Methods and systems for constructing and maintaining sample panels

• US 20040236623A1
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Gopalakrishnan, Vijoy
• Application Number:
  US10/442,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20040236623A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for the dynamic management of a sample panel, the sample panel reflecting an audience population in terms of a geo-demographic composition thereof. Back-out data is provided representing forecasted back-outs of members of the sample panel according to their geo-demographic characteristics. In certain embodiments members are added to and/or removed from the panel based on the back-out data. In other embodiments adjustment data is produced indicating that members should be added to and/or removed from the sample panel based on the back-out data. In still other embodiments, potential panel members are selected from a sample pool for recruitment to the sample panel based on forecasted participation data.

Claims

1. A method for the dynamic management of a sample panel, the sample panel reflecting an audience population in terms of a geo-demographic composition thereof, the method comprising:

providing back-out data representing forecasted back-outs of members of the sample panel according to their geo-demographic characteristics; and

adding and/or removing members to the sample panel based on the back-out data.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

providing panel composition data representing a geo-demographic composition of the sample panel;

wherein adding members to the sample panel comprises adding members thereto based on the panel composition data.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

providing demographic data representing the geo-demographic composition of the audience population; and

establishing the sample panel based on the geo-demographic data.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising:

establishing the sample panel by adding members thereto from time to time such that the sample panel reflects an estimated audience population over time.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

deriving performance eccentricities of sample panel geo-demographic characteristics data by comparing present sample panel geo-demographic characteristics data to past sample panel geo-demographic characteristics data; and

adapting the forecasted back-outs of members of the sample panel based on the performance eccentricities of the sample panel geo-demographic characteristics data.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising:

providing an added sample panel member with a self-install kit enabling the added sample panel member to install equipment necessary for participation in the sample panel.

7. The method of claim 2, comprising:

balancing a geo-demographic composition of the sample panel by controlling data representing at least one out-of-balance geo-demographic composition of the sample panel composition.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a survey organization establishes the sample panel, the method comprising:

utilizing data representing survey organization capabilities in the determination of the forecasted participation data for the sample panel.

9. The method of claim 8,

wherein the data representing survey organization capabilities comprises data representing sample panel recruitment capabilities.

10. The method of claim 8,

wherein the data representing survey organization capabilities comprises data representing sample panel installation capabilities.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising:

utilizing data representing sample panel performance capabilities in the determination of the forecasted participation data for the sample panel.

12. A system for use in the dynamic management of a sample panel, the sample panel reflecting an audience population in terms of a geo-demographic composition thereof, the system comprising:

means for providing back-out data representing forecasted back-outs of members of the sample panel according to their geo-demographic characteristics; and

means for producing adjustment data for indicating that members should be added to and/or removed from the sample panel based on the back-out data.

13. The system of claim 12, comprising:

means for providing panel composition data representing a geo-demographic composition of the sample panel;

wherein the means for producing adjustment data is operative to produce the adjustment data based on the panel composition data.

14. The system of claim 12, comprising:

means for providing geo-demographic data representing the geo-demographic composition of the audience population;

wherein the means for producing adjustment data is operative to produce the adjustment data based on the geo-demographic data.

15. The system of claim 12, comprising:

means for deriving performance eccentricities of sample panel geo-demographic characteristics data by comparing present sample panel geo-demographic characteristics data to past sample panel geo-demographic characteristics data; and

wherein the means for providing back-out data is operative to adapt the forecasted back-outs of members of the sample panel based on the performance eccentricities of the sample panel geo-demographic characteristics data.

16. The system of claim 13, comprising:

means for balancing a geo-demographic composition of the sample panel by controlling data representing at least one out-of-balance geo-demographic composition of the sample panel composition.

17. The system of claim 12,

wherein the means for producing adjustment data is operative to produce the adjustment data based on data representing survey organization capabilities.

18. The system of claim 17,

wherein the means for producing adjustment data is operative to produce the adjustment data based on data representing sample panel recruitment capabilities.

19. The system of claim 17,

wherein the means for producing adjustment data is operative to produce the adjustment data based on data representing sample panel installation capabilities.

20. The system of claim 12, comprising:

means for utilizing data representing sample panel performance capabilities in the determination of the forecasted participation data for the sample panel.

21. A method of selecting potential sample panel members for recruitment, comprising:

providing data representing a sample pool of potential sample panel members;

producing forecasted participation data representing a forecast of potential sample panel members in the sample panel according to geo-demographic characteristics thereof; and

selecting data representing potential sample panel members from the sample pool based on the forecasted participation data.

22. A system for selecting potential sample panel members for recruitment, comprising:

means for providing data representing a sample pool of potential sample panel members;

means for producing forecasted participation data representing a forecast of potential sample panel members in the sample panel according to geo-demographic characteristics thereof; and

means for selecting data representing potential sample panel members from the sample pool based on the forecasted participation data.