New home office panel
U.K.-based IRB Research has launched its SoHo Panel, a dedicated research panel of small office/home office business decision makers. Derived from responses to IRB’s SoHo Monitor, these individuals have all agreed to be part of the panel.
SPSS 9.0 now available
SPSS has introduced SPSS 9.0 for Windows, including enhanced gaphical analysis capabilities, new statistics and new data access tools which combine to simplify the acquisition and analysis of large amounts of data. Topping the list of new features is a table-to-graph function that allows users to see a picture of their tabular data in a few mouse clicks. Instead of sifting through mountains of numbers to find important factors and relationships, analysts can switch over to a graph of their data for a visual representation of the information, from basic reports or advanced analytic techniques, without having to rerun the analysis.
The addition of an ASCII Text Wizard to the software’s set of acquisition tools gives users the abifity to map ASCII data from wherever it resides. By joining SPSS 9.0 with the SmartViewer Web Server, organizations can have a comprehensive Report OLAP system not oniy for acquiring and analyzing data but also for distributing and consuming information.
Guide outlines ad claim support procedures
A new gafide that strives to establish what are permissible and recommended procedures for supporting advertising claims has been published by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Known as E 1958, the guiide was developed by ASTM’s Committee E-18 on Sensory Evaluation of Materials and Products. For eight years, sensory scientists, psychologists, statisticians and attorneys worked together to produce this document. They represented the points of view of advertisers, suppliers, and practitioners in the fields of product development and consumer testing for claim support. The guide provides guidance on what testing to do based on the kind of claim that is being substantiated, including which products to test against, how many to test against, and where to test in the market. The 20-page document also covers attribute, performance, and hedonic claims, both comparative and non-comparative. It also includes broad principles covering the selection and recruiting of representative consumer samples, selecting and preparing products, constructing product rating forms, executing tests, and handling statistical data. The committee is careful to note that E 1958 is by no means intended to be prescriptive. It is, instead, intended to aid judgment. For a copy of E 1958, contact ASTM.
X.OCX version of TrendiVlap from Spatial Insights
Spatial Insights, Inc., Vienna, Va., has released an active X.OCX version of the TrendMap Trade Area Analysis system. TrendMap is used for the mapping of spatial trends from georeferenced point-based data. The system can be used to create accurate trade area maps from customer location or point-of-sale data, map the concentration of competitors, or to evaluate trends in other types of point-based samples, such as geochemical or environmental surveys. The TrendMap OCX is an application developers tool that enables TrendMap functionality to be accessed from and used with customized mapping applications developed with Visual Basic or C programming environments.
First edition of China sourcebook
Euromonitor has teamed with the China State Statistical Bureau and the Japanese research company Soken to produce a bilingual sourcebook containing official data on the Chinese market. "China Marketing Data and Statistics" is the first edition of what will become an annual publication. The book contains a statistical index of the economic and purchasing strength of each tenon, including 1,000 market parameters from retailing to tourism to population, ownership of consumer goods, health, education, environment or telecommunications. Also included are an explanation of the terminology and the methodology and analysis of the 30 geogaphical areas covered.
Web site for BTB direct mailers
Aimed primarily at business-to-business direct mailers, Mardev’s new Intemet site is designed to deliver information to support domestic and international business campaigns by providing a single point of access to assist campaign decision making. The site includes information on new data protection laws in Europe, the latest direct marketing articles, tips and best practices. The site also offers ListSearch, an interactive guide to Mardev’s portfolio of 300 international business, academic and scientific lists. Mardev is the list management division of publishing firm Reed Elsevier.
Pulse Train updates Pulsar
U.K.-based Pulse Train Technology has released Pulsar 2.2, an upgade to its desktop analysis package. The main enhancement is that the software now allows the user to analyze hierarchical data, stored either in a relational database or in flat ASCII format. Other new features include a new batch printing capability - allowing the user to select a number of tables, charts, and reports from a project for printing - and the ability to export profile reports, containing selected areas of data, to the statistical analysis software SAS.
Survey shows companies how they’re viewed on the Street
Sharon Merrill Associates (SMA), a Boston corporate communications firm, has introduced its StreetScope Investor Relations Benchmarking Survey. StreetScope is a customized perception audit that informs public companies of how they are viewed by Wall Street. The service typically consists of a customized survey as well as a report on key findings, strategic recommendations and verbatim comments. The research is conducted by an SMA team that includes a senior-level investor relations professional and the company’s research staff.
NDS releases Net-based site analysis tool
National Decision Systems, San Diego, has released imark for Internetbased market, site, and customer analysis. Imark combines demogaphic, consumer demand and business data with a company’s own proprietary information (inventory, sales, customer, competition, etc.) to allow it to identify and evaluate potential site locations; quantify product demand, traffic volumes, and competitor influence; ascertain customer lifestyles and trends; make marketing and merchandising decisions on a local or regional basis.