Free Report #8 – Safety Measures, Schools, and Coping through Food, Faith, and Alcohol

Our most recent COVID-related ACUPULSE surveys focus on consumers’ coping strategies, degree of adherence to safety measures, and the back-to-school decisions/challenges being faced by parents – in addition to tracking unemployment, shopping/spending habits, and personal priorities.

Waves 15–16 of our COVID-related ACUPULSE surveys conducted across nearly 20,000 consumers continue to explore important aspects of everyday life for Americans during the pandemic, specifically:

  • Adherence to safety measures such as hand washing/sanitizing, mask wearing, and social distancing

  • Intentions regarding vaccination

  • Coping through hobbies/entertainment, food/alcohol, health & fitness, spirituality, and more

  • Parents' choices and challenges around sending kids back to school – or not

  • Ongoing tracking of consumers' priorities, spending habits, and income/employment

Click below to download the FREE report.

Read More

Free Report #7 – Psychological Insights into Consumers’ COVID Reactions

Waves 13–14 of our ongoing tracking focus on the underlying psychology of attitudes toward mask-wearing and other crisis-related behaviors.

Waves 13–14 of our ongoing COVID tracking explore the underlying psychology of attitudes toward mask-wearing and other crisis-related behaviors, specifically:

  • The surprising threats that "mask avoiders" perceive as superseding their health concerns

  • A leading cognitive scientist's qual interviews yielding insights about emotionality, rational inconsistencies, and mental dichotomies

  • Statistical analysis identifying four COVID attitudinal factors – fear, self-assurance, trusting compliance, and skeptical non-compliance

  • Cognitive biases and System 1/System 2 conflicts

Click below to download the FREE report.

Read More

Free Report #6B – Re-Start Reactions, Commerce & Controversy (Quirk's Edition)

This Special Report for Quirk’s Media Subscribers captures Waves 10–12 tracking of peoples’ everyday lives, hearts, and minds since March 18 across more than 15,000 consumers.

This Special Report for Quirk’s Media Subscribers captures Waves 10–12 tracking of peoples’ everyday lives, hearts, and minds since March 18 across more than 15,000 consumers, including:

  • The positives, priorities, and emotions surrounding the crisis

  • Our most recent learning on reactions to resuming activities

  • Mixed attitudes concerning the protests against government restrictions – plus reactions to broader racial protests

  • How people want advertisers to adjust to current events

Click below to download the FREE report.

Read More

Free Report #6 – Re-Start Reactions, Commerce & Controversy

While many consumers have resumed normal activities, or plan to as soon as restrictions are lifted, up to 40% continue to say they will wait until they feel safe doing so. Many also hope to continue some of the new (positive) behaviors they’ve adopted during the lock-down. Still, patience is wearing thin, and the social landscape has become increasingly complex amid recent protests.

While many consumers have resumed normal activities, or plan to as soon as restrictions are lifted, up to 40% continue to say they will wait until they feel safe doing so. Many also hope to continue some of the new (positive) behaviors they’ve adopted during the lockdown. Still, patience is wearing thin, and the social landscape has become increasingly complex amid recent protests.

Click below to download our latest FREE report.

In our 10th and 11th waves of COVID-19 research, we explored:

  • How re-start's going and the future of commerce

    • Resumed activities, reactions, and plans

    • What's happening in e-commerce, including interest in subscription services and Amazon 2-hour delivery

  • The high (but declining) support for government restrictions, and demos behind changes

  • How people want advertisers to react to these social issues

Read More

Free Report #5 – Snacks, Masks, and Economic Impacts

It’s no surprise that consumers have been cooking and eating more during this time, which presents opportunities for Brands to meet a variety of needs regarding nutrition as well as convenience. Our most recent surveys looked to uncover these insights, as well as to understand differing opinions and expectations around safety restrictions, business re-openings, and income recovery.

It’s no surprise that consumers have been cooking and eating more during this time, which presents opportunities for Brands to meet a variety of needs regarding nutrition as well as convenience. Our most recent surveys looked to uncover these insights, as well as to understand differing opinions and expectations around safety restrictions, business re-openings, and income recovery.

Click below to download our latest FREE report.

In our 8th and 9th waves of COVID-19 research, we explored:

  • Changes in snacking habits – and resulting weight gains

  • Views from both sides of the fence around government restrictions and mask requirements

  • Trends in salary reductions, including impact of the crisis by income bracket

  • Expectations around job recovery among those who've lost employment or income

Read More

Free Report #4 – Opening Up

Government restrictions have little to do with consumers’ decisions about getting back into public life – personal perceptions of safety are what matter. Therefore, providing reassurance will be paramount to regaining business.

Government restrictions have little to do with consumers’ decisions about getting back into public life – personal perceptions of safety are what matter. Two-thirds of those who have stopped shopping in stores, going to restaurants, etc., say they will wait until it feels safe to go back. Therefore, providing reassurance will be paramount to regaining business.

Click below to download our latest FREE report.

In our 6th and 7th waves of COVID-19 research, we explored:

  • What, specifically, are the top 3 solutions most likely to make consumers feel safe?

  • Are people still willing to make sacrifices to help others, and how is that changing?

  • The dramatic shift we are seeing in consumers' priorities when buying products, right now!

  • As well as tracking changes in previous questions

Read More

Free Report #3 – Consumer Expectations

Recognizing that the world will be fundamentally changed following the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers share how their priorities and behaviors are shifting, as well as what they hope to see from companies as “the new normal” unfolds.

