News

Many Parents Multi-task While Driving

05/13/2013

Survey shows child passengers often in cars with distracted drivers; many youngsters also not in the right size safety seat. ... read more

Uncovering the Secrets of Brand Affinity

05/10/2013

USC Marshall study uncovers the key to brand affinity and brand aversion for brands like Apple and Manchester United. ... read more

When Brand Humanization Goes Wrong

04/03/2013

Consumers see the brand as performing bad intentionally and therefore consumers develop more negative sentiments toward the brand. ... read more

Study Finds True Fame Isn’t Fleeting

04/01/2013

Contrary to popular belief, the people who become truly famous, stay famous for decades, and that this is the case whatever field they're in, including sports, politics, and other domains. ... read more

Do Facebook ‘Likes’ Indicate Quality Hospital Care?

03/01/2013

The American Journal of Medical Quality recently published a study that found that Facebook "Likes" were indeed an indicator of hospital quality and patient satisfaction. ... read more

Motivations for Choosing a Health Plan are Complicated

02/28/2013

Study offers new insight into how people choose insurance plans. ... read more

Bridal Registries Replace MOB with the Marketplace

02/27/2013

Bridal registries replace matriarch with marketplace, new Notre Dame study shows. ... read more

Why do Consumers Overspend on Special Purchases?

02/15/2013

Consumers spend more than they would if they realized how often they were spending on these exceptional purchases. ... read more

SMARI Research Helps Visit Indy Maximize Its Advertising Campaign

11/16/2012

Focus groups conducted in Chicago, Louisville and St. Louis generated some surprises, according to a news story in the Indianapolis Business Journal. ... read more

Chicago’s Leisure Tourism Campaign Delivers Triple-Digit ROI

11/15/2012

The 12-week television and digital campaign, at a cost of $1.3 million, delivered 378,000 incremental hotel room nights and $207 million in total spending between May and September 2012 according to analysis conducted by Strategic Marketing & Research, Inc (SMARI). ... read more

Chips and Salsa (Brands) Go Together

11/14/2012

Matching brands: Why do consumers prefer Tostitos salsa with Tostitos tortilla chips? ... read more

In the Digital Age, You Can’t Ignore #angrycustomers

11/13/2012

Online or in person, managers need to respond to customer emotions, study shows. ... read more

Political Ads Work - In Moderation, Study Shows

10/24/2012

University of Miami professor examines when and how negative campaigns ads are effective ... read more

Women use emoticons more often than men do in text messaging :-)

10/11/2012

Women are twice as likely as men to use emoticons in text messages, according to a new study from Rice University. ... read more

Daily Deal Offers Show Improved Viability

07/05/2012

New Rice study shows improved profits and success for companies offering multiple deals. ... read more

Make Me an Offer, Online Shoppers Say

07/02/2012

Online shoppers would rather receive an offer for a product or service than make their own offer, according to a study led by a Michigan State University scholar that has implications for the fast-growing e-commerce industry. ... read more

Many Consumers Just Want Better Features

06/19/2012

Consumers who are less knowledgeable about a product typically make choices based on differences that are easy to compare among the available options, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. ... read more

Study: Personalized Emails Don’t Impress Customers

06/12/2012

Personalized email advertisements are far more likely to repel customers than to endear them, according to a study led by a Temple University Fox School of Business professor ... read more

Definition of ‘Cool’ Has Changed Over the Years

06/11/2012

Do rebelliousness, emotional control, toughness and thrill-seeking still make up the essence of coolness? ... read more

Nearly 15 Percent of Office E-mail is Gossip

06/07/2012

According to some estimates, the average corporate email user sends 112 emails every day. About one out of every seven of those messages, says a new study from Georgia Tech, can be called gossip. ... read more

Marriage May Help Prevent Unhappiness

06/06/2012

Married people may be happier in the long run than those who aren’t married, according to new research by Michigan State University scientists. ... read more

Recent Generations Focus More on Fame, Money Than Giving Back

06/05/2012

Young adults less interested in community issues, politics and environment, finds new research. ... read more

Restaurants Can Improve Customers’ Waiting Experience

06/01/2012

“By redesigning waiting areas, restaurant owners can make more money, and customers can have a more enjoyable experience.” ... read more

SMARI Research Helps Chicago Tourism Track Ad Campaign Success

05/31/2012

Chicago's first-ever regional advertising campaign promoting travel to Chicago during the winter season produced 142,000 incremental visits and $119 million in total spending during the first four months of 2012. ... read more

