This document provides an overview of marketing research, including definitions, processes, methods and applications. It defines marketing research as the systematic process of identifying and solving marketing problems through data collection, analysis and reporting. The key stages are defined as problem identification, research design, data collection, data analysis, and reporting. Common problem-solving research includes segmentation, product, pricing, promotion and distribution research. Other topics covered include careers, selecting research suppliers, and the roles of marketing information systems and decision support systems. Ethics and stakeholders are also discussed.

1. Chapter One
Introduction to Marketing Research

2. Be an MR!
Be a DM!
Opening Vignette
Definition of Marketing Research
Fig.
1.2
A Classification of Marketing Research
Fig 1.3
Marketing Research Process
Fig 1.4
The Role of Marketing Research in Decision Making
Fig
1.5
The Information Value Chain for Marketing Research
Fig 1.6
Application to Contemporary Issues
International
Technology
Ethics
What Would You Do?
Experiential Learning
Figure 1.1 Introduction to Marketing Research: An Overview

3. Be an MR!
Be a DM!
Opening Vignette
Marketing Research Industry
Fig
1.7
What Would You Do?
Experiential Learning
Figure 1.1 Introduction to Marketing Research: An Overview (cont.)
Table
1.1
Selecting a Research Supplier
Careers in Marketing Research
The Role of Marketing Research in MIS and DSS
Fig. 1.8 and 1.9
Application to Contemporary Issues
International
Technology
Ethics

4. Definition of Marketing Research
Marketing research is the systematic and objective





identification,
collection,
analysis,
dissemination, and
use of information
for the purpose of improving decision making related to the
 identification and
 solution of problems and opportunities in marketing.

5. Figure 1.2 Defining Marketing Research
Identification of
Information
Needed
Identifying and
Solving Marketing
Problems
Collection of
Data
Analysis of
Data
Dissemination of
Information
Use of
Information

6. Market Research
• Specifies the information necessary to address
these issues
• Manages and implements the data collection
process
• Analyzes the results
• Communicates the findings and their implications

7. Classification of Marketing Research
Problem Identification Research
• Research undertaken to help identify problems which
are not necessarily apparent on the surface and yet
exist or are likely to arise in the future. Examples:
market potential, market share, image, market
characteristics, sales analysis, forecasting, and
trends research.
Problem Solving Research
• Research undertaken to help solve specific marketing
problems. Examples: segmentation, product, pricing,
promotion, and distribution research.

8. Figure 1.3 A Classification of Marketing Research
Marketing
Research
Problem
Identificatio
n Research
•
•
•
•
Market Potential Research
Market Share Research
Image Research
Market Characteristics
Research
• Forecasting Research
• Business Trends Research
Problem
Solving
Research
• Segmentation
Research
• Product Research
• Pricing Research
• Promotion Research
• Distribution Research

9. Table 1.1
Problem Solving Research
SEGMENTATION RESEARCH
 Determine the basis of segmentation
 Establish market potential and
responsiveness for various
segments
 Select target markets
 Create lifestyle profiles:
demography, media, and
product image characteristics
PRODUCT RESEARCH
 Test concept
 Determine optimal product
design
 Package tests
 Product modification
 Brand positioning and
repositioning
 Test marketing
 Control score tests

10. Table 1.1 (cont.)
Problem Solving Research
PROMOTIONAL RESEARCH


Sales promotion relationship

Optimal promotional mix

Copy decisions

Media decisions

PRICING RESEARCH
Optimal promotional budget
Creative advertising testing

Evaluation of advertising effectiveness

Claim substantiation

Pricing policies

Importance of price in brand selection

Product line pricing

Price elasticity of demand

Initiating and responding to price changes

11. Problem Solving Research
DISTRIBUTION RESEARCH
Determine…
 Types of distribution
 Attitudes of channel members
 Intensity of wholesale & resale coverage
 Channel margins
 Location of retail and wholesale outlets

12. Problem Solving Research
Segmentation Research
- determine basis of segmentation
- establish market potential and responsiveness for various segments
- select target markets and create lifestyle profiles for demography,
media, and product image characteristics
Product Research
- test concept
- determine optimal product design
- package tests
- product modification
- brand positioning and repositioning
- test marketing
- control store tests

13. Problem Solving Research (Cont.)
Pricing Research
-
importance of price in brand selection
pricing policies
-
product line pricing
-
price elasticity of demand
initiating and responding to price changes

14. Problem Solving Research (Cont.)
• Promotional Research
optimal promotional budget
sales promotion relationship
optimal promotional mix
copy decisions
media decisions
creative advertising testing
claim substantiation
evaluation of advertising effectiveness

15. Problem Solving Research (Cont.)
Distribution Research
-
-
determine type of distribution
attitudes of channel members
intensity of wholesale and retail coverage
channel margins
location of retail and wholesale outlets

16. Figure 1.4 The Marketing Research Process
Step 1: Defining the Problem
Step 2: Developing an Approach to the Problem
Step 3: Formulating a Research Design
Step 4: Doing Field Work or Collecting Data
Step 5: Preparing and Analyzing Data
Step 6: Preparing and Presenting the Report

