Microtab introduces XP 2003 edition
Atlanta research software firm Microtab Inc. has introduced its latest Windows-based software release, Microtab XP 2003, as well as an SPSS-compatible add-on module. The 2003 edition of Microtab XP updates both the Professional and Standard Editions by improving the banner generation function and the statistical testing capabilities. The SPSS add-on module for the 2003 Professional Edition works with any data collection soRware that outputs data in SPSS format. The module imports the data, the variable names, and the text for questions and their answers into Microtab XB. Once in Microtab, this module allows for one-button-click creation of tables. Means and statistical testing on the tables can be selected during import of the .sav file. The Standard and Professional Editions allow unlimited questionnaire length and unlimited table length on as many as 10 million surveys. The Professional Edition also includes sample balancing, statistical testing and data manipulation features. Both Windows Editions comewith free support from Microtab, which also provides online searchable help and documentation.
New Market Insight reports from Cheskin
San Francisco-based research firm Cheskin is now offering three new Market Insight reports on its redesigned Web site at www.cheskin.com. The new reports are: Hispanic Trends; Designing Digital Experiences for Youth; and The Digital Experience Industry - Five Segments Focused on Youth. Hispanic Trends covers six interrelated trends in the U.S. Hispanic market that influence consumer decision-making. Designing Digital Experiences for Youth delivers recommendations for targeting the youth market. Both these reports can be downloaded for free. The 98-page digital experience industry report covers industry data in five segments along with company profiles of the top players. It can be purchased for $95.
SRC issues 2003 Latin American report
Miami-based Strategy Research Corporation (SRC) is now offering the 2003 Latin American Market Planning Report, the seventh edition of its annual reference book. The 2003 edition has been broadened to include new analytical sections to address a larger cross-section of readers interested in Latin American business and social affairs. It also includes added analytical content which will discuss the business environment, population and demography, buying power and consumer profiles. The new sections are based on primary and secondary research conducted by SRC in 16 markets. Compared to prior reports, the market profile of each country has been enlarged, and a consumer profile is presented for all countries for which primary data were collected. The report includes consumer confidence, consumer infrastructure, consumption patterns and lifestyle. In addition, the latest buying power estimates for 18 countries plus Puerto Rico and 70 metropolitan markets are presented in the new 2003 report.
Interface supports DASH CATI systems
Fort Washington, Pa.-based Marketing Systems Group announces the installation of a new interface between the Victoria B.C.-based DASH CATI system and the PRO-T-S research Predictive Dialer. DASH is a software package developed and sold in Canada. The new interface has already been installed at two facilities owned by Consumer Contact, a Canadian telephone data collection company. In addition to DASH, PRO-T-S also interfaces with CfMC Survent, Sawtooth’s WinCati and The Analytical Group’s WinQuery systems. Interfaces are under development with two more CATI systems and discussions are underway with other CATI vendors.
Report profiles TV viewers by technology ownership
A new report from Knowledge Networks/SRI allows clients to compare the media technology profiles for regular viewers of 31 major television networks - from NBC to ESPN to TLC. Deriveed from KN/SRI’s surveys for The Home Technology Monitor, this analysis provides a resource for agencies, advertisers, media companies and financial analysts.
Based on overall technology ownership, homes that typically watch HBO have the highest index of home technology. Other networks whose viewing homes have high technology levels are Showtime, MTV, Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, VH-1, and TLC. The WB and UPN had the highest technology indexes among broadcast networks.
Technology Profiles of Network TV Audiences is designed to help users connect with consumers - such as high-tech early adopters - by identifying networks and technologies that are likely fo reach these groups. The report covers 30 high-profile media devices and services, such as digital cable TV, digital satellite TV, DVD players, cell phones, home computers, and broadband Internet access. Breaks for several demographic factors - such as income, age of householders, and presence of children - are also included.
The new report consolidates data from the spring 2002 ownership survey of The Home Technology Monitor, which consisted of interviews with 1,487 homes across the U.S. KN/SRI issues two Ownership Reports and two Trend Reports per year as part of The Home Technology Monitor, as well as How People Use studies that document consumers’ day-to-day interactions with and preferences toward key technologies and media.
SegmentSolve now in retail version
Market Advantage Software, Inc., Naperville, Ill., is now offering a retail version of its market segmentation software, SegmentSolve. SegmentSolve combines the three classical steps of segmentation (cluster or segment development, segment selection and segment characterization) in one integrated platform. The software starts with raw data and when finished results in a segmentation scheme by combining two required analytical tools (cluster analysis and crosstabulation analysis) with two enabling technologies (identification of the "best" cluster and computer-aided significance scanning).
ltracks adds Web site usability tool
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-based online research firm Interactive Tracking Systems Inc. (Itracks) has launched i~s new Online Usability tool for Web site testing. Designed with input from market research firms, Itracks’ Online Usability is designed specifically for market researchers, allowing them to expand their service offerings in the area of Web site testing.
