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What is marketing research?
What is a focus group?
What is a focus group facility?
How often can I participate in studies?
How
much will I get paid?
Will you share my information with other companies?
Will anyone try to sell me something?
Do I get to try new products?
Are the studies confidential?
Can I tell my friends about shopperstudy.com?
How will I know where to go if invited to participate?
What is
mystery shopping?
What is marketing research?
Market research and marketing research are often confused. 'Market' research
is simply research into a specific market. It is a very narrow concept.
'Marketing' research is much broader. It not only includes 'market'
research, but also areas such as research into new products, or modes of
distribution such as via the Internet. Here are a couple of definitions:
"Marketing research is the
function that links the consumer, customer, and public to the marketer
through information - information used to identify and define marketing
opportunities and problems; generate, refine, and evaluate marketing
actions; monitor marketing performance; and improve understanding of
marketing as a process. Marketing research specifies the information
required to address these issues, designs the methods for collecting
information, manages and implements the data collection process, analyzes,
and communicates the findings and their implications."
American Marketing Association - Official Definition of Marketing
Research
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What is a focus group?
A focus group is a form of qualitative research in
which a group of people is asked about their attitude towards a product,
service, concept, advertisement, idea, or packaging. Questions are asked in
an interactive group setting where participants are free to talk with other
group members.
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What is a focus group facility?
There are thousands of Focus group facilities across the country. Many
people do not realize that there may be several facilities in their own
city. Marketing research professionals, brand manager, social service
agencies, political analysts, product developers and scientists are just a
few of the people who use focus group facilities. You'll find the facilities
warm, inviting places, with friendly and professional staff.
There will most likely be multiple focus group and interview rooms in single
facility. The picture of the room shown below is typical in that it has a
conference table setting for group discussions, led by a professional
moderator. It is normal for rooms to have special mirrored partitions and
special audio equipment. Behind the one-way glass window there is another
room where a team of researchers may, or may not be observing the
discussion.
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How often can I participate in studies?
It depends on the study. Some studies require that you have not
participated in previous studies in the past 3 or 6 months. However, many
studies only require that you have not participated in studies of the same
category recently.
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How much will I get paid?
Participants in our studies are compensated at varying rates, depending on
the task involved. Typical studies average around $25-$50 per activity. Some
studies are longer and may pay between $50 and $100. Other studies may
provide free product samples as an additional benefit for participation.
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Will you share my information with other companies?
No, we will never share or sell your information with
others.
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Will anyone try to sell me something?
No. We will never try to sell you anything, and in fact, using marketing
research as a ploy to try to sell consumers something is against the
standards of the marketing research industry. There are many unethical
companies and web sites that use a bait and switch practice of using a
promise of paid research, only to get offers and deals in front of
consumers. We are not one of them.
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Do I get to try new products?
Some studies involve new product testing and may include taste testing,
product usage, fragrance tests, or other types of sampling. It all depends
on the type of study at the time.
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Are the studies confidential?
Yes, not only will your information be kept
confidential, but you will be expected to maintain confidentiality and not
share information about the studies for which you participate.
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Can I tell my friends about shopperstudy.com?
Yes, feel free to pass on information and invite
others to sign up on the shopperstudy.com web site.
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How will
I know where to go if invited to participate?
We will contact you via phone and email to or direct mail to make sure you
have all of the information you need to participate.
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What is mystery shopping?
Mystery shoppers go into businesses as customers. They interact with
employees, make a purchase and possibly a return, then fill out an
evaluation form describing what happened during their visit. Or, shoppers
may be asked to video tape their experience. Mystery shoppers get paid for
providing this service as an independent contractor in virtually all cases.
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