GreenBook Market Research Newsletter

White Paper: 7 Reasons You Need Predictive Analytics

IBM — 16 May 2012 20:56:52 GMT

Download this white paper today and discover how you can gain strategic insights about your customers, integrate social data and text analytics, achieve greater relevancy by way of more precisely targeted marketing, and more.

Top 10 #MRX Stories on Twitter: MR Roles Are Changing

Jeffrey Henning — 16 May 2012 20:54:23 GMT

Of the 1,280 unique links shared on the Twitter #MRX community in the past two weeks, here are the top 10 most retweeted.

Mobile – Facebook and Google Can't Live With or Without It

Keith Teare — 16 May 2012 20:54:22 GMT

Facebook and Google will most likely, by building or buying, evolve their monetization strategies to better suit the mobile future. It may take time, it may be painful, and they may even fail. But, when it comes to mobile – they can't live with it, and they surely can't live without it.

TMRTE: Showcasing the New PGA of Market Research

Tony Cosentino — 16 May 2012 20:54:22 GMT

What does this year's PGA Tour and IIR's The Market Research "Technology" Event have in common? Instead of the diversity of new golfers, our industry is seeing a wide breadth of new technologies, techniques and companies that are challenging the status quo.

New Brazilian Passion is an Opportunity for Market Research

Adriana Rocha — 16 May 2012 20:54:21 GMT

Brazil recently surpassed India and has become the 2nd biggest country on Facebook! But in addition to the social media phenomenon, there is another big movement happening in the country that will surely vie for our attention as researchers: the fast growth of the Brazilian smartphone market.

GRIT Report Reveals Suppliers Less Bullish on the Future

Adam di Paula — 16 May 2012 20:54:21 GMT

The latest GreenBook Research Industry Trends Report (GRIT) suggests that many research suppliers are not always 'on side' with a vision of the future filled with endless possibilities. And they continue to feel the pressure to serve two masters that are hard to please at the same time—quality and speed.

Tips for Getting "Real World" Insights with Mobile Qualitative

Betsy Leichliter — 16 May 2012 20:54:21 GMT

Get practical tips from two recent projects: One involved using smartphone-generated videos and online discussion boards to observe the evolution of painting projects in the home. The other used smartphones to share two weeks of snack-related experiences with moms and their kids.

How Myths Are Formed: The Law of Small Numbers & MR

Neal Cole — 16 May 2012 20:54:20 GMT

Much of the attention given to Daniel Kahneman's book "Thinking, fast and slow" has been about how people make decisions and the implications for models of consumer behavior. However, the book also points out that researchers have their own bias – the law of small numbers! Is this bias to blame for many modern day myths?

Free IBM white paper: Text Analytics Made Easy … See how

3 May 2012 16:16:08 GMT

Tired of reading, recording and manually coding the text responses to your surveys? Discover how to make open-end text analysis easier and more efficient. Download the white paper Gaining Full Value from Survey Text now.

The CEO Series: Waleed Al-Atraqchi of Affinnova

Leonard Murphy — 3 May 2012 16:09:20 GMT

The CEO of Affinova explains how a company specialized in optimizing innovation takes their own medicine, what it takes to reconcile great discipline with being nimble, and how a smart human capital strategy can make a whole lot of a difference.

Let's Start Treating Survey Respondents as People

Ben Leet — 3 May 2012 16:09:19 GMT

People have a life outside of taking online surveys and the industry is losing sight of this, maybe because there is no telephone or face-to-face contact with the respondent, argues Ben Leet. As online panel providers refer to people as "assets", "sources", "panelists", or "traffic", he's calling on the industry to re-focus.

Why Recall Must Die: Capturing the Point of Emotion

Andrew Jeavons — 3 May 2012 16:09:19 GMT

Most market researchers give little or no thought to their reliance on recall, and in so doing they fail to challenge themselves to better understand respondents. Read this excellent summation of how technology and neuropsychology are combining to revolutionize the process as well as the promise of market research.

Biasing Your Research by the Act of Doing Research

Ron Sellers — 3 May 2012 16:09:19 GMT

Longitudinal studies can influence how people respond to your questions simply by the fact that you have researched them before. Ron Sellers writes about the inherent dangers of bias in longitudinal research, raising questions about panels and communities as well.

What Facebook's Instagram Acquisition Means for MR

Allan Fromen — 3 May 2012 16:09:18 GMT

The future belongs to those who can figure out how to accurately measure digital, mobile and social, in addition to the traditional media. The companies that come out with breakthrough methodologies and brand frameworks suitable for the times we are living in will reap the benefits.

Linking Insights to Marketing Strategy! A Client Perspective

Neal Cole — 3 May 2012 16:09:18 GMT

Client-side researchers are being asked to justify the value of research insights and explain what decisions have been driven by research. To ensure insights are linked to strategy and decision making, the client-side researcher should integrate Action Planning into the research process.

RESOURCE: New Qualitative Research Methods & Tools

18 Apr 2012 17:06:07 GMT

Second Edition | Spring 2012 | in PRINT and ONLINE

USER GUIDE: Understand the pros and cons of new qual research methods and how to choose among them.

DIRECTORY of Platforms: Learn everything about the latest new qual research software, tools, and applications.

DIRECTORY of Providers: Find new qual research firms and consultants.

NewQual BLOG: Get original insight and learn best practices from new qual leading practitioners.

Top 10 #MRX Stories on Twitter: Agog Over Google's MRX Play

Jeffrey Henning — 18 Apr 2012 16:40:12 GMT

Of the 1,500 links shared on the Twitter #MRX community in the past two weeks, here are the top 10 most retweeted.

The CEO Series: Interview with Richard Owen of Satmetrix

Dana Stanley — 18 Apr 2012 16:40:12 GMT

Regardless of your opinion on Net Promoter Score, there is no denying that it is a widely used metric and Satmetrix is certainly one of the leaders in that field who recently announced development of a "social NPS". Anyone who is interested in the forefront of VOC research should read this interview.

The Upside of Autism

Jonah Lehrer — 18 Apr 2012 16:40:12 GMT

For too long, we've assumed that there is a single template for human nature, which is why we diagnose most deviations as disorders. But the reality is that there are many different kinds of minds. And that's a very good thing.

Framing the World of Predictive Analytics

Tony Cosentino — 18 Apr 2012 16:40:11 GMT

Tony Cosentino gives a bird's eye view of the sector by describing the three types of predictive analytics (Business Operations and Financial; Industry Specific; Customer Behavior and Marketing) and the three types of companies (Plumbing/Web-Analytics; Marketing/Sales Analytics Software; Services pure plays, Analytics pure plays, and SaaS enabled analytics firms).

10 Use Cases for Geolocation in Market Research

Dana Stanley — 18 Apr 2012 16:40:11 GMT

Not sure about geolocation and market research? Coming from the 2012 Where Conference on location and mobile technology, Dana Stanley throws out ten interesting ideas for how it can and/or could be used (assuming the respondent's consent).

Google Consumer Surveys and Disintermediation: A Client Perspective

Jason Anderson — 18 Apr 2012 16:40:10 GMT

Jason Anderson argues that Google Consumer Surveys accomplishes what we've known we should be doing but had neither the resources nor motivation to pursue. He thinks that Google has disintermediated all of us in the MR industry.

How Social Media, Localization, & Mobile are Redefining MR]

Moderated by Leonard Murphy — 18 Apr 2012 16:40:10 GMT

[FULL webinar transcript] Learn about the impact of mobile, local, and social convergence on marketing and insight generation from Charlie Rader (P&G), Steve Rappaport (ARF), and Andrew Jeavons (Survey Analytics). This is a long one, but it is full of great insight and thought leadership and is well worth the time to read.

