Interviewing a Market Researcher

One of the best ways to understand marketing research practices, the problems that are encountered, and how those problems are tackled, is to conduct your own first-hand research.

For this assignment, you will interview a marketing research professional who works for an advertising agency, a marketing research firm, a corporate marketing department or some other market research-dedicated business. In order to arrange the interview, you can contact a local marketing research professional or use online communication to reach a professional outside your local area.

Prior to conducting your interview, review the list of interview topics below and contribute your own additions to the list. These additions can be used as part of your interview or held in reserve for use should your interviewee be unable to comment on one or more of the topics suggested in this assignment.

Following the completion of your interview, write a two-page report based on the interview that addresses the following interview topics along with any other topics you included in your interview.

Interview topics:

1. A brief description of the type of business

2. General information regarding the researcher, such as duration of employment in this job, credentials and favorite part of the job

3. Research done for the company

4. Types of surveys the company conducts, i.e. telephone, in-person, Internet, etc.

5. Response rates and the problem of nonresponse

6. Method(s) used to handle or estimate nonresponse error

7. Presence or absence of researcher compensation for nonresponse