The Research Industry Trends 2008 Report is now available!
When this data was collected at the end of 2008, there was optimism that the sinking economy would not have major adverse effects on the industry and even more optimism that respondents' own businesses would not suffer greatly. The full impact of the deepening recession was not anticipated.

SUMMIT, NJ, February 01, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Since 2003, Rockhopper Research has collaborated with select industry partners to produce the annual Research Industry Trends (RIT) report. Initially focused on data collection issues, the scope of RIT has expanded to include directions in outsourcing, advances in technology, and inter-relationships among research providers/suppliers and clients/buyers. Along with Rockhopper, co-sponsors for RIT 2008 were Pioneer Marketing Research, the GreenBook Marketing Research Directory, GMI (Global Market Insite, Inc.), Qualitative Insights, Peanut Labs, Inc., and the MRGA.

RIT 2008 was completed in two phases. An initial online qualitative phase was conducted early Fall 2008 among three groups of research providers/suppliers and three groups of clients/buyers. Insight gained from these online sessions was used to refine the qualitative survey and to provide perspective on the environment in which RIT 2008 was conducted. To stay abreast of the most current issues facing the data collection industry, we continue to modify the online quantitative survey instrument.

Key findings:

When this data was collected at the end of 2008, there was optimism that the sinking economy would not have major adverse effects on the industry and even more optimism that respondents' own businesses would not suffer greatly. The economy was still very much on the radar - far more so than in 2007, but the full impact of the deepening recession was not anticipated.

Findings were in line with other concurrently gathered trend data suggesting that the research industry might be counter-cyclical and at least somewhat inoculated against the effects of the strongly recessive economy. Polled several weeks after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, industry respondents reported scant negative effects on business.

Whatever the level of optimism or concern, it is clear that the economy is definitely on the radar. Costs/budgets and the economy were the two most frequently mentioned "challenges facing the research industry in 2009." Last year, in RIT 2007 neither issue was in the top ten.

While web-based and other cutting edge technologies will continue to impact quantitative data collection, CATI is not dead, it is just not growing. A major issue is the diminishing penetration of land lines.

Research providers should innovate, be prepared to provide the latest and greatest technology and methodologies, and be flexible. Being up to the moment is more important to clients than providers realize.

Approximately three fifths of research buyers indicated they are open to trying new service providers, generally out of an ongoing desire to keep abreast of new resources, latest techniques, technology, and increased quality and expertise. This seems independent of satisfaction with current providers, reinforcing the precept that providers should not take even satisfied clients for granted.

Reported levels of outsourcing research tasks were essentially the same in 2008 as found in RIT 2007. Seven-in-ten study respondents indicated their organization outsourced about the same percentage of research functions in 2008 as they did during the previous year.

Press Release Contact Information:

Leonard Murphy
Rockhopper Research
President
55 Union Place Suite 181
Summit, NJ
US 07901
Voice: 866-545-3216
Website: Visit Our Website