METHOD FOR UNDERTAKING MARKET RESEARCH OF A TARGET POPULATION

• US 20110153390A1
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Katie Harris
• Original Assignee: Katie Harris
• Inventors: Harris, Katie
• Application Number:
  US13/061,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20110153390A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0204 Market segmentation

Abstract

One embodiment provides a system 1 for undertaking market research of a target population 2. System 1 includes memory in the form of a database 3 for storing a first dataset 4 relating to a community 5 having a plurality of members 6. The first dataset 4 collectively includes first demographic data 7 for each member of community 5. A processor 8, included within a computer network 9, is responsive to dataset 4 and a demographic dataset 10 for creating a demographic profile 11 for community 5. The processor is also responsive to profile 11 and a demographic profile 12 for the target population for generating an indication of the representativeness 15 of community 5 relative to population 2.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for undertaking market research of a target population, the method including the steps of:

providing an online facility for cultivating an online community and obtaining market research response data from that online community, the community having a plurality of members, the community being a subset of the target population;

identifying data indicative of a first dataset relating to the community, wherein the first dataset collectively includes first demographic data for each member of the community;

using a microprocessor, comparing the first dataset with a demographic dataset, thereby to create a demographic profile for the community; and

using a microprocessor, comparing the demographic profile for the community with a demographic profile for the target population, thereby to generate data indicative of the representativeness of the community relative to the target population.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the demographic profile is based upon one or more segments, wherein each segment is defined by a selection of demographic criteria.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the data indicative of representativeness of the community relative to the target population includes data indicative of the relative proportion of the community satisfying the demographic criteria for a given segment contrasted with data indicative of the relative proportion of the target population satisfying the demographic criteria for that segment.

4. A method according to claim 1 including the step of obtaining a second dataset relating to the target population, where the second dataset collectively includes second demographic data for each member of the target population.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the demographic profile for the target population is derived from one or both of:

the second dataset; and

the demographic dataset.

6. A method according to claim 4 wherein the first demographic data and the second demographic data are for corresponding demographic characteristics of the respective populations.

7. A method according to claim 4 wherein the demographic profile is based upon one or more segments, wherein each segment is defined by a selection of demographic criteria.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the data indicative of representativeness of the community relative to the target population includes data indicative of the relative proportion of the community satisfying the demographic criteria for a given segment contrasted with data indicative of the relative proportion of the target population satisfying the demographic criteria for that segment.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the demographic dataset is derived from is census data for a population.

10. A method according to claim 1 including defining a demographic profile for the target population;

and

using a microprocessor, comparing the a first dataset with the demographic profile, and based on that comparison selecting members of an available population to populate the community thereby to control the representativeness of the community relative to the target population.

11. A method according to claim 4 wherein the first demographic data and the second demographic data are for corresponding demographic characteristics of the respective populations.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the demographic characteristics include one or both of:

age characteristics for each member of the relevant population; and

location characteristics for each member of the population.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein in the demographic characteristics include one or more of:

age;

socioeconomic status indicators such as at least one of income, education, and occupational status;

household and family composition;

cultural factors such as one or more of ethnicity, language spoken, country of birth, and religion;

employment factors such as type of job, type of industry, and hours of work; and

household economic factors, like indebtedness, investments, and poverty.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executable program stored thereon, wherein the program instructs a microprocessor to perform the method of claim 1.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 14 wherein the demographic profile is based upon one or more segments, wherein each segment is defined by a selection of demographic criteria.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15 wherein the data indicative of representativeness of the community relative to the target population includes data indicative of the relative proportion of the community satisfying the demographic criteria for a given segment contrasted with data indicative of the relative proportion of the target population satisfying the demographic criteria for that segment.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 14 wherein the method includes obtaining a second dataset relating to the target population, where the second dataset collectively includes second demographic data for each member of the target population.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17 wherein the demographic profile for the target population is derived from one or both of:

the second dataset; and

the demographic dataset.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 18 wherein the first demographic data and the second demographic data are for corresponding demographic characteristics of the respective populations.

20. A machine for undertaking market research of a target population, the machine comprising:

a microprocessor coupled to a memory, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to;

provide an online facility for cultivating an online community and obtaining market research response data from that online community, the panel being a community having a plurality of members, the community being a subset of the target population;

access a first dataset relating to a community, wherein the first dataset collectively includes first demographic data for each member of the community;

compare the first dataset with a demographic dataset, thereby to create a demographic profile for the community; and

comparing the demographic profile for the community with a demographic profile for the target population, thereby to generate data indicative of the representativeness of the community relative to the target population.