“The ability to take data – to be able to understand it, to process it, to extract value from it, to visualize it, to communicate it – that’s going to be a hugely important skill in the next decades…Because now we really do have essentially free and ubiquitous data. So the complimentary scarce factor is the ability to understand that data and extract value from it.” – Hal Varian, Google
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“No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” - John Donne
“The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog only knows one big thing.” - Archilochus (7th Century BC)
Are you a fox or a hedgehog? Read more »
“Vision without execution is hallucination.” - Thomas Edison Read more »
Dan Ariely often gives market research a hard time, and it’s easy to understand why in reading an interview with him in the latest edition of Research World. You will learn even more if you listen to the podcast of the interview (link here) which is a much extended version of the article, or even better read his blog (danariely.com). The interview touches on many topics that we have written about here and at Dr Disruption’s blog, although I would like to highlight three key take aways to consider. Read more »
In a thought provoking article on BBC News website, Michael Blastland discusses the use of the “Don’t know” response in social surveys and argues that “Don’t know” often masks an “It depends” response. I agree with him that respondents often feel that “Don’t know” is a default answer, in the face of insufficient context, and Robert Bain also talked about this in his recent article on being a fake online respondent. Read more »
Indulging inspiration
Whilst many brands claim they offer customers an “experience”, this is perhaps no more true than in spas. Customers are taken on a journey which is specifically designed to stimulate their senses. Spas are places that put people literally in touch with each other. Touch as we have seen is a basic human need. Spas create a safe environment, through the use of design features that allow privacy, rituals which engender trust, and professionalism of the therapists who are licensed to make a connection with the guest. Moreover, spas are a melting pot for a range of products and services that enhance health and wellbeing. Read more »
“In our reasonings concerning matter of fact, there are all imaginable degrees of assurance, from the highest certainty to the lowest species of moral evidence. A wise man, therefore, proportions his belief to the evidence.” - David Hume
“Don’t ask silly questions if you don’t want foolish answers.” - C. Ryland
I have a lot of sympathy with Roger Sant’s recent article in research-live.com on the need for researchers to provide more engaging and participative questions, and his recommendation to allow participants to define for themselves what is important. Read more »