Ads Tied to Free Apps Drain Smart Phone Battery

04/10/2012

New findings show that 65 percent to 75 percent of the energy used to run free apps is spent for advertising-related functions. ... read more

Trivial Choices are Agonizing when Stuck in Decision Quicksand

03/20/2012

A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research explains why consumers get stuck in store aisles contemplating the dizzying array of options. ... read more

Consumers Who Lie are often more Satisfied

03/19/2012

Consumers who lie during a service encounter are more satisfied than truth tellers when they get what they want. ... read more

Consumers Want to Pay Less for Bundled Products

03/16/2012

Most consumers are not willing to pay as much for a combination as they would for two separate items. ... read more

Facebook Photo Can Say a lot About You

03/12/2012

Your profile photo on Facebook tells viewers what they need to know to form an impression of you – no words are necessary, new research suggests. ... read more

How Newspapers Are Trying to Build Digital Revenue

03/08/2012

Papers studied are losing seven dollars in print advertising for every one dollar they are gaining in new digital revenue. ... read more

Daylight-saving Time Leads to Cyber-loafing at Work

03/07/2012

Web searches related to entertainment rise sharply the Monday after the shift to daylight-saving time, ... read more

Plot Structure of an Ad Can Increase Its Impact

03/06/2012

The most popular example of the form is the MasterCard “Priceless” ad. ... read more

What Does ‘Happiness’ Mean to Consumers?

02/20/2012

Happiness means different things to different consumers, depending on whether they're focused on the future or the present, according to a new study. ... read more

What Makes a Consumer Be Brand Loyal?

02/16/2012

A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research helps explain why consumers change their minds or switch their loyalties. ... read more

Two Research Analysts Join SMARI

02/15/2012

RJ Gerard and Stacy Sanders added to market research team at Carmel company. ... read more

Adults Say Most Social Network Users Are Kind

02/13/2012

Fully 85% of adult SNS users say that, in their experience, people are mostly kind in social networking spaces. ... read more

Study Says ‘Women Worse at Math’ Theory Incorrect

01/25/2012

Researchers say gender stereotype and math skills are unrelated. ... read more

Public Priorities: Deficit Rising, Terrorism Slipping

01/24/2012

The public’s concerns rest more with domestic policy than at any point in the past 15 years, according to Pew research. ... read more

Working Moms Are Looking for More than a Paycheck

01/24/2012

A recent study of employed moms finds that most would work even if they didn't have to. ... read more

Why Young Couples Aren’t Getting Married – They Fear Divorce

12/20/2011

Among cohabitating couples, more than two-thirds of the study's respondents admitted to concerns about dealing with the social, legal, emotional and economic consequences of a possible divorce. ... read more

Barely Half of U.S. Adults Are Married – A Record Low

12/14/2011

In 1960, 72% of all adults ages 18 and older were married; today just 51% are. ... read more

Gift Giving Paradox: More Not Better, Says New Study

12/14/2011

Bundling together an expensive "big" gift and a smaller "stocking stuffer" reduces the perceived value of the overall package for the recipient. ... read more

Why Americans Use Social Media

11/17/2011

Two-thirds of online adults (66%) use social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or LinkedIn. ... read more

Half of Adult Cell Phone Owners Have Apps on Their Phones

11/04/2011

The share of adult cell phone owners who have downloaded an app to their phone nearly doubled in the past two years. ... read more

Individually Wrapped Candies are Hard to Resist

11/04/2011

Betcha won't eat just one: Study shows people consume more candies when they're individually wrapped. ... read more

The “Freshman 15” Is Just a Myth, Nationwide Study Reveals

11/01/2011

The average student gains between about 2.5 and 3.5 pounds during the first year of college. ... read more

QR Codes are a Shopper’s Link to a Mass of Information

10/14/2011

The QR code increasingly supplies a direct link between the shopper in the store and information about the scanned product online. ... read more

Brand Name Advertising Clicks with Online Shoppers

10/04/2011

Brand names in online search engine advertising campaigns can attract more attention and encourage more sales than campaigns that use generic terms, according to Penn State researchers. ... read more

How People Learn About Their Local Community

09/29/2011

While local TV news remains the most popular source for local information in America, adults rely on it primarily for just three subjects -- weather, breaking news and to a lesser extent traffic. ... read more

