News Feeds

The latest news, information and events from MRS, the world's largest association representing providers and users of market, social, and opinion research, and business intelligence.

Dr Barry Leventhal, FMRS
The publication of initial results from the 2011 Census is planned for this July – it will be the first of four releases of outputs scheduled over the next fifteen months, that will go into increasing levels of geographical and topic detail.
Awards case study: A holistic approach for driving growth in the casualwear market Debenhams Strategy and Insights Team
The Debenhams Strategy and Insights Team, consisting of Kate Murphy, Marianna Dougherty, Jessica Nesbitt, Susan Deer, Sean Pritchard and Kate Whittaker, won the 2011 MRS/AURA Award for Insight Management for this great case study of the deployment of a range of primary and secondary sources to address a category-wide issue.
Ticketmaster, MRS Company Partner, talk about how evidence matters in their organisation Tina Mermiri, AMRS
Ticketmaster tell us why evidence matters to them “The most important thing is for an agency to get under the skin of what we do, understand the industry we work in and the challenges we’re facing,” says Ticketmaster’s Athina Mermiri, “which is why I expect the research we conduct and use to be able to address more than just the research questions.”
The winner takes it all Julie Davey, AMRS
We have all been there… the follow-up telephone call during a competitive pitch. “We really liked your research proposal, but we’d just like to know how you’ve used the methodology to good effect on other pieces of business”.
A farewell to “Questionnaires in Armchairs” Roy Langmaid, FMRS and Nicky Forsythe, MBACP
Whether at conferences, seminars or in the pub it is hard to avoid the growing concern among qualitative researchers that their field is under pressure from online studies, behavioural economics and neuroscience - and that there is growing disillusionment about the focus group in particular.
Defining research for graduates Trish Parker, MMRS
If you employ young graduates from a social science or business background, or have kids of this age yourself, you’ll know something about the way Market Research is covered in many undergraduate courses. It is the process that is being taught rather than the end product. Learning about sample and questionnaire design, and significant differences is incredibly important and fascinating, but it does not reflect the exciting, upbeat and entrepreneurial elements of our sector.
Five tips for better research Julie Davey, AMRS
1.Experiment; 2.Mix and match; 3.Plan; 4.Get stuck in; 5.Squeeze!
MRS Excellence Awards Launched
The creativity, dedication and expertise of research professionals are what make the sector the powerful force it is. This summer will see an important new event in the MRS calendar, designed to recognise and celebrate this outstanding work.
MRS Book Club: All aboard the narrative arc Chloe Fowler, MMRS
"I know that our industry extols the virtues of storytelling," says Razor's Chloe Fowler, "We’re frequently reminded that qualitative research is all about bringing people to life. It’s become a cliché."
IJMR Special Issue - Market research and social media Peter Mouncey, Editor-in-Chief, IJMR
There is no doubt that social media provides people with new opportunities to communicate with others, to listen to the world and find information, but does this freedom come at a cost?