17. Figure 1.5 The Role of Marketing Research in Marketing Decision Making
Uncontrollable
Environmental
Factors
• Economy
• Technology
• Competition
• Laws and
Regulation
• Social and
Cultural Factors
• Political Factors
Assessing
Information
Needs
Customer Groups
• Consumers
• Employees
• Channel Members
• Suppliers
Controllable
Marketing
Variables
• Product
• Pricing
• Promotion
• Distribution
Marketing
Research
Marketing
Decision
Making
Marketing Managers
• Market Segmentation
• Marketing Programs
• Target Market Selection • Performance and
Control
Providing
Information

18. Figure 1.6 The Information Value Chain
Data
The Information Value
Chain
Information
Knowledge
Data with structure
Information endowed
with meaning
Decision
Making
Implementing
Action
Processes
Outcomes
Expertise
in measurement

19. Figure 1.7 Marketing Research Industry: Supplier and Services
Research
Suppliers
External
Internal
Full Service
Limited Service
Syndicated
Services
Customized
Services
Internet
Services
Field Services
Other Services

20. Marketing Research Suppliers & Services
• Internal suppliers
• External suppliers
– Full-service suppliers
• Syndicated services
• Standardized services
• Customized services
• Internet services
– Limited-service suppliers
• Field services
• Coding and data entry services
• Analytical services
• Data analysis services
• Branded marketing research products

21. Criteria for Selecting a Research Supplier
What is the reputation of the supplier?
Do they complete projects on schedule?
Are they known for maintaining ethical standards?
Are they flexible?
Are their research projects of high quality?
What kind and how much experience does the supplier
have? Has the firm had experience with projects similar
to this one?
 Do the supplier's personnel have both technical and
non-technical expertise?
 Can they communicate well with the client?






Competitive bids should be obtained and compared on
the basis of quality as well as price.

22. Careers in Marketing Research
• Career opportunities are available with marketing
research firms (e.g., AC Nielsen, Burke, Inc., M/A/R/C)
• Careers in business and non-business firms and
agencies with in-house marketing research departments
(e.g., Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, AT & T, the Federal
Trade Commission, United States Census Bureau)
• Advertising agencies (e.g., BBDO International, Ogilvy &
Mather, J. Walter Thompson, Young & Rubicam)
• Positions: vice president of marketing research, research
director, assistant director of research, project manager,
field work director, statistician/data processing specialist,
senior analyst, analyst, junior analyst, and operational
supervisor.

23. Selected Marketing Research Career Descriptions
Research Director
Vice President of Marketing
Research
•
• Also part of senior
management
Part of company’s top
• Heads the development
management team
•
Directs company’s entire market
and execution of all
research operation
•
research projects
Sets the goals & objectives of the
marketing research department
Assistant Director of Research
•Administrative assistant to director
•Supervises research staff members
Senior Project Manager
• Responsible for design, implementation, &
research projects

24. Selected Marketing Research Career Descriptions
Senior Analyst
• Participates in the development of projects
• Carries out execution of assigned projects
• Coordinates the efforts of analyst, junior analyst, & other personnel in the
development of research design and data collection
• Prepares final report
Analyst
• Handles details in execution of
project
• Designs & pretests questionnaires
• Conducts preliminary analysis of
data
Statistician/Data Processing
• Serves as expert on theory and
application on statistical techniques
• Oversees experimental design, data
processing, and analysis
Junior Analyst
Fieldwork Director
• Secondary data analysis
• Edits and codes questionnaires
• Conducts preliminary analysis of data
• Handles selection, training,
supervision, and evaluation of
interviewers and field workers

25. Preparation for a Career in Marketing Research
• Take all the marketing courses you can.
• Take courses in statistics and quantitative methods.
• Acquire Internet and computer skills. Knowledge of
programming languages is an added asset.
• Take courses in psychology and consumer behavior.
• Acquire effective written and verbal communication
skills.
• Think creatively. Creativity and common sense
command a premium in marketing research.

26. Figure 1.8 The Development of MIS and DSS
Internal
Billing,
Production,
and Other
Records
+
External
Market
Information
=
Marketing
Information
Systems
Decision
Support
Systems
Expert Systems

27. Figure 1.9 Marketing Information Systems (MIS)
vs.
Decision Support Systems (DSS)
MIS
DSS
• Structured problems
• Unstructured problems
• Use of reports
• Use of models
• Information
displaying restricted
• Adaptability
• Can improve
decision making by
clarifying new data
• Can improve decision
making by using “what
if” analysis

28. Figure 1.10 Stakeholders in Marketing Research:
An Ethical Perspective
Client
Marketing
Researcher
Public
Respondents

29. Marketing Research Associations Online
Domestic
AAPOR: American Association for Public Opinion Research
(www.aapor.org)
AMA: American Marketing Association (www.ama.org)
ARF: The Advertising Research Foundation (www.amic.com/arf)
CASRO: The Council of American Survey Research Organizations
(www.casro.org)
MRA: Marketing Research Association (www.mra-net.org)
QRCA: Qualitative Research Consultants Association
(www.qrca.org)
RIC: Research Industry Coalition (www.research industry.org)