Top 10 #MRX Stories on Twitter: MR, Big Data & Big Data's Big Daddy

Jeffrey Henning — 4 Apr 2012 14:44:14 GMT

Of the 1,300 links shared on the Twitter #MRX community the past week, here are the 10 most retweeted: Key takeaways from Re:think 2012 / Google Consumer Surveys (of course) / Are we ready for Big Data? (and how it can trick you) / Improving focus groups.

Is Market Research Ready for Big Data?

Ray Poynter — 4 Apr 2012 14:44:13 GMT

50% of the revenue that is currently called market research comes from activities that do not relate to asking respondents questions. This 50% is the leading edge of the the Big Data transformation that is about to wash over marketing, market research, business information, CRM, governments, and citizens.

Behavioral Economics: the Kylie Minogue of Market Research

Leigh Caldwell — 4 Apr 2012 14:44:13 GMT

Behavioral economics, and the cognitive theories that underpin it, gives us insight into how people interpret the world, what people want, and the actions people take in response. It invalidates traditional methods of market research and marketing clichés – but only once it is taken seriously.

Researchers Should Be More like "Advertising Planners"

Edward Appleton — 4 Apr 2012 14:44:12 GMT

Conceptual intelligence, the ability to think laterally, link different aspects together – these are some of the hallmarks of great thinking. Great planners working in Communication Agencies would pride themselves on these kinds of abilities. Can research offer this?

Building Your Insights Community? What to Expect from Platforms

Dana Slaughter — 4 Apr 2012 14:44:12 GMT

Licensable community platforms allow any research consultant to create their own online insights community. Dana Slaughter took time out to get demos and trial boards for several of them. Excited by the innovation she witnessed, Dana describes the big trends and their implications for researchers.

Big Data: Opportunity or Threat for Market Research?

Diane Liebenson — 4 Apr 2012 14:44:12 GMT

We are drowning in data, and tweets, posts and video are not the structured data that fits well into relational databases. As a result, big data requires a new way of thinking about how to store and analyze data to accommodate these new realities and turn insights into actionable decisions.

Google Makes Their Market Research Play: Now What?

Leonard Murphy — 4 Apr 2012 14:44:11 GMT

The announcement that Google had launched a formal market research offering sent shock waves through the industry. What was surprising wasn't that they did it but how well thought out the offering was. Is there a silver lining in this apparently oh so dark cloud? Lenny Murphy thinks there is.

Free IBM white paper: Gaining Full Value from Survey Text

IBM — 4 Apr 2012 14:44:11 GMT

Learn how you can quickly and easily analyze open-ended survey text responses – including how to recode open-end responses, produce consistent results and reports and reuse previous projects to automatically recode new surveys.

Top 10 #MRX Stories on Twitter: Market Research Is Disparaged, Outlawed & Dead

Jeffrey Henning — 4 Apr 2012 14:44:10 GMT

Stay on top of what the market researchers are saying on Twitter. Of the 1,308 links shared on the #MRX Twitter community in the past 2 weeks, here are the 10 most retweeted.

Escaping the Commoditization Trap

Chris Dowsett — 4 Apr 2012 14:44:10 GMT

Two years ago, Volkswagen's insights manager summed up market research as "inadequate, reactive and out of touch". A year later former GSK marketing director said agencies were too focused on tools and methodology to provide companies with the help needed to make big business decisions. What can we do to avoid the commoditization trap?

The Impact of Digital on Growth Strategies: What the CMOs Say

Simon Falconer — 4 Apr 2012 14:44:09 GMT

Do we pay enough attention to our clients' businesses to understand how their broader objectives relate to the work we are developing for them? From a series of interviews with international CMOs, we sought to understand the role of digital in growing businesses. Here's how we see the current trends, the challenges they throw out, and from those challenges, three imperatives.

Biased Research, No Matter What the Methodology]

Ron Sellers — 4 Apr 2012 14:44:09 GMT

In a world where any methodology choice can introduce some bias to your data, it's imperative to understand how your findings may skew. Understanding what that skew is likely to be, and what you can and cannot hope to measure accurately as a result, is part of being a good researcher in today's world.

Lessons from Thinking, Fast & Slow - System 1 and System 2

Rajan Sambandam — 4 Apr 2012 14:44:09 GMT

Much of conventional market research assumes that decision-making is done only by System 2 (rational) and that too with little input from System 1 (emotional). Using behavioral economics, Kahneman shows that that is not the case - researchers would be well advised to take note.

The 50 Most Innovative Companies in Market Research (GRIT 2012)

Leonard Murphy — 4 Apr 2012 14:44:08 GMT

Here are the Top 50 firms submitted by GRIT respondents as the most innovative in the industry. The goal is to glean insight on the drivers of perception around what makes a firm innovative. How can MR firms leverage this idea of "innovation" to grow their businesses?

Now Available: GreenBook Research Industry Trends Report | Spring 2012

Leonard Murphy — 4 Apr 2012 14:44:08 GMT

The GreenBook Research Industry Trends Report for Spring 2012 is now available! What will our industry look like in 3-5 years? Will we even recognize it as market research? An outline of the future is emerging, and we can make some highly educated projections.

EVENT: The Research Club

13 Mar 2012 14:00:34 GMT

Join us for a networking reception on Sunday, March 25 in New York!

Come & meet with like-minded research professionals. The evening begins with complimentary drinks & snacks.

Top 10 #MRX Stories on Twitter: Hashtag Halo: Social Media Research in Context

Jeffrey Henning — 13 Mar 2012 14:00:33 GMT

Stay on top of what the market researchers are saying on Twitter. Among other trending stories, Ben Leet of uSamp reflects on his own recent angry tweet about a train voyage, and what it might mean for social media market research in general.

Evolution of Advertising Design versus Survey Design

Jon Puleston — 13 Mar 2012 14:00:33 GMT

Designing surveys is without doubt a creative process similar in many ways to other creative commercial art forms like advertising and presentation design. With great visual examples, Jon Puleston argues that there is something our industry can learn from looking at the evolution of these other creative processes.

Market Research Gets Dissed at the 84th Academy Awards!

Kevin Lonnie — 13 Mar 2012 14:00:32 GMT

In the midst of the largely forgettable 84th Academy Awards, there was a skit based on the idea of a 1939 focus group for "The Wizard of Oz". As he watched the piece, Kevin Lonnie tried to decipher the writer's intent which he thinks was to slam the idea of common folk aiding the creative process.

Honesty of Responses: The 7 Factors at Play

Jon Puleston — 13 Mar 2012 14:00:32 GMT

We have witnessed questions where up to 30% or respondents show signs of untruthfulness based upon the context, type of questions, respondent, etc. Although the reasons for this are complicated, it is possible to identify the driving factors that determine the level of authenticity to an answer someone may give.

The Insights Supplier: Organizing for Success

Tony Cosentino — 13 Mar 2012 14:00:32 GMT

It's hard to put forth a one-size-fits-all model to address the different types of suppliers. Instead, Tony Cosentino attempted to set out some general models and go-to-market approaches based on the firm's specific market offer.

Access Panel Recruitment: The Real Dirty Secret?

Laura Davies — 13 Mar 2012 14:00:31 GMT

There is a little discussed reason for why some panel owners treat respondents like a commodity: The rising costs of online lead generation programs. The range of affordable online recruiting sources for panels is narrowing while the pressure to re-claim the recruitment cost is increasing.

Harvard Business Review – What do Opinion Leaders Think of MR?

