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'''Mobile Marketing Research''' describes a method of data collection means by using functions of mobile phones, smart phones and [[Personal digital assistant|PDAs]]. It makes use of strengths from mobile communication and applies these strengths to research purposes.<ref>Maxl, Emanuel: Mobile Market Research: Analysis through the Mobile Phone, in: Maxl/Döring/Wallisch (Hrsg.): Mobile Market Research (Neue Schriften zur Online-Forschung 7), Herbert von Halem Verlag, Köln, 2009, p.12</ref>
'''Mobile marketing research''' is a method of data collection using the functions of mobile devices, like mobile phones, smartphones, and [[Personal digital assistant|PDAs]]. With increasing members of the public having access to personal mobile devices in the 21st century, mobile marketing research developed as a way to utilize mobile communication for research purposes.<ref>Maxl, Emanuel: Mobile Market Research: Analysis through the Mobile Phone, in: Maxl/Döring/Wallisch (Hrsg.): Mobile Market Research (Neue Schriften zur Online-Forschung 7), Herbert von Halem Verlag, Köln, 2009, p.12</ref>


==Background==
==Background==
[[Image:Pic Survey.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Survey on a mobile phone]]
[[Image:Pic Survey.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Survey on a mobile phone]]
Due to sociocultural changes towards digitization in everyday life, reachability and lifestyle at the turn of the 21st century, it became more and more difficult for the [[marketing research]] industry to address respondents that are both willing to participate in surveys and reachable via [[traditional media]]. Consumers were no longer clearly classified which made it harder to make obvious assumptions about [[Consumer behaviour|consumer behavior]]. Researchers had to adopt their approaches to keep up with technology as well as coping with these changes in order to find out who customers are and what they want.<ref>Kaufmann, Gwen: Die Marktmacht des Konsumenten, in: Planung & Analyse, 2/2010 (Sonderteil: Jahreskongress für Marktforschung - Zukunft der Märkte - Märkte der Zukunft, April 2010), p.5</ref>
Due to trends towards digitization at the turn of the 21st century, the [[marketing research]] industry found increasing difficulty reaching respondents via [[traditional media]], making it harder for marketing researchers to make assumptions about their [[Consumer behaviour|behavior]]. Researchers adapted their approaches alongside these changes.<ref>Kaufmann, Gwen: Die Marktmacht des Konsumenten, in: Planung & Analyse, 2/2010 (Sonderteil: Jahreskongress für Marktforschung - Zukunft der Märkte - Märkte der Zukunft, April 2010), p.5</ref>


==Definition and development==
==Definition and development==
In the 21st century, mobile device use is common in most countries.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Stocchi |first1=Lara |last2=Pourazad |first2=Naser |last3=Michaelidou |first3=Nina |last4=Tanusondjaja |first4=Arry |last5=Harrigan |first5=Paul |date=2022-03-01 |title=Marketing research on Mobile apps: past, present and future |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-021-00815-w |journal=Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science |language=en |volume=50 |issue=2 |pages=195–225 |doi=10.1007/s11747-021-00815-w |issn=1552-7824 |pmc=8575161 |pmid=34776554}}</ref> Researchers noticed this trend in the early 2000s and began adapting their marketing research approach, responding to predictions that mobile devices will become the most often used instrument to connect to the internet by the year 2020.<ref>Maxl, Emanuel / Döring, Nicola / Wallisch, Astrid: Introduction, in: Maxl/Döring/Wallisch (Hrsg.): Mobile Market Research (Neue Schriften zur Online-Forschung 7), Herbert von Halem Verlag, Köln, 2009, p.7</ref>
Mobile phones are practical, versatile and have already become an indispensable device for communication which is carried along almost around the clock. [[Smartphones]] in particular offer many different kinds of applications and fulfill further technical requirements. There are several [http://hubs.ly/H01FmTy0 mobile applications] that provide mobile market research through smartphones. This is the basis to allow conducting [[empirical research]] studies.<ref>Maxl, Emanuel / Döring, Nicola / Wallisch, Astrid: Introduction, in: Maxl/Döring/Wallisch (Hrsg.): Mobile Market Research (Neue Schriften zur Online-Forschung 7), Herbert von Halem Verlag, Köln, 2009, p.7</ref> Besides, the number of mobile phones, smart phones and PDAs is still growing: already in 2006, the number of worldwide mobile phone user exceeded the number of land line users. According to a study of PEW ''(Internet & American Life Projects)'', which examined more than 1000 internet leader, -analysts and -executives, mobile devices will become the most often used instrument to connect to internet by the year 2020.

