We now have increasing evidence from behavioral economics that people are often irrational in their decision making. This has major implications for how we conduct and analyze market research. But what else can we learn from behavioral economics? Here are few key observations that have implications for focus groups and market research in general. Continue reading »

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 cliches – but only once it is taken seriously. Continue reading »

In a previous post for Greenbook, I talked through the concept of Research Outlaws, the panel I ran at the MRS 2012 conference this week. In a world without direct questions, four brave researchers would be set a real problem by a real client and solve it using innovative methods. On paper, it worked. In reality…. Continue reading »

Imagine a world where it’s illegal to ask consumers direct questions – where the bulk of market research as we know it is no longer an option. What on earth would researchers do? What other information sources might clients turn to? Would there even be a “research industry” anymore? Continue reading »

Several marketing research trade groups have been exploring online research privacy issues, in the hopes of establishing common standards and a code of conduct to govern how “responsible” researchers should treat consumer data. An earlier debate on privacy practices in the social media age can be summed up (in my opinion) in two words: losing battle. This is particularly true as it relates to games research — console, handheld, casual, or any other. Continue reading »

Today Andrew Jeavons, EVP at Survey Analytics, moderated a fascinating live debate on data privacy in market research. The virtual debate has been brewing in blogs, LinkedIn, and Twitter for some time, but a discussion paper on the topic from the MRS and new draft guidelines from CASRO brought this issue back to the forefront in recent weeks.

This webinar featured leaders from each of the three major market research associations, as well as industry opinion leaders on the topic. Here is what the six participants had to say in their opening statements. Continue reading »

We just wrapped the Market Research Data Privacy Debate, and it went really well. I hosted the event but left the debate to others eminently qualified to discuss the issues involved. However, I do have a point of view on the topic and I thought I’d put forth my reasoning on why I think the MR trade orgs have it wrong in their suggested guidelines governing the use of social media data in market research. Continue reading »

The Data Privacy debate has been percolating for some time now, but the Market Research Society in the UK has brought it to a rapid boil with the recent publication of their discussion paper on the topic. Because we think this issue is so critical and it needs more discussion NewMR & GreenBook, with the support of MRGA & NGMR, have decided to hold a public forum debate on the topic of data privacy so that the whole industry can get involved in this important discussion. Here are the details: Continue reading »