Opposition Research Support: Testing What Voters Will Believe
Opposition research itself — the compilation of an opponent's record — is conducted by investigative researchers. What we provide is the market research layer that makes opposition research strategically useful: testing which vulnerabilities voters find believable, which attack lines generate the desired response, and which might boomerang.
Vulnerability Testing
Not all opponent vulnerabilities are equally persuasive. Vulnerability testing identifies:
- Which vulnerabilities voters rate as most serious
- Which they find believable vs. partisan spin
- Which change vote intention among persuadable voters
- Which vulnerabilities are more effective with specific demographic segments
This prioritisation tells campaigns where to concentrate contrast messaging.
Contrast Message Testing
Effective contrast campaigns define the contrast in terms that make your candidate the natural choice once doubts about the opponent are established. Our contrast message testing evaluates:
- The persuasion impact of different contrast frames
- The optimal sequencing of positive and negative messages
- The implicit comparisons that emerge when voters process opposition advertising
- The threshold at which negative campaigning begins generating backlash
Opposition Perception Tracking
In competitive campaigns, tracking how voters perceive the opponent is as important as tracking your own candidate. We design opposition tracking surveys that monitor:
- Name recognition and favourability trends for opposing candidates
- The uptake of specific vulnerabilities being communicated
- Changes in perceptions of opponent trustworthiness and competence
- How exposure to contrast advertising shifts voter intent
What We Deliver
| Deliverable | Format | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Vulnerability Assessment | Confidential brief on opposition's positioning weaknesses, tested with voters | 4–6 weeks |
| Message Vulnerability Polling | Quantitative test of which lines of attack move voters | 2 weeks |
| Voter Reaction Panels | Qualitative reaction to opposition record and statements | Included |
| Contrast Ad Testing | Pre-flight testing of contrast messaging with persuadable voters | 1 week |
| Rapid Response Playbook | Prepared responses to anticipated opposition attacks | Included |