Marketing Research and Insight Glossary

Definitions, common uses and explanations of 1,500+ key market research terms and phrases.

What is Psychographic research?

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Psychographic research Definition

Research that attempts to explain behavior by analyzing people's personality traits and values. Often associated with lifestyle research.

Psychographic research explores the psychological attributes of consumers, including their values, attitudes, interests, lifestyles, personality traits and motivations. It goes beyond demographics to understand why people behave the way they do.

What are key aspects of psychographic research?

  • Focuses on consumer values and beliefs.
  • Explores attitudes, interests and opinions.
  • Identifies lifestyle segments.
  • Uncovers emotional and motivational drivers.
  • Uses qualitative and quantitative methods.

Why is psychographic research important in market research?

Psychographic research is important because it reveals the underlying motivations behind consumer behavior. It helps brands craft more resonant messaging, improve product development and segment markets in ways that reflect mindset rather than just age, income or location.

Who relies on psychographic research in marketing research?

  • Brand strategists.
  • Creative agencies.
  • Media planners.
  • Product development teams.
  • Consumer insights professionals.

How do market researchers use psychographic research?

Market researchers use psychographic research to develop deeper, more human-centered understandings of target audiences. By analyzing consumer lifestyles, values and emotional drivers, researchers can create psychographic profiles that guide segmentation, positioning and campaign development. These insights help brands speak to customers on a personal level, enabling more effective communication strategies and product offerings that align with consumer identity and aspirations. Psychographic data is often layered with demographic or behavioral data to build rich, multidimensional personas.