Political Preferences Play Different Role in Dating, Mating

09/20/2011

New research suggests that individuals attempting to attract a mate often avoid advertising their political leanings. ... read more

Daily deal companies are here to stay, according to consumers

09/14/2011

New study by Rice and Cornell researchers shows sustained interest in daily deals among consumers. ... read more

28% of U.S. Adults Use Mobile and Social Location-Based Services

09/13/2011

More than a quarter of all US adults (28%) use mobile or social location-based services of some kind. ... read more

Fans are Quick to Defend Their Brands

08/24/2011

Consumers with a high self-brand connection maintained favorable brand evaluations even when presented with negative brand information. ... read more

Search and E-mail Still Most Popular Online Activities

08/12/2011

Two activities are nearly universal among adult Internet users. ... read more

35% of American Adults Own a Smartphone

08/05/2011

One Quarter Use Their Phone for Most of Their Online Browsing. ... read more

Study: Some Moms ‘doppelgang’ Their Daughters’ Style

07/25/2011

Mothers have a stronger tendency to mimic their daughters' consumption behavior than vice versa. ... read more

E-reader Ownership Doubles in Six Months

07/07/2011

The percent of U.S. adults with an e-book reader doubled from 6% to 12% between November 2010 and May 2011. Hispanic adults, adults younger than age 65, college graduates and those living in households with incomes of at least $75,000 are most likely to own e-book readers. Parents are also more likely than non-parents to own these devices. ... read more

Angry Online Comments Can Cause Negative Perceptions of Corporations

06/22/2011

Evaluation is particularly crucial because of how much the public relies on unsubstantiated web-based information. ... read more

Do Attractive Spokespersons Actually Help Sales?

06/21/2011

Having an attractive model shill for a product only helps influence sales in certain situations, according to a new study. ... read more

Tough Times Ahead For Daily Deal Sites?

06/20/2011

Research looks at major players in the daily deal industry. ... read more

Stark Differences in Media Use Between Minority and White Youth

06/08/2011

Race-related differences among youth are robust even when controlling for factors including parent education and whether or not children are from single- or two-parent families. ... read more

Happy Employees Boost Customer Satisfaction

06/01/2011

CEOs who pay attention to employees' job satisfaction are able to boost both customer satisfaction, according to a new study. ... read more

Dieters Are Easily Misled By Food Names

05/04/2011

Dieters are so involved with trying to eat virtuously that they are more likely than non-dieters to choose unhealthy foods that are labeled as healthy. ... read more

Media Multi-Tasking is Really Multi-Distracting

05/03/2011

Study reveals physical impact of dueling devices on users. ... read more

Early Product Launches: How Will Consumers Respond?

04/29/2011

A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research explains why consumers often indicate they are willing to pay more for a product that is not yet available—but are reluctant to pay that price when the product is ultimately launched. ... read more

Study Finds Way to Measure Brand Personality Appeal

04/21/2011

Does brand personality actually get people to buy anything? ... read more

Students Say Music Piracy not the Same as Shoplifting

04/20/2011

Findings highlight difficulty of enforcing laws against illegal downloading, researchers say. ... read more

New Media Have Effect on Eating Habits

04/13/2011

Data indicates the computer has replaced the kitchen table as focal point of meals. ... read more

Cause Marketing Lowers Charitable Donations

04/04/2011

Consumers who buy such products end up giving less money to a social cause or charity. ... read more

Hispanic Population Grew 43% in Decade

03/31/2011

The Hispanic population also accounted for most of the nation's growth—56%—from 2000 to 2010. ... read more

Big Games, Close Scores Lead To More Auto Fatalities for Winning Fans

03/09/2011

Closely contested major sporting events are followed by a significant increase in traffic fatalities for fans of the winning team, according to new research. ... read more

Women Fear Being Stereotyped By Male Service Providers

03/08/2011

Women prefer female service providers in situations where they might fall prey to stereotypes about their math and science abilities, according to a study in the Journal of Consumer Research. ... read more

People Think 36 Months Is Longer than 3 Years

02/15/2011

Consumers often have a distorted view when they compare information that involves numbers, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. ... read more

Internet Increases Interaction with Interest Groups

01/27/2011

The Internet is now deeply embedded in group and organizational life in America, according to a report from the Pew Research Center. ... read more

