New release of Survey Select
SurveyConnect, Boulder, Colo., has released Survey Select Expert 4.5, a survey tool designed to help users develop Web surveys to evaluate employee and custoriaer opinions. This release has added 44 additional report wizards to create tables, color graphs, and reports. By using crosstab and demographic filters, survey administrators can pinpoint their areas of focus. Survey Select Expert 4.5 also includes: improvedediting features to allow flexibility of survey layout (electronic or paperbased); additional survey templates, such as a 360-degree survey template; the capability to create e-mail survey instructions specific to each survey; optional passwords to protect data integrity while maintaining anonymity; and the export of raw data to Excel, Access, or any other ODBC-compliant database.
IRI enhances BehaviorScan
Information Resources, Inc., Chicago, has enhanced its BehaviorScan in-market testing service, which tracks purchases of barcoded products. Beginning in selected markets this year, panelists now will show their ID card at participating stores and will be asked to report their purchases from non-participating retailers, including mass merchandisers and supercenters, by using a handheld scanner at home. This dual approach was chosen to minimize panelist burden while capturing as many of their purchases as possible. IRI has also completed an upgrade to the BehaviorScan Targetable TV system, part of IRI's within-market TV ad testing service. The new technology assigns every local cable subscriber to one of three cells. IRI can deliver different TV commercials to each cell and analyze the impact of each ad plan on the purchasing behavior of the BehaviorScan panelists in each cell.
Decision Analyst builds contractor panel
Decision Analyst, Arlington, Texas, has created the Contractor Advisory Board, a new online panel of 8,500 contractors in the U.S. and Canada. All types of contractors (general contractors, HVAC/R, electrical, tile and masonry, plumbing, landscape, etc.) are members. During registration, panel members are asked to provide information such as business size, services provided, type of market served, market segments served, title and/or position, union affiliation, and business sales level.
Batch map product from Spatial Insights
Vienna, Va., software firm Spatial Insights, Inc. released Map-O-Matic, an application developed for batch map production within the MapInfoProfessional environment. Map-O-Matic starts with an existing MapInfo workspace, allowing the user to have control over the map content and styles. It cycles through any or all specified objects in a table, and zooms to each of the selected objects. Unique map titles are automatically generated using text from a specified column, and scale bars and north arrows can be added to each map. The maps can be printed, or saved to a number of graphics formats, including PDF, WMF, JPG, or BMP. Individual MapInfo workspaces can be saved for each of the maps produced, to facilitate fine-tuning at a later time if desired.
Tech industry resource launches
Port Washington, N.Y. research firm NPD INTELECT has launched NPDTechworld, a market information resource for the technology industry. NPDTechworld is an online market information service that combines consumer electronics and information technology market information collected at the point-of-sale and from consumers. By combining point-of-sale information, previously provided by NPD INTELECT Market Tracking, with consumer information collected from NPD’s Online Panel, NPDTechworld aims to provide a representative view of market trends across all consumer segments and all channels of distribution. After the service’s official rollout, new features will be added to allow clients to customize data to address the particular business issues of each user, facilitating access to the information most relevant to their needs.
Qual/quant tool examines buying process
MarketBridge, a Bethesda, Md., professional services firm, is now offering Channel Preference Mapping, a new research service designed to help clients understand how, when, and where customers want to buy their products and services. Channel Preference Mapping uses both qualitative and quantitative approaches to examine customer channel usage by market segment and by product category; customer channel requirements (e.g., Web site feature/ functionality, service levels, response times, and delivery and fulfillment); customer satisfaction level; and customer market segmentation and gowth analysis.
New edition of Alberta Technology Report
In late January, Ernst & Young LLP and Canada-based Ipsos-Reid plan to release results of the 2001 Alberta Technology Report, a study based on an online survey of technology industry decision-makers in the province of Alberta. Now in its third year, the Alberta Technology Report asks CEOs and senior executives in Alberta’s information technology sector to identify the trends, challenges and issues facing the province’s IT companies. In addition to gathering annual baseline information, the study will: examine the post-September 11 impact on human resource policies; look at employment opportunities, and corporate attraction and retention techniques; investigate the real or imagined lack of venture capital and its importance to future industry growth; quantify spending trends in the areas of sales, marketing, and research and development; and ask CEOs to cite specific initiatives that various levels of government might take to further support the industry.
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Las Vegas-based MRCGroup Research Institute now offers Perception Analyzer wireless technology for real-time behavioral response testing and analysis of movie trailers, network and cable television program pilots, and cornmercial spots. In MRCGroup’s research theater, researchers can now compare multiple commercials, trailers and/or pilot shows using trade-off comparisons as well as discrete, scale, and moment-tomoment evaluation.
Meneses Research & Associates is offering the "Ask San Diego" Report 2001, which includes results of a survey among Hispanic and non-Hispanic consumers in San Diego County, Calif., on awareness, attitude, and usage of products and services.
Germany-based agricultural market research firm Kleffmann has introduced amis4you, which gives clients online access to agricultural market research data from studies conducted with farmers in 42 countries.
New York-based information firm CMR has added six Canadian markets to its Broadcast Verification Service (BVS), which tracks the occurrence of television programming and commercials within hours of airing. The Canadian markets that BVS now serves include Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, and 39 specialty cable television networks.
InsightFarm, a Livingston, N.J., media research and consulting firm, has completed a study on media coverage and portrayal of two topics in the biotech industry - genetically modified foods and cloning.