Marketing Research’s Past
11/15/23
Norms & Behavior Change, Part 1: When and Why We Conform
In this three-part blog series, one of our resident Psychology experts explains a psychological principle we often leverage to help clients promote behavior change: the power of social norms. Part 1 addresses when and why social norms are so powerful.
By Jane KlingerRead More
1/3/17
Where to next? Election polling and predictions
The accuracy of election polling is still being heavily discussed, and one point that is worth some pondering was made by Allan Lichtman in an NPR interview the day after the election. What he said was this: “Polls are not predictions.” To some extent this is a semantic argument about how you define prediction, but […]
By Beth MulliganRead More
8/26/13
Evolutionary vs. Revolutionary
In a recent blog post I wrote about identifying claims full of hype in market research. This got me thinking about evolutionary vs. revolutionary changes we’ve seen and how most really fall into the former. Perhaps it’s no surprise given that all market research works to the same end (i.e., gaining new knowledge) by largely […]
By David KennedyRead More
3/25/13
Mirror mirror on the wall, what is the least desirable methodology of them all?
GreenBook, a directory of market research firms, conducts and publishes the Research Industry Trends (GRIT) report annually. While perusing the most recent results, I stumbled upon the following finding (techniques respondents would choose in their ideal research company): The top part of the graph showing most desirable research techniques – mobile and online – wasn’t […]
By David KennedyRead More
11/9/12
Unusual Questions Asked in the U.S. Census
Kevin recently taught a class on how to use U.S. Census data, and did a little historical research on census questions. He discovered a few questions asked in the past that may seem a little odd today, though they likely were quite relevant during their particular time period. They’re paraphrased below. 1. 1850 Census – […]
By Kevin RainesRead More
4/20/11
Market research is dead. Long live market research.
Traditional market research is dead. I’ve heard this multiple times in the past and I’m betting you have too. To be fair, traditional market research (often simplified as surveys and focus groups) isn’t without its challenges, but to say it is dead is carving its headstone a little prematurely. So why have so many people […]
By David KennedyRead More