Edward Appleton — 13 Mar 2012 14:00:31 GMT

Do we need to worry about our reputation of the market research industry? I would give a resounding "Yes" as an answer. Two recent examples from the Harvard Business Review reinforce this belief.

Top 10 #MRX Stories on Twitter: In Other News, Social Networks Like to Talk about Social Networks

Jeffrey Henning — 24 Feb 2012 14:59:09 GMT

Stay on top of what the market researchers are saying, commenting on, and sharing on Twitter. Of the 1,612 unique links shared by the Twitter market research community over the past two weeks, here are the top ten most retweeted.

Researchers, Let's Take a Long Hard Look at Our Own Decisions

Tom Ewing — 24 Feb 2012 14:59:08 GMT

Researchers like to think they provide cool-headed support for tough decisions. In fact, we're subject to the same quirks and weaknesses as the people we study, says BrainJuicer's digital culture officer Tom Ewing.

Is Gamification an Option or a Requirement?

Adriana Rocha — 24 Feb 2012 14:59:08 GMT

Gamification has become a buzzword for a reason; its adoption is critical for companies wanting to better understand and engage with the new generations, the ones who are fast becoming the main workforce and consumer power of the future.

Where Does All the Capital Funding Go?

Simon Chadwick — 24 Feb 2012 14:59:08 GMT

[Results of the 2011 Cambiar Capital Funding Index] Looking to start up your next enterprise? Not sure how to attract funding? Here are a few clues: you should be based in the United States; your product should have something to do with social media; and the word "analytics" should appear liberally in your business plan.

Counteracting the Dirty Little Secrets of Online Panels

Ron Sellers — 24 Feb 2012 14:59:07 GMT

There are some really, really bad panels out there. The question is how we can as researchers navigate these treacherous waters? In short, what can we do to avoid these bad panels and practices?

How Social Media Reach Translates Into Offline Opportunity

Leonard Murphy — 24 Feb 2012 14:59:07 GMT

Social media reach and influence translate into brand equity. As Lenny Murphy has become increasingly aware of his own journey through the social media landscape, he realized that companies can use a similar model to build their own brands and compete effectively against far larger organizations. Here's how it works.

What Emerging Research Techniques Will Be Used in 2012?

Leonard Murphy — 24 Feb 2012 14:59:06 GMT

[GRIT Sneak Peek] The research industry is bullish about new methods, with MROCs, social media research, mobile, and text analytics leading the adoption curve with major growth expected across all four techniques. If these projections come to pass, 2012 won't be a tipping point; it will be an avalanche of change.

WEBINAR: Where is Social Research Headed?

Netbase — 9 Feb 2012 16:15:45 GMT

February 15, 2pm EST Jump into the Online Debate with Ray Poynter, Tom Anderson, and Leonard Murphy.Register now.

Top 10 #MRX Stories on Twitter: Fun & Gamification in a Social Media World

Jeffrey Henning — 9 Feb 2012 16:11:11 GMT

Stay on top of what the market researchers are saying, commenting on, and sharing on Twitter. Of the 1,427 unique links shared by the Twitter market research community over the past two weeks, here are the top ten most retweeted.

Five Emerging Roles That Are Changing the Face of Market Research

Job Muscroft — 9 Feb 2012 16:11:10 GMT

Job Muscroft of Face profiles five emerging roles within MRX agencies with distinctive new skills sets: Technologist, Community Manager, Social Media Researcher, Co-creation Consultant, and Big Data Scientist.

Emotions & Authenticity Matter in More Ways than One

Tiffany McNeil — 9 Feb 2012 16:11:08 GMT

Emotions have a dramatic influence in the workplace. Tiffany McNeil argues that the empathy for our partners and colleagues and the passion for our projects is exactly what make us good at our jobs. And if we're not seriously disappointed by bad news, we don't get to be seriously elated by the good.

A Net Gain of Market Research Augmentation

Leonard Murphy — 9 Feb 2012 16:11:08 GMT

The current transition of the MR industry is based on augmentation vs. wholesale adoption: One of the only viable paths existing MR firms have is to craft hybrid approaches that marry the best of traditional techniques with the newer stuff such as social media analytics, mobile methods, biometrics, and communities.

The CEO Series: An Interview with Kristin Luck of Decipher

Leonard Murphy — 9 Feb 2012 16:11:08 GMT

Continuing a series of interviews with CEOs of companies that are shaping the future of market research, Lenny Murphy spoke with Kristin Luck about mobile research, the challenge of staying on top of new technologies, demand for end-to-end solutions, big ideas to focus on in 2012, and much more.

FREE White Paper: The How's and Why's of Survey Research

IBM — 9 Feb 2012 16:11:07 GMT

This white paper discusses survey research by breaking it up into a seven step process – and clearly detailing how you can maximize your efforts every step of the way. Get the white paper now.

Advice to the Insights Supplier: Choosing a Direction

Tony Cosentino — 9 Feb 2012 16:11:07 GMT

Given the changes in the market insights industry, the traditional supplier will need to move upstream into a strategic role, develop and sell a niche software, become the low-cost provider, or abandon the business altogether.

More Dirty Little Secrets of Online Panel Research

Ron Sellers — 9 Feb 2012 16:11:06 GMT

Grey Matter Research ran a little test in 2009 on a few panels the company had used or was considering. The result was a report that burned up Twitter feeds, generated unprecedented number of LinkedIn comments, and was requested by researchers from all over the world. They've just done it again.

Top 10 #MRX Stories on Twitter: Top Articles, Agencies, and Tips

Jeffrey Henning — 25 Jan 2012 15:21:11 GMT

Stay on top of what the market researchers are saying on Twitter. Of the 1,432 unique links shared by the Twitter #MRX community over the past two weeks, here are the top ten most retweeted.

The Good, Bad and Ugly of Customer Satisfaction Surveys

Kimberly Nasief — 25 Jan 2012 15:21:08 GMT

Are customer satisfaction surveys always beneficial? As a part of her guerilla research, Kimberly Nasief investigated the surveys that customers are asked to complete and as a result compiled a list of problems with the process by which many surveys are deployed.

What CES Reveals About the Future of Market Research

Greg Heist — 25 Jan 2012 15:21:07 GMT

The 2012 Consumer Electronics Show spotlighted a trend relevant for the future of market research. It pointed to a "ubiquity of connectedness" – that is, a future in which consumers are "connected" not only via their smart devices, but their televisions, home appliances, and of course, their vehicles.

EVENT: Market Research in the Mobile World

Merlien — 25 Jan 2012 15:21:07 GMT

EUROPE: April 18-19, Amsterdam | NORTH AMERICA: July 18-19, Cincinnati

Ride the innovation wave. Exciting and invigorating program in a uniquely open and collaborative atmosphere. Register early and SAVE

Produced by Merlien Institute and GreenBook

Smart Research Hiring Pays Big Dividends

Beth Rounds & Lock Collins — 25 Jan 2012 15:21:06 GMT

Are market research executives really embracing this "New Talent for a New Age" concept? Beth Rounds asks Lock Collins, Cambiar's Human Resources Practice Leader to weigh in on the topic. Lock explains who is being hired (and how) and offers recommendations for improving the hiring success rate.

Can Market Researchers Afford to be Perfectionists?

Edward Appleton — 25 Jan 2012 15:21:06 GMT

Exploring the 80/20 mentality of many corporate clients, Edward Appleton weights in on whether researchers are neglecting their methodological rigor at their own peril, opening themselves to attack from all angles.