Itracks’ Online Usability lets market researchers conduct qualitative or quantitative Web site usability studies. The application can be fully integrated with online focus groups, bulletin board groups or surveys.
Research participants take part over the Internet from where they normally access the Web. These studies are taskbased so the researcher always knows the participant’s intent. The online reporting facility allows market researchers to view click statistics such as click density and click path, as well as qualitative comments collected in Itracks’ verbatim capture.
Traditionally Web site usability studies are conducted in a lab environment, where participants visit a research firm to surf a Web site and sit beside a researcher who asks them questions. Online Usability will allow researchers to conduct studies with geographically dispersed populations, gathering a range of opinions, while providing exercises that respondents can selfadminister.
Quant tool for lowincidence patient populations
Centrac DC, a Rockville, Md., research fLrm, is now offering Highly Targeted Patient Research (HTPR), a service designed to help clients conduct quantitative research with lowincidence patient populations. HTPR is made possible through a proprietary data resource, which involves a panel of several thousand retail pharmacists that can help target and recruit very specific patients to participate in marketing research studies. The panel is geographically dispersed and representative of the universe of all pharmacies in the continental U.S. The panel also has representation from both chain and retail stores. Recruitment can be customized based on age range, sex, geographic location, therapeutic category, current or former product use, users of competitive brands, length of therapy, and therapy switches.
GENESYS system updated
Fort Washington, Pa.-based Marketing Systems Group has released an updated version of GENESYS, its in-house RDD sample design and generation system. GENESYS 2.0 includes expanded online help, improved batch processing capabilities, enhanced reporting, and the ability to defme individual RDD samples using multiple types of geography such as a combination of county, ZIP code and census tracts. The new release uses 32-bit architecture, which is designed to provide faster processing and sample generation. Optional network versions support multiple users with any combination of design-only and design/generation capabilities.
Measure impact of online media campaigns
InsightExpress, a New York online research firm, is now offering AdInsights, a real-time measurement service that allows advertisers, agencies and Web publishers to measure the impact of their online advertising campaigns. AdInsights uses InsightExpress’s technology to integrate a customized survey directly into an online media campaign. This approach enables clients to quantify through performance of online ads by measuring unaided/aided brand awareness, purchase intent, and other attitudinal dimensions.
Monitoring ads across a single Web site or a network or networks, AdInsights segregates Web users into exposed and unexposed groups. AdInsights also affords marketers campaign measurement control by defining banner or campaign-level frequency thresholds for surveying.
AdInsights also extends beyond a point-in-time research initiative by enabling survey participants to share their opinions in follow-up surveys - days, weeks, or months after their initial participation.
Two new references from American Map
New York-based American Map Corporation is now offering the Business Control Atlas and Zip Code Atlas. These references both feature new, digitized maps; up-todate county/town maps for each state, showing places of 1,000 and up (based on year 2000 census figures); color added to enhance the clarity of the maps; and a full-color 50" x 38" map of the United States. The Business Control Atlas includes the following features: latest MSAs/NECMAs shown on state maps; adjoining indexes for counties and towns complete with population figures; enlarged insets for major metropolitan areas; and retail sales by industry, household incomes, and population figures for all MSAs/NECMAs. With population statistics and marketing data by three-digit ZIP code area for 20 categories, the Zip Code Atlas provides an easy-to-read map of each of the 50 states with corresponding indexes. It features: three-digit ZIP code areas shown on state maps; adjoining indexes for counties and towns, showing five-digit ZIP codes, keyed to their respective state maps; and 22 charts that provide demographic information by ZIP code, including statistics on retail sales by industry, household incomes, and population for all three-digit ZIP code areas.
Briefly...
Stillwater, Minn.-based mail research firm Readex, Inc., has launched a new business, The Mail Research Center, designed to give organizations wishing to conduct a mail survey a complement of supporting services, including access to samples in business-tobusiness and special interest markets.
Taylor Nelson Sofres has launched BUY©Test Online, an online version of its advertising pre-testing solution. BUY©Test Online addresses traditional advertising pre-testing issues such as cost and turnaround times and is designed to reduce the time taken to measure creative subtleties within advertising.
Geolytics, East Brunswick, N.J., is now offering CensusCD 2000 Long Form, which includes such variables as income, housing value, employment, education, poverty, ancestry, and commute to work, etc. The data is available from nation down to tract level, ZIP code and block group level. There are 5,500 variables available at the block group level, and an additional 11,000 are available at the tract level and above.
Inside Out, a new book by Myron Radio and Rod Johnson that uses children’s stories to explore issues of personal and professional growth, is now available from Beaver’s Pond Press.