your issue, frame their opinions, and emotionally orient toward change or resistance.
  • Analyze & interpret
    Our team of data scientists and PhD researchers don’t just deliver segments, we interpret what defines them. Our team maps the tensions, motivators, and vulnerabilities across groups, so you know who to persuade, who to mobilize, and who to deprioritize.
  • Activate insights
    You walk away with practical segmentation frameworks that guide message targeting, field organizing, ad buys, and strategic coalition-building; all backed by real audience data.
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Survey methodologies that drive results

Mindset Segmentation

We use a statistical technique that segments audiences based on shared mindsets and motivations, rather than just surface traits. This approach is ideal for handling complex, multi-dimensional issues, making it ideal for clustering audiences based on nuanced beliefs, values, and emotional drivers. With this method, you can:

  • Group like-minded respondents into clear, distinct mindset segments based on how they think and feel (not just their Census characteristics).
  • Outperform traditional clustering methods by avoiding common pitfalls like overfitting or random noise in high-dimensional spaces.
  • Create a lightweight “typing tool” that can assign new respondents to segments using a much smaller set of survey questions; this is ideal for use across future research or campaigns.
 
Semantic Differential Statement Battery

We use paired, alternative statements to reveal how people see your issue across several dimensions. Unlike standard agree/disagree questions, semantic differentials force tradeoffs, helping overcome well-known survey pitfalls like always picking the middle options or saying “yes” to everything. In all, the method:

  • Surfaces clearer, more decisive opinions than typical survey scales.
  • Clusters respondents by underlying values, not just stated preferences. 
  • Helps define the key tensions that shape how audiences engage with your issue.
 
Mindset Appending for Targeting

We can match the mindsets we uncover to voter files or other outreach databases (like donor CRMs), enabling more strategic targeting. This helps your organization deliver the right messages and outreach to the right mindsets. Having a mindsets column readily available:

  • Enhances outreach efforts with values-based targeting.
  • Works across political files or custom contact lists.
  • Helps prioritize outreach to the audiences most likely to engage.
 
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Move beyond demographics. Map the mindsets that matter, and target your strategy accordingly.