Member Advice on Market Research

I think most of us take part in some form of market research, even if it's only the occasional Ciao survey. I've taken part in many of those, and similar research, myself. If you want to participate in such surveys, I suggest looking round at sites like Brand Institute and Global Test Market (reviews of most of these sites/schemes are of course on Ciao). I'm going to focus on the other side, carrying out the research. Again, I know many Ciao users take part in Mystery Shopping and so on, so I thought this might interest people. The idea of making a reasonable income for flexible, irregular ... more

Just wanted to write about the actual work too, this is the only op I will be updating as I think the past is the past, and where most of my ops belong!! I have worked in market research for well over a year now, and so I think I am qualified to follow on from ‘Flod’s’ opinion (which is worth a read after this one!) about this particular subject. I am going to try not to be to rude in this opinion, but if I am, sorry, it is just my emotions taking over! It is really hard to know where to start because the whole process I go through each time I go into work is so repetitive ... more

I've just read a very helpful opinion by another member on Market Research which prompted me to write my own sorry tale. Some years back, being short of money and having to care for a young baby, I underwent training to become a market researcher. Once trained I was able to chose my own hours and select the jobs I wanted to do. The first thing you are taught is that people fall into different categories. Did you know for example that if you are a doctor, surgeon or consultant you are an A, but if you are unemployed you fall to the dreadful depths of being an E. Not only that but, depending on ... more

How many times have you been rung up on the phone and found out that it is someone wanting to do some research on the other end? A lot, right? Well I hope this article will help you to cope with us market researchers. OK. So the reason why I am writing this, is because I am a Market Researcher myself (on the phone), and I wanted to give you some advice about how to handle us. Whether this is to get rid of us quickly, to speed along the survey, or just the way to treat us in general. I will also use this to voice my opinions and explain why you shouldn’t be angry at us, and show how it is ... more

If ever there were a more worthless occupation of people’s time I certainly can’t think of it at this moment in time. Market Research is generally conducted in one of two ways – either via the telephone or via people in the street who will stop and ask you questions. Either way companies pay agencies (reputable or otherwise) thousands of pounds to go out and canvass information from the general public on what they like, dislike, buy, don’t buy, believe, don’t believe – and so on and so forth. The problem with market research is in the methodology. Market ... more