2012 Through the Lens of Client Needs

Andrew Needham — 25 Jan 2012 15:21:05 GMT

Technology is changing faster than consumers. Consumers are changing faster than organizations. Research firms need to meet client needs by moving from big data to big insight, increasing speed while maintaining quality, adding magic to logic, creating content excellence, and applying new measurement models.

Top 10 Most Innovative Market Research Firms of 2011

Leonard Murphy — 25 Jan 2012 15:21:05 GMT

Based on the latest GRIT survey, Lenny Murphy shows the top 10 market research firms perceived to be most innovative, complete with breakdown by client/supplier and tenure, their previous ranking information and indication of change from 2010.

MARKET RESEARCH TRAINING: Online Research Methods for 2012

Research Rockstar — 11 Jan 2012 14:39:01 GMT

4-week program designed for anyone who wants practical information and tips on newer methodologies. Includes real-world examples and real-time demonstrations on methods such as social media research, single question polls, crowdsourcing, and new online survey tools.

This class starts January 19th, and meets in the virtual classroom for four consecutive Thursdays at 1:00 EST. Cost is $719 per student and includes 5 hours of class time.

Get details here.

The class is taught by Research Rockstar founder Kathryn Korostoff.

Top 10 #MRX Stories: Looking Backward, Looking Forward

Jeffrey Henning — 11 Jan 2012 14:36:26 GMT

Many researchers writing for the press and the blogosphere these past few weeks drew their inspiration from Janus, the two-faced god who looks to the future and the past (and whose name is enshrined in January). Here are the Top 10 most retweeted stories of the past two weeks by the #MRX community.

Words to Live by in 2012 – Hopes and Expectations

Research Live — 11 Jan 2012 14:36:26 GMT

Research Live asked research industry figures to sum up their hopes and expectations for the year ahead in a single word. The results are both familiar and unexpected: bravery, accessibility, discrimination, respect, fusion; among others.

Market Research CEO's Predictions on What 2012 Has in Store

Tom Anderson — 11 Jan 2012 14:36:25 GMT

Dozens of market research CEOs responded to Tom Anderson's call for predictions for 2012. Read contributions from the CEOs of companies like Kantar, Vision Critical, InsightExpress, Authentic Response, Decipher, Visionslive, Communispace, Itracks, uSamp, Insites Consulting, and many other firms.

Is Eye-Tracking Making us Blind and Other Research Maladies

Steve Needel — 11 Jan 2012 14:36:25 GMT

Is eye-tracking making us blind? Has neuroscience made us stupid and have micro-expressions made us heartless? While getting lots of buzz, Steve Needel is not sure that these research tools and techniques are what we think they are and thinks they are often not what they purport to be.

What's the Difference between Consumer Insights and Market Research?

Edward Appleton — 11 Jan 2012 14:36:24 GMT

There's been a lot of discussion recently about how best to describe our industry – are we market researchers, marketing researchers, insight experts? Is there a real difference between Insights and Research? Edward Appleton has an opinion.

The Future of Online Research: ENgaging and ACTivating Stakeholders

Niels Schillewaert — 11 Jan 2012 14:36:24 GMT

While being commoditized for clients, it is time for market research to bring the consumer into the boardroom. To create 'closeness to consumer' market researchers need to work on three things: creative intelligence generation, research as conversation starter, and management responsiveness.

Will 2012 Be the End of the (MR) World as We Know It?

Leonard Murphy — 11 Jan 2012 14:36:24 GMT

2012 will see more massive and profound shifts within the market research industry. Lenny Murphy shares his widely-shared predictions - including the rise of qualitative, growth of big data, going glocal, brands walking their talk, measuring feeling, who's gobbling up data collection, and much more.

Free Resources for Researchers in 2011 by GreenBook:

5 Jan 2012 17:56:44 GMT

GRIT Report Spring 2011

GRIT Report Fall 2011

Mobilizing Market Research

New Qualitative Methods & Tools

Facebook for Focus Groups? 7 Reasons Why Perhaps Not

Dorrie Paynter — 5 Jan 2012 17:52:58 GMT

Will Facebook replace research-oriented platforms for asynchronous discussions with groups of pre-recruited participants? While nice in theory, here are 7 reasons why using Facebook for research is not yet on par with research-specific platforms.

Research Transformation: 3 Companies That Are Getting It Right

Leonard Murphy — 5 Jan 2012 17:52:58 GMT

Meet Join the Dots, Motista, and Decooda. Each of these three start-ups is pioneering an innovative new model that is a great example of where market research/strategic business intelligence is moving towards.

Innovation and the 2010 Honomichl 50

Leonard Murphy — 5 Jan 2012 17:52:58 GMT

The 2010 Honomichl Top 50 Report contrasted with the GRIT Top 50 Innovative firms to help understand innovation as a driver of revenue growth.

Debate on Validity of Smartphone Research - Proven or Not?

Leonard Murphy — 5 Jan 2012 17:52:58 GMT

Ray Poynter responded to the press release by Gongos Research regarding the results of a new study they conducted on the validity of smartphone research. Dr. Michael Alioto, the principal author of the report came back with a reply. Here are both sides.

A Client's View: Wish List for Research Agencies

Edward Appleton — 5 Jan 2012 17:52:58 GMT

Edward Appleton offers a personal wish list of what he as a client-side manager looks for from his research vendors. He brings a unique perspective as a progressive and forward looking research professional. Edward's post is followed by a number of thoughtful comments.

Why Market Research Doesn't Need Protectionism

Andrew Jeavons — 5 Jan 2012 17:52:57 GMT

There is a lot of noise about 'DIY research', most of it seems to be about how it is a 'threat' or is somehow wrong. Neither of these is true, unless you want the world to stay the way it is. Progress is always going on, and to decry something for which there is a need is simply not going to work. MR has to embrace change. You can't stop the future.

5 Companies That Are Disrupting Market Research

Leonard Murphy — 5 Jan 2012 17:52:57 GMT

Lately there have been several high profile new entrants into the "insights" business, some of them from outside of the traditional market research industry. Examples range from major global companies to start-ups. It all adds up to a disruption of the market research industry that is simply unprecedented.

8 Things I Would Do if I Were a Market Research Company

Jason Anderson — 5 Jan 2012 17:52:57 GMT

I asked myself "what would I do if I were in a research vendor's shoes." I don't envy them, nor would I look forward to the many inevitable changes in strategy. However, as their customer, I would like very much for them to stay in business and to offer the right value proposition. Here's where to start.

Research Companies Perceived to Be Most Innovative by Clients

Leonard Murphy — 5 Jan 2012 17:52:56 GMT

As part of the last round of the GRIT Study we asked respondents to name the companies they consider to be the most innovative. The result was a list of 50 market research firms. Here's a table that shows absolute rank, total mentions, and mentions broken down by suppliers and clients.

Top 20 #MRX Stories of the Year

Jeffrey Henning — 14 Dec 2011 18:36:00 GMT

Stay on top of what the market researchers are saying on Twitter. Here are the top 20 stories discussed on the Twitter #MRX community in 2011, based on the number of unique retweets received in their first week.

Do We Really Need Behavioral Economics?

Brandon Ellse — 14 Dec 2011 18:35:59 GMT

Countless studies have shown that people regularly and predictably act irrationally. But what does that really mean for market researchers? Brandon Ellse argues that we need to start looking at the importance of context and the degree to which it adds value to insights.

Reflecting on the Reality of Research: Interview with Orlando Wood

Leonard Murphy — 14 Dec 2011 18:35:59 GMT

Leonard Murphy conducts a provocative interview with Orlando Wood, Managing Director of BrainJuicer Lab on the role of behavioral economics and emotional measurement in the changing research paradigm.

