It is not difficult to see how prediction markets could become another useful tool in the market researcher’s toolkit.
For those interested in prediction markets I strongly recommend David Rothschild’s article in this month’s Public Opinion Quarterly (AAPOR’s publication).
Although Rothschild’s article focuses on “comparing prediction markets, polls and their biases”, the implications of his article stretch [...]

Tom Ewing has an update to his thinking regarding Millennials in MR.
There was such a great response to his question (Are the kids alright?) that he revised and extended his remarks.
It is worth reading the comments.
I maintain that there is plenty of young talent in the industry, but that these talented folks in their 20s [...]

Is what we currently think of as the market research industry building the future of its business, or is innovation more likely to come from outside the traditional players?
I’m inclined to believe that major innovation will not come from the large players and will come mostly from outside what we think of today as “the [...]

I have believed since the late 1990s that there will eventually be a merger of market research with the more future-oriented “strategic foresight”. In fact, you can read my thinking about this here. (See pages 8 and 16.)
A new Boston Consulting Group report supports this thesis.
You can read it all here.
But, I highly [...]

When I asked a good friend in the research industry to give me a one word prediction for 2010, he sent me a clip of Mr. T saying “pain”.
That wouldn’t be my first word choice, but to get a sense of what leaders in the industry are thinking, you can check out their one word [...]

Over at Forrester’s groundswell Josh Bernoff details his profiling technique for a market’s social technology behavior.
This appears to be a solid profiling technique and useful in understanding where a market is regarding social media.
Click here for the chart.

Hat tip to Market Research Deathwatch for highlighting a new type of MROC – lockerz.
MROC Variant 1 is what we think of as a traditional MROC built exclusively (usually by Communispace, Passenger, etc.) for a client with the members coming exclusively from the client’s current customer base (raving fans typically).
MROC Variant 2 is (will [...]

One of the challenges that vexes the market research industry is a perceived lack of respect among the buyers of its product.
Advertising Age pondered this issue on September 24, 2007, and it is worth a read. The author, Jack Neff, does an exceptional job of spelling out the isues at hand.
Key quote:
“It’s a [...]

Joel Rubinson’s blog recently noted the concept of “mental marketplaces.” As opposed to physical markets for a specific product, “mental marketplaces” are all the companies and brands a consumer associates freely with a particular space. This is exceptionally interesting.
So, for example, Rubinson writes that:
“The ‘mental marketplace’ changes the rules of competition; your brand [...]

In the Research Industry Trends Report 2009 Leonard Murphy asks two important questions:
1. “How long can a healthy industry operate on low margin with insufficient resources? The strain is already apparent as many shops have closed their doors since 2008.”
2. “What should be done to support a perception that research is a [...]

Perhaps the finest summary of the challenge the industry has in regards to its gravitas is Greg Rathjen’s piece in the December 2008 edition of Quirk’s.
Here, Rathjen asks, “When do we stop identifying with Rodney Dangerfield?”
It is well worth a read here.
Key quote:
“I suppose what I am building up to is my own reverse [...]

One of the discussion areas in market research is the rise of new market entrants such as consulting firms, MROC suppliers, digital listening firms, DIY research toolmakers, etc.
But, the two that have most interested me are (a) consulting firms like BCG or McKinsey and (b) large digital platforms that could become uber-panel companies of the [...]