Method of measuring consumer reaction

• US 6,422,999 B1
• Filed: 05/10/2000
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sensory Logic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Daniel A. Hill
• Inventors: Hill, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HINDENBURG, MAX F
• Application Number:
  US09/568,263
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/546, 600/558
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/395 Details of stimulation, e.g. nerve stimulation to elicit EMG response

Abstract

A method of assessing consumer reaction to a marketing stimulus, involving the steps of (a) exposing a sample population to a marketing stimulus for an exposure period, (b) measuring surface electromyography signals from a zygomatic muscle of each member of the sample population during an exposure period, (c) optionally measuring surface electromyography signals from a corrugator facial muscle of each member of the sample population during the exposure period and combining the measured surface electromyography signals from the zygomatic and corrugator facial muscle of each member of the sample population to produce combined electromyography signals, (d) measuring electrodermography signals of each member of the sample population during the exposure period, (e) equating or translating the electromyography signals to an appeal value for each member, (f) equating or translating the electrodermography signals to an impact value for each member, and (g) visually representing each of the appeal and impact values identified by the marketing stimulus to which the members were exposed when the measurements were taken.

Claims

1. A method of assessing consumer reaction to a marketing stimulus, comprising:

(a) exposing a sample population comprised of a plurality of members to a marketing stimulus for a period of time;

(b) measuring surface electromyography signals from a zygomatic muscle of each member of the sample population during an exposure period;

(c) measuring electrodermography signals, selected from at least one of galvanic skin response signals, skin conductance level signals and skin potential level signals of each member of the sample population during an exposure period;

(d) equating or translating the electromyography signals to an appeal value for each member;

(e) equating or translating the electrodermography signals to an impact value for each member; and

(f) visually representing each of the appeal and impact values identified with the marketing stimulus to which the members were exposed when the measurements were taken.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(g) measuring surface electromyography signals from a corrugator facial muscle of each member of the sample population during an exposure period, and (h) combining the measured surface electromyography signals from the zygomatic and corrugator facial muscle of each member of the sample population to produce a combined electromyography signal, wherein the combined electromyography signal is the electromyography signal equated or translated to the appeal value for each member.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising (j) visually representing at least one set of appeal and impact values of at least one member together on a single illustration.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(k) repeating steps (a) through (e) with members of the sample population for at least one other marketing stimulus which is different from the first marketing stimulus, and (m) visually comparing the set of appeal and impact values of each marketing stimulus.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the marketing stimuli are within the same media.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the marketing stimuli market the same type of goods or services.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the sample population is comprised of between about 10 to 200 members.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the sample population is comprised of between about 10 to 100 members.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface electromyography signals and electrodermal signals are measured throughout the exposure period, a period of time before the exposure period and a period of time after the exposure period.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein (i) a period of time is provided between sequential exposures to marketing stimuli during which the members are not exposed to any marketing stimuli and (ii) the surface electromyography signals and electrodermal signals are measured throughout each exposure period and for a period of time before and after each exposure period.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the combined surface electromyography signal is calculated by dividing the difference between the zygomatic and corrugator facial muscle signals by the sum of the zygomatic and corrugator facial muscle signals.

12. The method of claim 2 further comprising (j) visually representing at least one set of appeal and impact values of at least two members together on a single illustration.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein a group set of appeal and impact values is visually represented.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the visually represented group set of appeal and impact values is an average appeal value and an average impact value for the sample population.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein electromyography signals are separately measured for bilateral zygomatic muscles of each member of the sample population during an exposure period and the measured surface electromyography signals for the bilateral zygomatic muscles of each member of the sample population is combined to produce a combined electromyography signal, wherein the combined electromyography signal is the electromyography signal equated or translated to the appeal value for each member.

16. The method of claim 2 wherein electromyography signals are separately measured for bilateral zygomatic and corrugator facial muscles.

17. The method of claim 2 wherein electromyography signals are separately measured for zygomatic and corrugator facial muscles on the same side.