FREE IBM SURVEY TIPS: A Guide to Help Plan, Develop and Execute Surveys

IBM — 14 Dec 2011 18:35:59 GMT

Download the Survey Tips Guide and keep it by your side during the survey process to help save money, execute your survey in a timely manner, and receive the highest response rate and most useful results. Get it now!

Compelling Presentations Are Critical: Using Word Clouds

Edward Appleton — 14 Dec 2011 18:35:58 GMT

There are pressures on both supplier and client side that work against crafting a careful, visually compelling final narrative and presentation. But going the extra visual yard is extremely valuable, as it's often the only part of the iceberg that internal clients and other stakeholders see.

1,000,000 Apps: Yes, 2011 Was the Mobile Tipping Point

Leonard Murphy — 14 Dec 2011 18:35:58 GMT

Despite reaching milestones such as ubiquity of mobile coverage, high levels of smartphone penetration and seeing 1,000,000 apps in the marketplace, some still believe that the mobile revolution is an isolated event, not an evolutionary leap. This post puts these arguments to rest and proves that 2011 was the tipping point.

Does (Panel) Size Matter?

Leonard Murphy — 14 Dec 2011 18:35:57 GMT

Sample companies market themselves according to panel size, quality of respondent data, variety of traffic sources, and customer service. We announce the size of our panels to show scale, and to impress clients. It's how the industry has defined success; however another metric should be considered: traffic.

The 7 BS Stories of the Market Research Business

Jason Anderson — 14 Dec 2011 18:35:57 GMT

Client-side researcher Jason Anderson continues his quest to create a "no BS zone" by speaking out on the reality of some of the biggest issues impacting the business of market research. In this article, he describes 7 distortions that too many companies accept at face value.

SURVEY: Participate in the Research Industry Trends Survey

GreenBook — 14 Dec 2011 18:35:57 GMT

In its 10th year, GRIT is the leading survey of our industry. Join hundreds of researchers to help us all better understand the current state and the future of market research. The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete and your participation will benefit the entire research community.
Thank you for sharing your time and unique experience!
Click here to participate in the survey

EVENT: Annual BAQMaR Conference - Win a Free Pass!

BAQMaR — 30 Nov 2011 14:15:50 GMT

December 8 | Ghent, Belgium
This year's conference will bring together some of the brightest minds of the industry who found 'creative ways' to grasp the new opportunities or to overcome some of the issues we face today. Let's take you on a journey to discover all the creativity that is out there!

Program | Click here to win a free pass!

What Happens in Vegas is Captured (and Sold) by Facebook

David Brudenell — 30 Nov 2011 14:11:14 GMT

Today, 'your privacy' is easily translated to 'your data'. David Brudenell argues that this will be The Conversation over the next five years. It will be the central intersection between businesses and us. The issue will not be Are you violating it? but rather, What are you giving me for access to it?

Are Market Research Clients Respected?

Edward Appleton — 30 Nov 2011 14:11:12 GMT

Some research agencies are publicly envisaging a future without client-side researchers. Client-side researcher Edward Appleton finds that 'amazing' and wonders whether "we are really such a disrespected species as to be one destined to lose out in the Darwinian process?"

Is Asking "Why" a Reckless Act? Better to Focus on Behavior

Simon Shaw — 30 Nov 2011 14:11:11 GMT

The understanding of how humans make decisions has shifted in the past few years by looking at the role played by intuition, emotion and context. There is consensus in the market research industry that we need new methods for this new world but no consensus on what those methods should be.

Crushing the Cost of Predicting the Future

Quentin Hardy — 30 Nov 2011 14:11:11 GMT

Large and diverse sets of data have become abundant as more information is posted on the Internet, Now the cost of analyzing and visualizing that data is dropping fast, too, with interesting implications for all kinds of decision-making.

State of Play: Four Types of Research Gamification

Tom Ewing — 30 Nov 2011 14:11:10 GMT

It seems like a good time to take stock of the different directions 'research gamification' is going in right now. Tom Ewing has found four of them (soft, hard, context, and sandbox gamification) and explains what it all means, including examples.

Information Assassination – How Media Simply Get the Research Wrong

Ron Sellers — 30 Nov 2011 14:11:10 GMT

When reading about research in the media, it's important to realize what is often being done to the data. It's being shortened, restated, spun, and sometimes even blatantly misinterpreted or misapplied. Ron Sellers offers a few steps researchers can take to mitigate the problem.

Top 10 #MRX Stories: 6 Degrees of the Third Degree

Jeffrey Henning — 30 Nov 2011 14:11:10 GMT

Stay on top of what the market researchers are saying on Twitter. Of the 1,118 unique links shared by the Twitter #MRX community last week, here are the top ten most retweeted (after counting no more than one tweet per company).

VIRTUAL EVENT: Game On! The Great Gamification Challenge

NewMR & GreenBook — 30 Nov 2011 14:11:09 GMT

Friday, December 16th at 12:00 PM EST
NewMR and GreenBook present a gamified virtual event. A panel of thought leaders with a wide range of views on the topic will debate to sway the audience toward their position (and we'll measure who wins!)

It's time to submit your questions, vote on the questions submitted, and register for the webinar – it's free.

Top 10 #MRX Stories: Winners & Losers from ESOMAR 3D, NewMR & the UK

Jeffrey Henning — 16 Nov 2011 17:49:13 GMT

Stay on top of what the market researchers are saying on Twitter. Of the 1,633 unique links shared by the Twitter #MRX community last week, here are the top ten most retweeted.

Business Today - Listening, Watching and Being Watched

Rosabeth Moss Kanter — 16 Nov 2011 17:48:43 GMT

Corporate life has rarely been a breeze, but in the current climate of competition and public scrutiny, the pressure is greater than ever, says Harvard Business School's Rosabeth Moss Kanter. Our ability to listen to the market and innovate to stay ahead of it is more acute now than at any other time in business history.

Surveys Aren't Your Only Quantitative Data Source

Jason Anderson — 16 Nov 2011 17:43:01 GMT

Rather than grow larger and larger panels, perhaps we should find new ways of identifying qualified participants. Client-side researcher Jason Anderson continues his exploration of the model for the 21st century market research company, this time exploring moving beyond the survey for data.

Innovation through Research: At Nokia Everything is Incremental

Tamara Barber — 16 Nov 2011 17:43:01 GMT

At The Market Research Event in Orlando, Nokia's Dr. Oskar Korkman discussed how his company uses consumer practice as a starting point for innovation. His research puts the customer at the heart of product development and marketing, in four main ways.

EVENT: Annual BAQMaR Conference 2011

16 Nov 2011 17:43:01 GMT

Research Transformation is Not an Option (according to Coca-Cola)

Jeffrey Henning — 16 Nov 2011 17:43:00 GMT

Stan Sthanunathan, VP of marketing strategy and insights for Coca-Cola, recently discussed the need for research transformation. In his opinion, the industry needs to embrace technology and risk, encourage clients to dream, experiment, focus on business outcomes, shift resources, and leverage creativity.

TMRE 2011 Wrap-Up: Top 10 from the Client Side

Katie Clark — 16 Nov 2011 17:43:00 GMT

Katie approached TMRE from the client side – looking to learn some best practices, gain some new insights, and scope out some potential vendors. After attending 20 sessions and sending out 283 recap tweets, she's narrowed down the list to her Top 10 Favorite Sessions at TMRE. Here they are.

FREE IBM White Paper: The How's and Why's of Survey Research

IBM — 16 Nov 2011 17:43:00 GMT

This white paper discusses survey research by breaking it up into a seven step process – and clearly detailing how you can maximize your efforts every step of the way.