Recognizing that the world will be fundamentally changed following the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers share how their priorities and behaviors are shifting, as well as what they hope to see from companies as “the new normal” unfolds.

Click below to download our latest FREE report.

In our 4th and 5th waves of COVID-19 research, we explored:

  • More reactions to the changes in consumers' lives

  • What's giving them pride and confidence admidst the crisis

  • Attitudes toward the sacrifices and restrictions they're being asked to make, and what it means for the future

  • How they want companies and retailers to respond to the crisis

  • As well as tracking changes in previous questions

Read More

Free Report #2 – Looking Ahead to Post-Crisis

Because the situation is rapidly evolving, we are updating our learning periodically to keep you informed on trends related to the COVID-19 pandemic and how it’s affecting behaviors of American consumers.

Because the situation is rapidly evolving, we are updating our learning periodically to keep you informed on trends related to the COVID-19 pandemic and how it’s affecting behaviors of American consumers.

Click below to download our latest FREE report.

The 3rd wave of our research captures:

  • Consumers' shifting priorities post-crisis, including their opportunities and fears

  • The “unsung (product) heroes” and activities that are helping them through the crisis

  • How they expect their behaviors/lives to change when this is over – which suggest a variety of opportunities

  • Additional insights into the changes they want to see in advertising

  • Other trend data reinforcing the extent of the virus impact

Click here to read the feature news article on this report!

Read More

Free Report #1 – Questions No One is Asking about the COVID-19 Consumer

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, affecting daily life for virtually all Americans, ACUPOLL seeks to provide a window into the hearts, minds, and evolving behaviors of consumers by posing questions we haven’t seen anyone else ask about it.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, affecting daily life for virtually all Americans, ACUPOLL seeks to provide a window into the hearts, minds, and evolving behaviors of consumers by posing questions we haven’t seen anyone else ask about it.

Click below to download our FREE report showing the first two waves of research.

Because the situation is rapidly evolving, we began by capturing data over the course of 2 nights approximately one week apart, and will continue to update this learning periodically going forward.

Some areas of probing include:

  • Core Motivations behind purchase decisions

  • Behavior changes resulting from loss of income, social distancing, etc.

  • Opinions about the responsibility of advertisers

  • Key opportunities for strengthening/building loyalties

Read More
Data Quality, Consumer Behavior Andrea McLearen Data Quality, Consumer Behavior Andrea McLearen

Research On Research: Methods Matter

Everyone knows the questions are important – but so are the answers! In this head-to-head comparison, we assessed two research scales to see which performs better.

Everyone knows the questions are important – but so are the answers!  In this head-to-head comparison, we assessed two research scales to see which performs better.

The Contestants

scale.png

The Competition

  • Sequential monadic concept test with 3 food concepts

  • A separate cell using each scale, with a series of forced choice comparison questions at the end

  • Nationally representative sample of 209 adults 18+


The Results

  • TWICE as many respondents thought the ACUPOLL Scale was easier to answer, more intuitive, and better captured how they feel.

  • This wasn’t just consumers’ opinions – they actually completed the survey with the ACUPOLL scale 15% faster!

scale-comparison.png

The Implications

  1. More Accurate Research: The ACUPOLL Scale provides clients with results that consumers indicate better represent their natural and true opinions, without forcing them to choose among labeled answers that often split hairs.

  2. More In Less Time: With 15% faster data collection, your surveys can cover more ground in the same amount of time, with less consumer fatigue.

  3. Better Statistics: Unlike traditional labeled scales where “extremely” is closer to “very” than “very” is to “somewhat,” the ACUPOLL Scale is an equal-interval scale that facilitates more accurate and reliable statistical analysis (correlations, regressions, etc.).


Contact us today to learn more, and find out how we can apply this to give you
Greater Clarity for Better Decisions™!

Additional perspective is below if you’re interested!

  • The “System 1” Scale: As Nobel Prize-winning psychologist and author of Thinking, Fast and Slow describes, “Our thoughts and actions are routinely guided by [our brain’s] ‘System 1’ and generally are on the mark.”(1) System 1 is the automatic, impulsive, and more emotional side of the brain, as opposed to System 2, which is more effortful, reflective, and has a risk of “over-think.” An easier, more intuitive scale like ACUPOLL’s allows consumers to react more impulsively, consistent with their true feelings, which results in more accurate data for better learning.

  • Ahead of Our Time: ACUPOLL launched with this scale in 1991. The 0-to-10 pain intensity scale recommended by the National Institute of Health was introduced in 1993.(2) And, Fred Reichheld used this scale when he introduced the Net Promoter Scale in 2003.(3)

  • Consistent with Better Research Quality: Twice as many consumers also said the ACUPOLL Scale would be “more enjoyable in a long survey.” The Advertising Research Foundation’s Foundations of Quality study concluded, “As Survey Enjoyment increases, so does a respondent’s level of attention and engagement, ultimately affecting data quality.”(4)

  1. Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, Fast and Slow. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

  2. McCaffery, M., & Beebe, A. (1993). Pain: Clinical Manual for Nursing Practice. Baltimore, MD: V.V. Mosby Company.

  3. Reichheld, F. (2003, December). The one number you need to growHarvard Business Review, 81(12), 46–54.

  4. Walker, R.W., & Cook, W.A. (2013). You can’t put a price tag on a survey participant’s enjoyment: the latest findings from the ARF’s “foundations of quality” researchJournal of Advertising Research, 53(3), 254–257.

Read More