Qualitative Consumer Research

How is qualitative marketing and consumer research conducted today? - What is rigorous research in this field? - What are the new, cutting edge techniques? Written for students, scholars, and marketing research practitioners, this book takes readers through the basics to an advanced understanding of the latest developments in qualitative marketing and consumer research. The book offers readers a practical guide to planning, conducting, analyzing, and presenting research using both time-tested and new methods, skills and technologies. With hands-on exercises that researchers can practice and apply, the book leads readers step-by-step through developing qualitative researching skills, using illustrations drawn from the best of recent and classic research. Whatever your background, this book will help you become a better researcher and help your research come alive for others.

This is a perfect guide to understanding the core principles of qualitative marketing research. It presents qualitative marketing research in the broader context of marketing and managerial decisions, consumer psychology and contemporary knowledge about unconscious and automatic processes. Different types of qualitative marketing research methods are examined, from the classic focus group interview (FGI) and individual in-depth interview (IDI), to more cutting-edge methods such as ethnography or bulletin boards, which enable marketing researchers to discover and understand real consumer motivations, needs, values, and attitudes. With numerous international case studies, including PepsiCo, Unilever, Danone, Nestle, Aviva and Citibank, the book is uniquely practical in its approach. It is vital reading for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students of marketing research, consumer behaviour and consumer psychology.

While consumer research is founded on traditional quantitative approaches, the insight produced through qualitative research methods within consumer settings has not gone unnoticed. The culturally situated consumer, who is in intimate dialogue with their physical, virtual and social surroundings, has become integral to understanding the psychology behind consumer choices. This volume presents readers with theoretical and applied approaches to using qualitative research methods in ethnographic studies looking at consumer behavior. It brings together an international group of leading scholars in the field of consumer research, with educational and professional backgrounds in marketing, advertising, business, education, therapy and health. Researchers, teaching faculty, and students in the field of consumer and social psychology will benefit from the applied examples of qualitative and ethnographic consumer research this volume presents.

Using some of the latest qualitative research tools, this volume highlights insights about consumption ranging from how consumers process advertising messages, to how small retailers can combat the practice of “showrooming” by consumers comparing online prices with mobile devices.

This book presents both theoretical research methods and practical uses of qualitative consumer and marketing research in Asia, as well as approaches to research with extended viewpoints and case studies on the specific research practices, identifying the distinctive characteristics and conditions of the Asian market. Starting with an introduction and a rationale for qualitative consumer and marketing research, which discuss interpretive research perspectives and key qualitative research traditions underlying the research, it then elaborates on research design, formulating research directions, research questions, research methods, research validity and reliability, as well as research ethics. The book goes on to cover various key data-collection techniques, such as interviews, focus groups, observation and ethnography, online observation and netnography, and other alternative tools like projective techniques, autodriving and diaries. These include design of research setting (samples and sampling strategy, context, time) and research procedures (from entry to access and completion of the research project) with resources planning. In addition, the book also addresses data analysis and interpretation as well as presentation, dissemination, and sharing of research results through both academic and practical courses. Lastly, it derives key concepts by reviewing classic research traditions and methods together with academic and practical studies.

How is qualitative marketing and consumer research conducted today? - What is rigorous research in this field? - What are the new, cutting edge techniques? Written for students, scholars, and marketing research practitioners, this book takes readers through the basics to an advanced understanding of the latest developments in qualitative marketing and consumer research. The book offers readers a practical guide to planning, conducting, analyzing, and presenting research using both time-tested and new methods, skills and technologies. With hands-on exercises that researchers can practice and apply, the book leads readers step-by-step through developing qualitative researching skills, using illustrations drawn from the best of recent and classic research. Whatever your background, this book will help you become a better researcher and help your research come alive for others.

'Anyone using, practising or teaching qualitative research will find in this series a treasure-house of ideas, techniques and issues. This is a -must-have-' - Admap 'this is one of the best texts on the subject I've come across and I did find some of the content truly inspirational' - Mick Williamson, Creative Director, TRBI for in Brief magazine 'It will be essential reading for anyone involved with qualitative market research' - David Barr, Director General of the Market Research Society 'An ideal resource for people aiming for a qualitative market research career, for academics interested to know more about an important field of application for qualitative research methods, or for those who are already engaged in the field and who wish to update their skills and reflect on their practice and profession' - Nigel Fielding, University of Surrey Qualitative Market Research is a landmark publishing event. The seven volumes provide, for the first time, complete coverage of qualitative market research practice, written by experienced practitioners, for both a commercial and academic audience. The set fills two important market gaps: it offers commercial practitioners authoritative source texts for training and professional development; and provides students and researchers with an account of qualitative research theory and practice in use today. Each book cross-references others in the series, but can also be used as a stand-alone resource on a key topic. The seven books have been carefully structured so as to be completely accessible in terms of language, use of jargon and assumed knowledge. Experienced market researchers will find the tools to help them critically evaluate their own work. Those new to market research will be provided with a complete map of qualitative market research theory and practice (including brands and advertising theory) and the stimulation to discuss and learn more with tutors and practitioners. Qualitative Market Research will be an invaluable resource for academic and professional libraries, commercial market researchers, as well as essential reading for students in market research, marketing and business studies.

As the importance of marketing to business grows, and as new concepts and applications of marketing emerge and evolve, so too does the need for up-to-date market intelligence. This book recognizes that the contribution which qualitative research can make to market understanding and insight is immense, and that statistical information flows are never enough but need to be compounded by market intelligence gained through qualitative methods. Qualitative Marketing Research clearly explains the use and importance of qualitative methods, clarifying the theories behind the methodology and providing concrete examples and exercises which illustrate its application to Management Studies and Marketing. This book is intended for all students of marketing who are required to complete their studies with a dissertation or research project.