Replacing the Research Toolbox: Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear

Kevin Lonnie — 16 Nov 2011 17:42:59 GMT

There are many articles now saying that the opportunities presented by social media listening, mobile, text analytics, MROCs, crowdsourcing, neuro-monitoring, etc. are merely new tools in the toolbox. Kevin Loonie disagrees with that politically correct argument. He thinks these new tools are the replacements.

EVENT: Some like it mobile

2 Nov 2011 13:39:50 GMT

Digital Conference presented by MRIA Thursday Nov. 17, Noon - 3pm EST

EVENT: The Festival of NewMR

19 Oct 2011 13:43:33 GMT

November 3 - 4 | NewMR.org

The Main Stage [Nov 3]: The most exciting online event of this Fall: 23 hours of thought-provoking presentations from leading industry experts, entrepreneurs, technologists, and provocateurs
Insight Innovation Competition [Nov 4]: Over 550 people voted on 15 submitted ideas and the finalists have been announced. Now it's time to register for the online judging event!

Top 10 #MRX Stories: Perspectives on the Value of MR and Data

Jeffrey Henning — 2 Nov 2011 13:34:34 GMT

Stay on top of what the market research community is saying on Twitter. Of the more than 1,000 unique links shared on the Twitter #MRX community last week, here are the top ten most retweeted.

Recovery in North America | Regional Profile by ESOMAR

Laurence N. Gold — 2 Nov 2011 13:34:34 GMT

As the recession took its toll and recovery subsequently ensued, the research landscape began to change. Activities such as online research continued to evolve and mature, while mobile and social media garnered serious attention as research tools.

Market Research and the Smartphone: Lovers or Strangers?

Allan Fromen — 2 Nov 2011 13:34:33 GMT

We need to move to where the respondents are today and tomorrow, not continue to bang our heads against the wall trying to reach them where they were yesterday. The smartphone is where consumers are engaged, and yet we keep sending consumers online surveys that are designed for their PC.

Facial Monitoring: The All-telling Eye

Economist — 2 Nov 2011 13:34:33 GMT

Webcams can now spot which ads catch your gaze, read your mood and check your vital signs. There is now ample scope to deploy this technology in areas like advertising, security, computer gaming, education, health care, and marketing research. So what's happening right now?

30+ New Buzz Words and Concepts Emerging from ESOMAR 3D Conference

Jon Puleston — 2 Nov 2011 13:34:33 GMT

Want to know what Silent Dog Analysis is? Have you done any crowd interpretation recently? Did you know that news is becoming a social currency? Here are some of the new buzz words and concepts that I picked up upon at the ESOMAR 3D conference that you might want to drop into your next market research conversation.

The Science of Sentiment: An Interview with Seth Grimes

Leonard Murphy — 2 Nov 2011 13:34:32 GMT

Seth Grimes, a leading industry analyst, sees text and content analytics as means of discovering and exploiting the business value of content. He's fascinated with the use of automated technologies to help machines get at meaning and discover patterns. What's in it for market researchers?

Should Research Agencies be Paid for the Value of Their Insights?

Edward Appleton — 2 Nov 2011 13:34:32 GMT

Remuneration for performance is an important topic but is the debate over ROI for market research a productive one? Here's a client's personal view on the question of whether agencies should be compensated according to the impact of their insights.

GREENBOOK: Marketing Engine for Market Research Firms

19 Oct 2011 14:01:48 GMT

Get more qualified leads

Reach research buyers at the critical moment when they are selecting partners for their projects.

We invite you to learn how you can start receiving more RFPs, increase awareness of your services, and improve your online and content marketing programs.

EVENT: The Festival of NewMR

19 Oct 2011 13:43:33 GMT

October 31 – November 4 | NewMR.org

The Main Stage [Nov 3]: Online webinar running for 23 hours with exciting presentations from thought leaders.
Insight Innovation Competition [Nov 4]: Hear about new ideas in market research, business intelligence, and consumer insights.
The Training Day [Oct 31]: For young researchers and students across the globe. Learn some new tricks!

Here's the Problem with Social Media Research Ethics

Annie Pettit — 19 Oct 2011 13:40:14 GMT

Some people think all market research must be permission based. Other people think anything in the public eye is fair game. Annie Pettit thinks she's figured out what the problem is: Our industry is suffering from an influx of workers with insufficient or no market research training. (Check out the comments for an interesting debate.)

Word clouds considered harmful

Jacob Harris — 19 Oct 2011 13:40:14 GMT

Visualization is reporting, with many of the same elements that would make a traditional story effective. Every time Jacob Harris sees a word cloud presented as insight, he "dies a little inside". Here's why.

Simple, Scalable and in Shanghai: The future of research?

Alastair Gordon — 19 Oct 2011 13:40:13 GMT

As clients become ever more cost-focused and have to deal with massive amounts of data from multiple sources they become increasingly obsessed with research services that are both scalable and simple to implement, with the cost of these services down to acceptable emerging markets levels.

Step 1: Get Out of the Survey Business

Jason Anderson — 19 Oct 2011 13:40:13 GMT

A couple of weeks ago, Jason Anderson wrote about things he would do if he were a market research company. The suggestion which stirred up the loudest disagreement was to "get out of the survey business." He's now added more depth to his argument and explains why, when, and how.

Researchers Are in Business, Not Just the Esoteric Pursuit of Data

Rich Raquet — 19 Oct 2011 13:40:12 GMT

As "for profit" researchers, we need to move faster in the direction of producing things that clients truly value. They've told us what those things are and nothing is stopping us from building on their thoughts with our own ideas. Any firm that fails to do that will have a tough road ahead.

5 Companies That Are Using Big Data & Gamification to Disrupt Market Research

Leonard Murphy — 19 Oct 2011 13:40:12 GMT

EVENT: New Methods and New Mindsets in Healthcare Marketing Research

5 Oct 2011 19:54:02 GMT

Presented by PMRG

Oct 16-18 | New Jersey

The fifth annual meeting of The PMRG Institute is focusing the content around new and emerging data, approaches, and methodologies. The event will be held at the Hyatt Regency Jersey City.

Learn more | Register here

Are You Ready for a World of Consumer-Managed Data?

5 Oct 2011 19:48:58 GMT

By Fatemeh Khatibloo

An awful lot has changed recently around consumer privacy issues. A new model of consumer data management is necessary - a model that is mutually beneficial for both marketers and consumers. We think we've identified it. We call it personal identity management.

Top 10 #MRX Stories: ESOMAR – Everything Said on Market Research

5 Oct 2011 19:48:58 GMT

Exclusive By Jeffrey Henning

Stay on top of what the market research community is saying on Twitter. Of the 1,503 unique links shared with the Twitter #MRX community these past two weeks, here are the 10 most retweeted, dominated by news from the ESOMAR Annual Congress.

Are You Ready for a World of Consumer-Managed Data?

5 Oct 2011 19:48:58 GMT

By Fatemeh Khatibloo

Impressions of the AMA Conference: Greater Focus on the Frontlines

5 Oct 2011 19:48:57 GMT

By Cathy Harrison

Client researchers are on the frontlines, fighting to redefine and broaden their role in the corporate decision making process. I was pleased to see that the program lineup at the AMA Research & Strategy Summit was geared towards helping these client researchers effectively "drive transformation."

5 Reasons So Many Market Research Pros Suck at Marketing Themselves

5 Oct 2011 19:48:57 GMT

By Dana Stanley

It's ironic, isn't it? We're advising others on marketing strategy and tactics; our advice is used to formulate email campaigns, website copy, online and offline advertisements and more. Yet our own marketing is often no better, and in some cases is even worse than that of many other industries.

