Having worked in Market Research for a number of years, one thing has become painfully clear - it's all bullshit.
Until all citizens are forced to participate - and everyone is dosed with sodium pentathol (truth syrum) all market research must be taken with a silo of salt.
An incredible amount of goods and services, government policies...EVERYTHING we get shoved down our throats comes from what can only be called a "best guess" The difference between a guess and a "best guess" is about $27k spent asking people their opinions. Problem is, people lie. All the time. Women are far more willing to answwer surveys and hence - most advertising is directed towards them. Recently, advances in personal people meters (the devices used by market researchers to determine viewing and listening habits) have been extended to all sorts of consumer goods. The end result is that men aged 18-34 are being counted for the first time in ...well forever. Men are lazy, and the passive nature of these new devices goes a long way to take their preferences in account. Good old rock radio has returned to the New York and Philadelphia markets because the conventional thinking that everyone wanted more salsa. latin urban and dance music was proved false - just the type of people (women) who like this music answer surveys at a higher rate. Surveys suck - but you need to be heard.
Until all citizens are forced to participate - and everyone is dosed with sodium pentathol (truth syrum) all market research must be taken with a silo of salt.
An incredible amount of goods and services, government policies...EVERYTHING we get shoved down our throats comes from what can only be called a "best guess" The difference between a guess and a "best guess" is about $27k spent asking people their opinions. Problem is, people lie. All the time. Women are far more willing to answwer surveys and hence - most advertising is directed towards them. Recently, advances in personal people meters (the devices used by market researchers to determine viewing and listening habits) have been extended to all sorts of consumer goods. The end result is that men aged 18-34 are being counted for the first time in ...well forever. Men are lazy, and the passive nature of these new devices goes a long way to take their preferences in account. Good old rock radio has returned to the New York and Philadelphia markets because the conventional thinking that everyone wanted more salsa. latin urban and dance music was proved false - just the type of people (women) who like this music answer surveys at a higher rate. Surveys suck - but you need to be heard.
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