M
M-Commerce:
Media commerce that refers to any kind of commerce occurring over any kind of mobile device (i.e. an Internet enabled mobile phone).
Machine-Readable Data:
Data that has been encoded into a form that is recognizable for a computer. Optical character recognition (OCR) is able to read magnetic encoding.
Mail Panels:
A set of the sample which has been screened and previously accepted to participate in studies with a particular company. The company then proceeds to periodically send surveys to such participants.
Mail Questionnaires:
Surveys sent through the mail. Respondents complete the surveys and mail back to the research organization.
Mailout Rate:
The amount of surveys sent to respondents. Monitor the server capacity when sending out survey invitations.
Mall-Intercept Interviewing:
Occurs when consumers are shopping in public areas and are approached about taking a survey at the shopping center. These can be conducted on paper or face-to-face.
Mapping:
Computer generated maps that include all types of demographic information relating to a particular geographic area. The software that generates these maps is also developed to identify the geographic sites that best target a particular market.
MAPPing:
Mathematical Analysis of Perception and Preference (MAPP). A technique used to chart a consumer’s perceptions and preferences regarding a particular product with a visual aid, like a graph or map.
Marginal:
For each question on a survey, the marginal is how many people responded to a particular question. It becomes the parameter for responses on each question. The marginal is generally computer-generated and is used to monitor panel response integrity.
Market:
All individuals or organizations that are in a category of potential buyers for a given product or service.
Market Research Society (MRS):
The United Kingdom’s market research organization.
Market Research Society Australia (MRSA) :
Australia’s market research organization.
Market Segmentation:
The process of taking a market and dividing it by a measurable characteristic (usually demographics) to be able to identify a consumer that is within the target market.
Market Share:
A percentage of the market that is purchasing a particular brand, product or supplier.
Market Simulation:
The research technique that creates an actual market situation. The effects of a new product’s advertising, price changes, and more can be measured with controlled variables.
Marketing:
A set of activities that businesses and other organizations create transfers of value between themselves and their customers. Generally revolves around products and services for the customer.
Marketing Concept:
The idea that marketing should cater to the customer needs and wants as opposed to than what the company wants.
Marketing Information Systems (MIS) :
Computer systems that present data that is seemly insignificant until the system produces and distributes information that is coherent throughout an organization.
Marketing Mix:
A mix of product, price, promotion, and place (distribution) that best meet the needs of targeted customers.
Marketing Research:
An objective approach to finding solutions to problems in marketing. Involves qualitative and quantitative research and analysis of the findings to help marketers’ best target and reach their audiences.
Marketing Strategy:
A company’s projected marketing campaign that identifies resources available as well as past and future marketing capabilities.
Markov Model:
Process using matrices to find the probability of users in one brand category switching to a different brand the next time they buy in that category. Represents significant results and can now be measured by retail scanners.
Maturation:
The stage in a product’s life where sales are steady and the product is well known.
Mean:
An average found by summing all observations then dividing the sum by the number of observations.
Mean Square Error:
Used in statistics when measuring total errors expected to be found in a sample estimate. It is calculated by taking the square root of the sum of the standard error squared and the bias squared.
Measure of Location:
The specific location of a single quantity in a frequency distribution. For example, the mean is found in the middle of the frequency distribution.
Measurement:
Finding a way to consistently represent quantities or attribute qualities.
Measurement Error:
A difference between an expected measurement and the actual information that was measured.
Media Marketing Areas:
Defines the television audiences thanks to sampling. Can be called ADI (Areas of Dominant Influence) or DMA (Designated Market Areas).
Median:
A specific observation found directly in the middle of a numerically sorted list.
Methodological Log:
A recorded account of the exact process and times used to conduct a humanistic inquiry. Biases or distortions need to be especially noted.
Methodology:
The procedure used as a proven method that, when repeated, should yield the same result. Steps need to be recorded properly so that the procedure can be redone exactly.
Metric Scale:
Metrics are determined by measurable variables that define progress. There are several categories of metrics, from weight measurements to sales measurements in a company. The intervals between metrics on a particular scale are significant ratios to be used when quantifying metrics.
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA):
A metropolitan area that is surrounded by several non-metropolitan counties which are geographically removed from other metropolitan areas. MSAs are organized by population size and are given government FIP codes.
Microdata:
Files that show the full range of responses individuals complete in a certain category (i.e. occupation, place of work, etc.) on the United States Census. This information is connected to an anonymous respondent and is available for the public at the Public-Use Microdata Samples.
Microsite:
An individual site or cluster of pages that are connected to its parent site, that usually are on the same server, and are accessed by clicking on an initial ad.
Migration:
Process of relocating one’s residence into a new political area.
Minigroup:
A focus group conducted with four to six participants. Seven or more members constitute a full focus group, while less than four is considered a triad or dyad.
Mix Mode Data Collection:
Employing various research techniques for on research project. This can be a time consuming and costly technique. Advances in Net-centric solutions are making this proven research method more feasible now.
Mixed Groups:
A focus group comprised of male and female members.
Mobility:
The opportunity that one has to change residence by means of geographic movement.