What Does the Shrinking Middle Class Mean for Market Research?

5 Oct 2011 19:48:56 GMT

By Kevin Lonnie

P&G is basically giving up on the middle class. OK, that's a gross exaggeration but P&G is "now betting that the squeeze on Middle America will be long lasting." What does this mean to our industry? If there is no middle, why bother with gen pop samples anymore? Aren't they now meaningless in our society?

Have a Great MR Idea? Announcing The Insights Innovation Competition!

5 Oct 2011 19:48:56 GMT

By Leonard Murphy

We're launching a new initiative to recognize innovation in market research and give budding entrepreneurs an opportunity to bring their visions to life. Fun and collaborative, the first Insights Innovation Competition will be held as part of the NewMR Virtual Festival on November 4. Submit your idea(s) or participate in voting!

8 Things I Would Do if I Were a Market Research Company

5 Oct 2011 19:48:55 GMT

By Jason Anderson

Free white paper: The Future of Market Research

22 Sep 2011 17:08:05 GMT

Discover how you can make the transformation to strategic insight partner – working with clients' organizational and research data to provide a holistic view and making recommendations to clients on how to act on insight to drive customer intimacy, product planning and operational efficiency. By IBM.

Top 10 #MRX Stories: Influence of Colors on Response Rates | Social Media Stats

22 Sep 2011 17:08:04 GMT

Exclusive By Jeffrey Henning

Of the 1,352 unique links shared on the Twitter using the #MRX hashtag last week, Jeffrey Henning comments on the 10 most retweeted, in order of the number of people retweeting them. Stay on top of what the MR community is saying on Twitter.

Why aren't game companies gamifying their research?

22 Sep 2011 17:08:04 GMT

By Jason Anderson

Creating compelling game experiences (and by corollary, creating compelling gamified research) requires more than just the mechanics of a game. After all, we've all played something that just wasn't fun. And if it's not fun, what was the point of gamifying it in the first place?

What Should Research Leaders Do? Lead! A Sea Change is Coming

22 Sep 2011 17:08:03 GMT

By Ian Lewis

Cambiar recently unveiled findings from "The Cambiar Future of Research Study". The study looked out to 2020 and heard from 160 corporate researchers who have a wide range of experience, level and industry backgrounds. What did we learn? What should corporate research leaders do?

Moments of Truth: The Kickoff Meeting

22 Sep 2011 17:08:03 GMT

By Alan Zorfas

We would never suggest that a marketer kicking off the annual planning process knows "diddly squat" about their consumers' motivations. (Well, I guess we did it in our cartoon.) But remember, it's just meant for us to collectively peek into our own marketing experiences…and laugh!

Social Media Research Guidelines: Regulatory Preempt or Potential Handicap?

22 Sep 2011 17:08:02 GMT

By Marc Dresner

In case you haven't heard, market research has entered the age of "Big Data." This revelation manifested itself in the efforts of key market research industry trade organizations to wrap standards around the collection, analysis and use of data sourced from social media. Are we at risk of regulating ourselves into irrelevance?

The Illusion and Reality of Research

22 Sep 2011 17:08:02 GMT

Interview with Richard Wiseman, Psychologist & Magician

Before Richard Wiseman became a psychologist, he was a magician, and he remains fascinated by illusion. He thinks that the idea that people can accurately report or predict their own behavior is just as much an illusion as when a magician makes us believe we saw something we didn't.

GRIT Sneak Peek: The Top Emerging Market Research Techniques

22 Sep 2011 17:08:02 GMT

By Leonard Murphy

Analysis and preparation for publishing the latest iteration of the GRIT report is just about complete. As usual, I am so excited about the great findings in the study that I just can't wait to share them with all of my colleagues in the industry, so here is another sneak peek at what we found out.

Top 10 #MRX Stories: Blog of the Year, ARF 2012 & Survey Medic

7 Sep 2011 14:09:43 GMT

Exclusive By Jeffrey Henning

Stay on top of what the market research community is saying on Twitter. Of the 1,327 unique links shared with the Twitter #MRX community these past two weeks, here are the 10 most retweeted, in order of the number of people retweeting them.

EVENT: Designing Online Surveys - A Practical Introduction | Seminar

7 Sep 2011 14:09:41 GMT

Presented by Kathryn Korostoff, Research Rockstar

Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011 | 8:00am-12:00pm | New York City

The best way to run an online survey is to hire a pro to do it for you. But let's face it, sometimes there just isn't enough in the company piggy bank to make this happen and you are on your own. Research Rockstar to the rescue!

This morning seminar will teach you:

5 steps to planning a successful online survey
How to avoid common survey design problems
All about question types and scales
How to minimize bias and maximize honesty
Tips for getting people to complete your questionnaire
Where to find the best online research tools

Learn more | Register today | Watch a short video about the seminar

It's Conference Time!

7 Sep 2011 14:09:40 GMT

By Leonard Murphy

Our industry prepares for many of the big MR conferences and events: AMA, ESOMAR, NewMR, and TMRE. There are different reasons to look forward to and be excited about each of these, so here's a little rundown.

What's the ROI of Social Media?

7 Sep 2011 14:09:40 GMT

By Brian Solis

Brian Solis describes a framework that ties social media to business priorities and objectives and demonstrates how a company's social engagement will enable its progress. Social media must be an enabler to a business and that's what you need to show your CEO.

Measuring Attitude is not Enough: Tell me a Story

7 Sep 2011 14:09:40 GMT

By Tom Wilms

Researchers are proving agile at applying new methodologies to old problems, but are still failing to tackle the 'so what' question. Complex markets mean they have to move beyond counting to recounting – storytelling that describes not only what's happening and why, but also why it matters.

Games Are Serious - The Power of Play

7 Sep 2011 14:09:39 GMT

By Andrew Jeavons

Some researchers seem to see research as a "serious" subject not to be trivialized or polluted by "gamificiation". The problem is that they don't understand how fundamental games are to human thought. Far from being trivial, games are a fundamental necessity for us in our cognitive development.

Wizardry of MROCs: A Meaningful Journey

7 Sep 2011 14:09:39 GMT

By Shaili Bhatt

Experienced online community moderator Shaili Bhatt shares the wizardry behind successful market research online communities (MROCs) and the meaningful journey of exploration and co-creation that results from the process.

Questioning the Nature of Research

7 Sep 2011 14:09:38 GMT

Interview with Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman, Ogilvy Group UK

Rory Sutherland is a leading proponent of applying behavioral economics theory to the practice of marketing and advertising. He's interested in what people actually do, and how they actually make decisions about the products they buy, rather than what they say they do.

RESOURCE: How to Hire + Manage Market Research Agencies

24 Aug 2011 20:39:56 GMT

Written by Kathryn Korostoff for those who hire and manage market research agencies and are seeking to optimize the process and improve the actionability of end results.

Exclusively available on GreenBook.org for FREE.

Read Introduction

EVENT: Researcher of the Future Forum

24 Aug 2011 20:38:26 GMT

Presented by ARF

September 15, 2011 | 2:30PM–4:30PM ET

The future holds exciting opportunities for researchers. Those who embrace change and master the new roles will have challenging and rewarding careers!

Attend in person or virtually.

Learn more

Top 10 #MRX Stories: Going Public with Arguments about Privacy

24 Aug 2011 20:35:28 GMT

Exclusive By Jeffrey Henning

A Client-Side Researcher's Perspective on MR Data Privacy

24 Aug 2011 20:35:26 GMT

By Jason Anderson

Several trade groups have been exploring online research privacy issues, in the hopes of establishing common standards. The debate on privacy practices in the social media age can be summed up (in my opinion) in two words: losing battle.

