Reporter's Notebook
When focus groups go bad
Via The Onion: Malicious Focus Group Convinces Marketers Cinnamon Mountain Dew Is The Next Big Thing.
Coffee break: Why two heads are better than one
The New Scientist reports that two people have successfully steered a virtual spacecraft by combining the power of their thoughts – and their efforts were far more accurate than one person acting alone. It speculates that one day groups of people hooked up to brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) might work together to control complex robotic and telepresence systems, maybe even in space. BCI systems use EEG – which is commonly employed in neuromarketing studies. The researchers ...
Shock tactics
The Market Research Society, publishers of Research Magazine and Research-live.com, want you to shock them. Next year’s conference is titled Shock of the New and it sets out to explore where research is going, how society is evolving and where technology is heading.
New survey bias of the month
Researchers will be familiar with the myriad ways in which the act of asking a question can influence the answer that a respondent gives. Question phrasing, question ordering, interviewer bias. But have you ever encountered the “font effect”?
Update: Apple does do MR – but they don't rely on it
Apple Insider has a report from Tuesday’s Apple vs Samsung court hearing in which senior vice president of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller took the stand to declare: “We don’t use any customer surveys, focus groups, or typical things of that nature. That ...
Apple does do market research. It always has
The mistaken belief that Apple doesn’t do market research can at last be put to bed, thanks to the Wall Street Journal.
Research Awards: Deadline fast approaching
The clock is ticking on the Research Awards call for entries. All submissions need to be in by 31 July, so if you’re still thinking about entering – now’s the time to go for it.
'Limited success' in store for Unilever's qual accreditation programme?
20|20 Research CEO Jim Bryson has followed up our report on the Unilever qual accreditation programme by reaching out to
Cardiff's Red Dragons rise again
The Red Dragons of Cardiff City have risen from the flames they were consigned to. In what can only be described as a double-U-turn, the football club’s owners backtracked on their decision not to rebrand the club and have announced that as of next season, the team will play in red shirts bearing a new badge featuring a red dragon.
An appreciation of the life of Roger Jowell
A memorial service for Roger Jowell is being held on 14 June at St John’s, Smith Square, London. Details are available via NatCen Social Research.
Marketing lessons from God
“God is a great behavioural economist,” says Ogilvy UK vice chairman Rory Sutherland on the final day of the ARF Re:think conference in New York.
Attention-grabbing market research
Automotive industry veteran Bob Lutz and Nielsen CEO Dave Calhoun (pictured) discussed how research can get top-level attention in business at the ARF Re:think conference.
How ESPN changed the ad conversation
Sports broadcaster ESPN is one of the companies that has been pioneering cross-media measurement. Findings shared by the firm’s research bosses at the ARF’s Re:think conference in New York showed what can be learned from understanding media usage on multiple platforms, and how it changes the firm’s relationship with advertisers.
‘Oh my God, I like Celine Dion’
The success of internet radio service Pandora is testament to the power of personalisation. Founder and CEO Tim Westergren told the ARF’s Re:think conference in New York how the company has managed to reach nearly 50 million listeners and a market capitalisation of $1.75bn.
Putting emotions in context
Biometric data gives researchers the power to measure emotional reactions. But ABC TV’s Justin Fromm reminded delegates at the ARF’s Re:think conference in New York of the importance of using these tools alongside more conventional methods.
The key to creativity
Researchers like to think they can help spur creativity, but creative professionals don’t always agree. So what’s the key to this elusive quality? Jonah Lehrer, a contributing editor for Wired, has published a book on the subject.
The times they are a-changing
The theme of this year’s ARF Re:think conference in New York is change. The research business is on the brink of transformation, said the ARF’s president and CEO Bob Barocci. So what are agencies doing about it?
Tales of research bravery
More details have emerged about the contenders for the Ginny Valentine Badge of Courage, a new award that aims to recognise those who have shown exceptional bravery in the name of research.
Who's watching you?
Companies that track your online behaviour tend to like to do it quietly in the background. But it just got a little bit easier for web users to see what’s going on.
The Social Media Garden – now open
The Unilever-backed project, built around a new online collaboration platform, has gone public.
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