Mode:
In statistics, the data that occurs the most frequently. On a frequency curve, the mode would appear at the peak.
Modeling:
The formulation of mathematically-expressed variables to simulate a business decision environment. For example, a model could be formulated using demographics and a company’s financial data to select new markets that have the same combination of factors that are present in currently successful markets.
Moderated Email Group (MEG):
A MEG is an asynchronous qualitative technique. The e-mail moderator sends a series of e-mails to the group members, who in turn reply to the moderator. Members of the group do not communicate directly with each other.
Moderator:
The individual leading the discussion group or focus group by questioning the participants.
Moderator Guide:
Used in focus groups as the outline for the moderator so that the group discussion stays on track. The moderator develops the guide before the focus groups begins so that all of the desired topics will be discussed in a particular order and given the necessary emphasis.
Monadic:
Consumer test where only a single product is evaluated.
Mood Board:
A visual tool that represents the atmosphere or feel of an intended advertisement or to research a consumer’s experience of a brand or product.
Mortality:
Occurs during an experiment, when a subject that was being tested is no longer involved in the study. This is unfortunate since each participant was chosen to find systematic differences between subjects.
Multi-Coded Questions:
Respondents are allowed to give a number of responses to one question.
Multicollinearity:
Addressed when finding a linear relationship with multiple independent variables. This problem often occurs because of the difficulty in identifying and separating the independent variable that is influencing the dependent variable.
Multidimensional Scaling (MDS):
Procedure to detect underlying dimensions that allow researchers to explain observed similarities or dissimilarities between investigated objects.
Multiple Choice Questions:
Questions that offer more than two possible answer choices and require a respondent to choose from the listed options.
Multiple Mentions:
More than one response is recorded per question for each respondent.
Multiple Regression Analysis:
Statistical procedure identifying the relationship between two or more independent variables in an effort to identify patterns within the relationship.
Multiple Time-Series Design:
A study that is conducted using a control group for a particular set of time (e.g. month), but is not continuously conducted, rather revisited within the span of the study’s time set.
Multivariate Analysis:
A statistical method that analyzes more than one measurement at a single time.
Mutually Exclusive:
Set of events is considered mutually exclusive if only one event from given set can occur at any given time. This implies that if events (E1,E2,E3,E4) are mutually exclusive and event E2 occur then no events of (E1,E3,E4) did occur at that time.
Mystery Shoppers:
People conducting market research that are disguised as consumers while they shop at competitor’s stores and their own stores to compare prices, displays and customer service. Mystery shopping requires skilled participants.
Media commerce that refers to any kind of commerce occurring over any kind of mobile device (i.e. an Internet enabled mobile phone).
Machine-Readable Data:
Data that has been encoded into a form that is recognizable for a computer. Optical character recognition (OCR) is able to read magnetic encoding.
Mail Panels:
A set of the sample which has been screened and previously accepted to participate in studies with a particular company. The company then proceeds to periodically send surveys to such participants.
Mail Questionnaires:
Surveys sent through the mail. Respondents complete the surveys and mail back to the research organization.
Mailout Rate:
The amount of surveys sent to respondents. Monitor the server capacity when sending out survey invitations.
Mall-Intercept Interviewing:
Occurs when consumers are shopping in public areas and are approached about taking a survey at the shopping center. These can be conducted on paper or face-to-face.
Mapping:
Computer generated maps that include all types of demographic information relating to a particular geographic area. The software that generates these maps is also developed to identify the geographic sites that best target a particular market.
MAPPing:
Mathematical Analysis of Perception and Preference (MAPP). A technique used to chart a consumer’s perceptions and preferences regarding a particular product with a visual aid, like a graph or map.
Marginal:
For each question on a survey, the marginal is how many people responded to a particular question. It becomes the parameter for responses on each question. The marginal is generally computer-generated and is used to monitor panel response integrity.
Market:
All individuals or organizations that are in a category of potential buyers for a given product or service.
Market Research Society (MRS):
The United Kingdom’s market research organization.
Market Research Society Australia (MRSA) :
Australia’s market research organization.
Market Segmentation:
The process of taking a market and dividing it by a measurable characteristic (usually demographics) to be able to identify a consumer that is within the target market.
Market Share:
A percentage of the market that is purchasing a particular brand, product or supplier.
Market Simulation:
The research technique that creates an actual market situation. The effects of a new product’s advertising, price changes, and more can be measured with controlled variables.
Marketing:
A set of activities that businesses and other organizations create transfers of value between themselves and their customers. Generally revolves around products and services for the customer.
Marketing Concept:
The idea that marketing should cater to the customer needs and wants as opposed to than what the company wants.
Marketing Information Systems (MIS) :
Computer systems that present data that is seemly insignificant until the system produces and distributes information that is coherent throughout an organization.
Marketing Mix:
A mix of product, price, promotion, and place (distribution) that best meet the needs of targeted customers.
Marketing Research:
An objective approach to finding solutions to problems in marketing. Involves qualitative and quantitative research and analysis of the findings to help marketers’ best target and reach their audiences.