Big Data: Challenges and Predictions. Are You Ready?

24 Aug 2011 20:35:23 GMT

By Ray Poynter

The prefix "Big" has been used for a commodity that changed the nature of society and commerce, for example Big Oil or Big Coal. Well, there is a new Big commodity on the block, and it is promising to reshape commerce, businesses and even society.

Does Marketing Research Need a New Name? (debate continues)

24 Aug 2011 20:35:21 GMT

By Kevin Lonnie

42% of GRIT Survey respondents (and most of client-side researchers) said "yes, we need to develop a new term that is more reflective of what our business is today." Even though this is not the majority, it does indicate a divide in how our industry views itself. Here are some particularly insightful comments.

Personas Made Even Better Via Online Qual

24 Aug 2011 20:35:05 GMT

By Amy Savin

Personas are a terrific way for marketing teams to have a "cheat sheet" to remind themselves of the important aspects of the target consumer. Today's in depth online qualitative tools can help create personas, making it easier for teams to ponder "What would Susie think about this?"

What the hell is Gamification?

24 Aug 2011 20:34:11 GMT

By Betty Adamou

Although Gamification is a 'buzzword', it is a buzzword for a reason. It's a concept with real integrity and value. It's also fun. Gamification works by making technology more engaging, and by encouraging desired behaviors, taking advantage of humans' psychological predisposition to engage in gaming.

The Honomichl Global 25: Only a Part of the MR Story

24 Aug 2011 20:33:03 GMT

By Leonard Murphy

Some saw positive news in the Honomichl Report about the recovery of the Global 25 but the real story is mixed at best. The report is only a snapshot of a segment of the market research industry and although helpful, it fails to give a complete picture of the dynamic ecosystem that MR is today.

RESOURCE: New Qualitative Research Methods & Tools | Online & Mobile

10 Aug 2011 17:54:39 GMT

User Guide explains the pros and cons of new qual research methods.

Platforms Directory offers a detailed overview of current qual research software and applications.

Providers Directory connects buyers with new qual research experts, both firms & consultants.

EVENT: Big MR Data Privacy Debate

10 Aug 2011 16:39:58 GMT

August 22, 12:00 pm EST

Panelists: Peter Milla, Ray Poynter, Tom H.C. Anderson, Michalis Michael, MRS (TBD). Moderated by Andrew Jeavons.

Hosted by: Leonard Murphy

Presented by: GreenBook, NewMR, MRGA and NGMR.

Top 10 #MRX Stories: Merger Mania, Mobile Mania

10 Aug 2011 16:38:49 GMT

Exclusive By Jeffrey Henning

Stay on top of what the market research community is saying on Twitter. Of the thousands of unique #MRX links shared in the past two weeks, here are 10 of the most retweeted, in order of the number of people retweeting them.

Pentagon Seeks a Few Good Social Networkers

10 Aug 2011 16:38:19 GMT

By David Streitfeld

The Pentagon is planning to use sites like Facebook and Twitter as both a resource and a weapon in future conflicts. Its research and development agency is offering $42 million in funding to anyone who can help. Research firms should be interested.

The SmartPen - Simple, Easy, Unobtrusive

10 Aug 2011 16:36:40 GMT

By Susan Abbott

The project: B2B innovation. The method: on-site ethnography. The tool: a smart-pen. Researchers are good at hijacking the technology created for other things and make it work for us. The SmartPen is one of these things.

MROCs: Qualitatively Speaking to Your Target 24/7/365

10 Aug 2011 16:35:56 GMT

By Holly M. O'Neill, QRCA

What if you could engage in a meaningful marketing research dialogue with your audience at any time and in no time? Market Research Online Communities combine key aspects of social media with the rigor of marketing research, all in one online portal.

Facebook Is The New Nielsen Family

10 Aug 2011 16:35:10 GMT

By E.B. Boyd

The information and measurement company is about to release a new service that will tell advertisers who's seeing their ads--anywhere on the Internet. And Facebook is going to be the engine that powers it.

New Tools & New Strategies: The Future of MR

10 Aug 2011 16:31:45 GMT

Interview with Jill Chiara of Forrester

In a wide–ranging interview, Lenny Murphy asked Jill Chiara of Forrester the following questions (and many more): How are you combining tracking data with qualitative data from communities? What technologies do you consider to be "game changers"? What are the implications of recent merger activity for the broader industry?

The Changing Landscape of Online Qualitative Research

10 Aug 2011 16:30:11 GMT

By Derek Sawchuk

Consumers have embraced the social and community aspect of the Internet like no one would have imagined 10 years ago. Technical advancements, driven by today's social consumer, are changing the way we conduct qualitative research.

Participate: GreenBook Research Industry Trends Survey

1 Aug 2011 22:15:00 GMT

In its 9th year, GRIT remains the leading and most comprehensive survey of our industry. Click here to participate in the survey - We promise you colorful and comprehensive insights! Thank you in advance for your participation.

REPORT: Mobilizing Market Research

1 Aug 2011 21:59:58 GMT

The state-of-the-art, future evolution and implications of mobile data collection methods in the field of market research. By Carrie Robbins

Event: AMA Research and Strategy Summit 2011

1 Aug 2011 21:49:08 GMT

September 11-14, 2011 | Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek

New name. New focus. With the role of research expanding, we're bringing together the brightest minds in research for elevated discussions and planning.

Top 10 #MRX Stories: Wake Up and Smell the Future

1 Aug 2011 21:49:08 GMT

Exclusive By Jeffrey Henning

My Mobile Qual "Must Read" List from MRMW2011

1 Aug 2011 21:49:08 GMT

By Betsy Leichliter

Missed the Market Research in the Mobile World conference in Atlanta? If so, here's a list of ignore-at-you-own-risk presentations to review if you're planning to provide or use mobile qualitative research in the future.

Realism vs. Artificiality in Research Techniques

1 Aug 2011 21:49:08 GMT

By Kevin Karty

In most research situations, there is a tradeoff between realism and getting good information. Which is better? Like so many choices we make in building a study, the best study design depends on what you want to get out of the study.

Collaboration is a Key to Open Innovation

1 Aug 2011 21:49:08 GMT

By Tamara Barber

Social technologies are changing our personal and professional interactions. As companies adopt these tools to interact with consumers and among internal teams, new innovation processes based on openness and collaboration are being used.

Marketers Integrate Digital and Physical Worlds: Examples

1 Aug 2011 21:49:07 GMT

By Joel Rubinson

The next generation of digital marketing is going primetime. It is based on digital being integrated into and enhancing the physical world rather than providing an alternative to it. Just look as these few examples.

How Hallmark Uses Social Media to Understand People

1 Aug 2011 21:48:34 GMT

By Ben Smithee / Presentation by Tom Brailsford

Hallmark has taken a holistic and innovative approach to exploring how social media can be used to understand people. The overall efforts have come down to answering one major question: "Is there a framework we can use to understand SM data?"

Two Cheers for Mobile Market Research? Maybe, Maybe Not

1 Aug 2011 21:47:51 GMT

By Reg Baker

Mobile research is not just here to stay; it's poised to grow very quickly. Reg Baker thinks that a lot about it is still speculative, a combination of powerful technology and wishful thinking, and he shares his thoughtful observations.

EVENT: The Festival of NewMR

19 Oct 2011 13:43:33 GMT

October 31 – November 4 | NewMR.org