Latest comment pieces
How much?
A new study shows people overestimate what others will pay for goods. Neil Cary and Lisa Bella consider the implications for pricing research.
We have ways of making you talk
A group of scientists say they’ve found a way to tell what word someone is thinking of by studying their brain waves. It’s a trick that market researchers wouldn’t mind mastering, writes Bronwen Morgan.
Scotland’s big question
As the Scottish National Party plans a referendum on Scottish independence, Ruth Stevenson of Ruthless Research wonders whether they’re asking the right question.
Internships in research: Who really benefits?
The growing number of unpaid or underpaid interns working in research agencies is a worrying trend, says Discovery MD Trish Parker.
At breaking point?
If your new year’s resolutions are about to fail then perhaps it’s time to apply some behavioural economics on yourself.
The end of online panels: Redux
Are online panels finished? That was the subject of a head-to-head debate we published in November. Last month, Dutch research association MOA addressed the same question. MOA’s Lex Olivier reports.
The eyes have it
Crawford Hollingworth on the observer effect and how people’s behaviour changes when they think or feel they are being watched.
Gone in a Flash
Adobe’s decision to halt development of the mobile Flash plugin will shape the course of rich content development in online surveys, says Jason Cazes of Kinesis Survey Technologies.
Behavioural economics: a call to action
Kristin Hickey of Ruby Cha Cha says the current focus on behavioural economics offers great opportunities for research providers to change the way they work – if clients are willing to take the plunge with them.
Get in with the crowd
Social media has made it easier for people to find like-minded groups, but these crowds can be tough for brands to penetrate. Pete Comley offers some advice.
Learning the lessons of 2011
Sitting down Sitting down to plan out this month’s issue, the team and I were faced with a choice: to reflect on the year just gone or look ahead to the coming 12 months. We chose the latter.
What the Facebook FTC settlement means for market research
Privacy, control, consent. Three words that sum up the Federal Trade Commission’s demands of Facebook. Three words researchers can’t avoid.
Spending to save – the paradox of modern life
Crawford Hollingworth on how the Obama administration tapped behavioural economics to formulate a tax rebate plan that would get people spending again after the 2008 recession.
No question: Thinking time's important
Dean Murley reports from the ICG’s Question Time event which discussed the changes wrought by technology and why the very human art of interpretation remains the greatest research tool.
Don't shoot the messenger...
Watch how they deliver. Ipsos Mori’s Oliver Sweet on why researchers should take a leaf out of the journalism playbook when it comes to simplicity in storytelling.
What I learned from Philip Gould
Deborah Mattinson shares lessons from the life and career of New Labour strategist Philip Gould, a pollster who aimed high and whose work made a difference.
Putting people in the picture
Why panel-based measurement must remain central to efforts to understand TV viewing habits across platforms and devices. By BARB chief executive Bjarne Thelin.
Young researchers: a big agency view
“Despite being just a small part of a large department, I do feel like my contribution is valued,” says trainee research executive Jessica Boize, discussing life as a big agency graduate.
Unleashing the power of self-contracting
Committing to a course of action is easy. Sticking with it is hard. Crawford Hollingworth looks at some clever ways of getting people to change their behaviour for good.
The three Cs of TMRE
Candidates, culture and customers: Jeffrey Henning reflects on the key themes emerging from The Market Research Event, held this week in Orlando, Florida.
From the blogs
Is there really such a thing as customer loyalty?
Dunkin’ Donuts has just been named by Brands Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index as number one in customer loyalty for the highly competitive US coffee sector for the sixth year in a row. But when it comes to brands are we really talking about loyalty or are we talking about convenience and opportunism on the part of the consumer?
Research in the year 2020
Steve recently sat on a panel looking at where the research world may be in 2020.
Jana’s Eagle one of '50 people who will change the world'
Nathan Eagle (pictured), founder and CEO of mobile phone crowdsourcing company Jana, is nominated on Wired magazine’s Smart List 2012: 50 people who will change the world.
The Social Media Garden – now open
The Unilever-backed project, built around a new online collaboration platform, has gone public.
The brand battle of the sexes
Lynx has launched a female product. Is this a game changer for the sector?
No guts no glory
A new award aims to recognise those who have shown exceptional bravery in the name of research.
Smart hiring pays big dividends
Over the past year, the Cambiar partners have been writing, presenting and blogging about the winds of change within the MR industry. Leading companies across the value chain are listening, evaluating business models and setting strategy for the future. In addition, new entrants, many from outside our industry, are adding to the mix as well as challenging the status quo.
Vintage visualisations
A poster display at the London Transport Museum reminds us that data visualisation has been around for a long time.
Celebrity brand match
This week’s news that chocolate bar Snickers is replacing A-Team hero Mr T with former Dynasty sirens Joan Collins and Stephanie Beacham shouldn’t be that much of a story – except nobody I have spoken to since can see an overt Joan Collins–Snickers connection.
2012: The year of social products
Pete Comley highlights more companies adapting to the My Crowd trend and making social media an integral part of the products they offer.