The future of questions

Everyone likes to make predictions as one year closes and another begins with fresh hopes, although fewer go back to check what they said previously (with some notable exceptions). Rather than make predictions, most of which are guaranteed not to happen, I would like to share a hope for how market research can reinvent itself for the future. In sharing my hope I can also share some of the changes that I believe will happen at some time in the near future (I would never be confident enough to say that it will be in 2012).

My big wish is that market research can start to get beyond its obsession with questions. Read more »

The new year brought a wide range of predictions for the future of market research, mixing positive and negative sentiments about the industry.  The majority of the predictions were consistent in seeing a future where market researchers would need to develop a broader range of skills to take advantage of the changes in technology, consumer understanding, data accessibility and, above all, client expectations.  These changes offer great opportunities to the industry if embraced, and a huge threat if they are ignored. Read more »

“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 »