Consumers Respond when Asked for Their Input

01/25/2011

Interactive media such as Facebook and Twitter are providing even greater opportunities for interaction with customers. ... read more

Committed Customers Don’t Like Logo Redesigns

01/12/2011

The Starbucks effect: Consumers who are strongly committed to a brand tend to react more negatively toward new logos, while more casual customers typically view the redesigns as a positive development. ... read more

Consumers Lavish Love on Their Cars and Guns

12/28/2010

Love-smitten consumers will do anything for their cars and guns, according to an article in the Journal of Consumer Research. ... read more

Baby Boomers Approach Age 65 – Glumly

12/21/2010

Pew Research Center Releases Survey Findings about America's Largest Generation ... read more

Americans Stretch Truth About Church Attendance

12/02/2010

While still relatively high, American attendance looks more similar to a number of countries in Europe. ... read more

Misleading Food Labels Lead to Overeating

11/16/2010

People are easily fooled when it comes to food labels, and will eat more of something if they believe it's a "small" portion, according to a new study. ... read more

Breaking up (with a Favorite Brand) is Hard to do

11/15/2010

The bitter breakup: What happens when consumers dump their brands? ... read more

Brand Attachment Can Lead to Separation Anxiety

11/11/2010

That bond can be strong enough that consumers are willing to sacrifice time, money, energy and reputation to maintain their attachment to that brand. ... read more

Benign Envy Sells iPhones—Malicious Envy Sells Blackberries

11/11/2010

People are willing to pay more for products that elicit their envy—but that's only when they are motivated by a positive, benign form of envy, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. ... read more

Some Brand Names Are Music to Our Ears

10/21/2010

Hearing the names of brands containing repetitive sounds can influence our mood and thus our decision-making ability when it comes to choosing whether or not we frequent that establishment or buy those items. ... read more

Building Beauty Brand Overseas Requires Cultural Knowledge

10/18/2010

Fashion and beauty product companies hoping to build their brands overseas need an understanding of the differences in perception of physical beauty in other cultures, according to new research. ... read more

One-Fifth Have Tried Video Calls and Video Chat

10/14/2010

Almost a fifth of American adults (19%) have tried video calling either online or via their cell phones. ... read more

More Shoppers Are Conducting Online Product Research

10/01/2010

58% of Americans have researched a product or service online. ... read more

Digital Coupons Show Promise, But Service Issues Remain

09/30/2010

Study looks at what consumers think of digital coupons, how they use them, why they use them and what problems are associated with their use. ... read more

How Genetics May Affect Consumer Choice

09/24/2010

Are we hard-wired for chocolate and hybrid cars? ... read more

Texting by Adults Increases; Teens Are Heaviest Texters

09/02/2010

Texting by adults has increased from 65% a year ago to 72% this year. ... read more

New Media, Gadgets Transform Customer Relationships

08/31/2010

The old straight line that governed customer relationship management has been replaced by a zig-zagging pathway that more closely resembles a game of pinball. ... read more

Genetics Affect Willingness to Take Surveys, According to Survey

08/30/2010

Genetics play a key factor in whether someone is willing to take a survey, according to a new study from North Carolina State University. ... read more

Social Networking among Older Adults Sees Explosive Growth

08/27/2010

Older users have been especially enthusiastic over the past year about embracing new networking tools. ... read more

Television and Telephone Fading in Favor

08/26/2010

The television set and the landline telephone -- are suffering from a sharp decline in public perception that they are necessities of life. ... read more

Failure Can Help Organization Learn More than Success

08/24/2010

Knowledge gained from failure lasts longer. ... read more

Many Are Still Clueless on How to Save Energy

08/19/2010

People turn off lights in vain, ignoring real efficiencies, study shows. ... read more

Broadband Adoption Slows in 2010

08/13/2010

Two-thirds of American adults (66%) currently use a high-speed Internet connection at home. ... read more

Assessing the Cell Phone Challenge

08/12/2010

Approximately 25% of households (and 23% of adults) in the second half of 2009 had no landline service and only cell phone service. ... read more

Cross-Cultural Perspective Can Help Teamwork in the Workplace

08/10/2010

Being aware of the environment that their co-workers come from may help people work together better. ... read more

Online Interactions Have Positive Effects for Real-Life Communities

08/09/2010

Communication technologies serve to reinforce and regenerate geographically-based interaction, professors say. ... read more