Marketing Strategy:
A company’s projected marketing campaign that identifies resources available as well as past and future marketing capabilities.
Markov Model:
Process using matrices to find the probability of users in one brand category switching to a different brand the next time they buy in that category. Represents significant results and can now be measured by retail scanners.
Maturation:
The stage in a product’s life where sales are steady and the product is well known.
Mean:
An average found by summing all observations then dividing the sum by the number of observations.
Mean Square Error:
Used in statistics when measuring total errors expected to be found in a sample estimate. It is calculated by taking the square root of the sum of the standard error squared and the bias squared.
Measure of Location:
The specific location of a single quantity in a frequency distribution. For example, the mean is found in the middle of the frequency distribution.
Measurement:
Finding a way to consistently represent quantities or attribute qualities.
Measurement Error:
A difference between an expected measurement and the actual information that was measured.
Media Marketing Areas:
Defines the television audiences thanks to sampling. Can be called ADI (Areas of Dominant Influence) or DMA (Designated Market Areas).
Median:
A specific observation found directly in the middle of a numerically sorted list.
Methodological Log:
A recorded account of the exact process and times used to conduct a humanistic inquiry. Biases or distortions need to be especially noted.
Methodology:
The procedure used as a proven method that, when repeated, should yield the same result. Steps need to be recorded properly so that the procedure can be redone exactly.
Metric Scale:
Metrics are determined by measurable variables that define progress. There are several categories of metrics, from weight measurements to sales measurements in a company. The intervals between metrics on a particular scale are significant ratios to be used when quantifying metrics.
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA):
A metropolitan area that is surrounded by several non-metropolitan counties which are geographically removed from other metropolitan areas. MSAs are organized by population size and are given government FIP codes.
Microdata:
Files that show the full range of responses individuals complete in a certain category (i.e. occupation, place of work, etc.) on the United States Census. This information is connected to an anonymous respondent and is available for the public at the Public-Use Microdata Samples.
Microsite:
An individual site or cluster of pages that are connected to its parent site, that usually are on the same server, and are accessed by clicking on an initial ad.
Migration:
Process of relocating one’s residence into a new political area.
Minigroup:
A focus group conducted with four to six participants. Seven or more members constitute a full focus group, while less than four is considered a triad or dyad.
Mix Mode Data Collection:
Employing various research techniques for on research project. This can be a time consuming and costly technique. Advances in Net-centric solutions are making this proven research method more feasible now.
Mixed Groups:
A focus group comprised of male and female members.
Mobility:
The opportunity that one has to change residence by means of geographic movement.
Mode:
In statistics, the data that occurs the most frequently. On a frequency curve, the mode would appear at the peak.
Modeling:
The formulation of mathematically-expressed variables to simulate a business decision environment. For example, a model could be formulated using demographics and a company’s financial data to select new markets that have the same combination of factors that are present in currently successful markets.
Moderated Email Group (MEG):
A MEG is an asynchronous qualitative technique. The e-mail moderator sends a series of e-mails to the group members, who in turn reply to the moderator. Members of the group do not communicate directly with each other.
Moderator:
The individual leading the discussion group or focus group by questioning the participants.
Moderator Guide:
Used in focus groups as the outline for the moderator so that the group discussion stays on track. The moderator develops the guide before the focus groups begins so that all of the desired topics will be discussed in a particular order and given the necessary emphasis.
Monadic:
Consumer test where only a single product is evaluated.
Mood Board:
A visual tool that represents the atmosphere or feel of an intended advertisement or to research a consumer’s experience of a brand or product.
Mortality:
Occurs during an experiment, when a subject that was being tested is no longer involved in the study. This is unfortunate since each participant was chosen to find systematic differences between subjects.
Multi-Coded Questions:
Respondents are allowed to give a number of responses to one question.
Multicollinearity:
Addressed when finding a linear relationship with multiple independent variables. This problem often occurs because of the difficulty in identifying and separating the independent variable that is influencing the dependent variable.
Multidimensional Scaling (MDS):
Procedure to detect underlying dimensions that allow researchers to explain observed similarities or dissimilarities between investigated objects.
Multiple Choice Questions:
Questions that offer more than two possible answer choices and require a respondent to choose from the listed options.
Multiple Mentions:
More than one response is recorded per question for each respondent.
Multiple Regression Analysis:
Statistical procedure identifying the relationship between two or more independent variables in an effort to identify patterns within the relationship.
Multiple Time-Series Design:
A study that is conducted using a control group for a particular set of time (e.g. month), but is not continuously conducted, rather revisited within the span of the study’s time set.
Multivariate Analysis:
A statistical method that analyzes more than one measurement at a single time.
Mutually Exclusive:
Set of events is considered mutually exclusive if only one event from given set can occur at any given time. This implies that if events (E1,E2,E3,E4) are mutually exclusive and event E2 occur then no events of (E1,E3,E4) did occur at that time.
Mystery Shoppers:
People conducting market research that are disguised as consumers while they shop at competitor’s stores and their own stores to compare prices, displays and customer service. Mystery shopping requires skilled participants.