According to Pew Research’s Internet & American Life study in January 2014, 58% of adults in the US had a smartphone,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/02/27/the-web-at-25-in-the-u-s/|title=The Web at 25 in the U.S.|author1=Susannah Fox|author2=Lee Rainie|date=February 27, 2014|website=Pew Research Center - Internet & Technology}}</ref> up from 56% in May 2013. In other parts of the world, like Central and Latin America, many people never had a PC but they now have a smartphone. For instance in Chile, more than 85% of the participants of an online panel had a smartphone in 2014, whereas only around 60% had a desktop.<ref>Revilla, M, Toninelli, D, Ochoa, C and Loewe, G. 2015. Who Has Access to Mobile Devices in an Online Opt-in Panel? An Analysis of Potential Respondents for Mobile Surveys. In: Toninelli, D, Pinter, R & de Pedraza, P (eds.) Mobile Research Methods: Opportunities and Challenges of Mobile Research Methodologies, Pp. 119–139. London: Ubiquity Press. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.5334/bar.h. License: CC-BY 4.0.</ref> For many people the mobile phone is already a kind of "life-support tool”. Therefore, conducting [[Statistical survey|survey]]s via mobile phones could possibly help to counteract against the generally declining motivation of respondents, as many potential participants enjoy using this technical device. Particularly the very technology-savvy young target is difficult to reach by traditional media as compared to more modern media such as cell phones. Therefore, this medium is very appropriate to address this target group.<ref>Tarkus, Astrid: Usability of Mobile surveys, in: Maxl/Döring/Wallisch (Hrsg.): Mobile Market Research (Neue Schriften zur Online-Forschung 7), Herbert von Halem Verlag, Köln, 2009, p.154</ref><ref name="reaching-the-mobile-respondent">{{cite journal|url = http://homepage.univie.ac.at/andreas.hergovich/php/reaching_the_mobile_respondent_soc.sci.comp.rev.pdf |title = Reaching the Mobile Respondent: Determinants of High-Level Mobile Phone Use Among a High-Coverage Group |journal = Social Science Computer Review |volume = 28 |issue = 3 |pages = 336–349 |doi = 10.1177/0894439309353099|year = 2010 |last1 = Burger |first1 = Christoph |last2 = Riemer |first2 = Valentin |last3 = Grafeneder |first3 = Jürgen |last4 = Woisetschläger |first4 = Bianca |last5 = Vidovic |first5 = Dragana |last6 = Hergovich |first6 = Andreas }}</ref> Even if some respondents declare that they still prefer to answer web surveys through PCs, the proportions of panelists declaring that they prefer to answer through smartphones are clearly non-negligeable anymore across many different countries <ref>{{cite journal|last1=Revilla|first1=M.|last2=Toninelli|first2=D.|last3=Ochoa|first3=C.|last4=Loewe|first4=G.|year=2016|title=Do online access panels really need to allow and adapt surveys to mobile devices?|journal=Internet Research|volume=26|issue=5|pages=1209–1227|doi=10.1108/IntR-02-2015-0032}}</ref>
A Pew Research’s Internet & American Life study in January 2014, 58% of adults in the US had a smartphone,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/02/27/the-web-at-25-in-the-u-s/|title=The Web at 25 in the U.S.|author1=Susannah Fox|author2=Lee Rainie|date=February 27, 2014|website=Pew Research Center - Internet & Technology}}</ref> up from 56% in May 2013. In other parts of the world, like Central and Latin America, many people never had a PC, but they now have a smartphone. For instance, in Chile, more than 85% of the participants of an online panel had a smartphone in 2014, whereas only around 60% had a desktop.<ref>Revilla, M, Toninelli, D, Ochoa, C and Loewe, G. 2015. Who Has Access to Mobile Devices in an Online Opt-in Panel? An Analysis of Potential Respondents for Mobile Surveys. In: Toninelli, D, Pinter, R & de Pedraza, P (eds.) Mobile Research Methods: Opportunities and Challenges of Mobile Research Methodologies, Pp. 119–139. London: Ubiquity Press. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.5334/bar.h. License: CC-BY 4.0.</ref>

Some marketing methods include conducting [[Statistical survey|survey]]s via mobile phones, in part to reach a younger audience.<ref>Tarkus, Astrid: Usability of Mobile surveys, in: Maxl/Döring/Wallisch (Hrsg.): Mobile Market Research (Neue Schriften zur Online-Forschung 7), Herbert von Halem Verlag, Köln, 2009, p.154</ref><ref name="reaching-the-mobile-respondent">{{cite journal|url=http://homepage.univie.ac.at/andreas.hergovich/php/reaching_the_mobile_respondent_soc.sci.comp.rev.pdf|title=Reaching the Mobile Respondent: Determinants of High-Level Mobile Phone Use Among a High-Coverage Group|journal=Social Science Computer Review|volume=28|issue=3|pages=336–349|doi=10.1177/0894439309353099|year=2010|last1=Burger|first1=Christoph|last2=Riemer|first2=Valentin|last3=Grafeneder|first3=Jürgen|last4=Woisetschläger|first4=Bianca|last5=Vidovic|first5=Dragana|last6=Hergovich|first6=Andreas|s2cid=61640965}}</ref> Although, generally, researchers found that the proportion which prefers to answer through smartphones is significant across many countries.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Revilla|first1=M.|last2=Toninelli|first2=D.|last3=Ochoa|first3=C.|last4=Loewe|first4=G.|year=2016|title=Do online access panels really need to allow and adapt surveys to mobile devices?|journal=Internet Research|volume=26|issue=5|pages=1209–1227|doi=10.1108/IntR-02-2015-0032|hdl=10446/77053|hdl-access=free}}</ref>


==Mobile survey methods==
==Mobile survey methods==
===Methodology of data collection===
===Methodology===
According to Maxl, four different kinds of methods are distinguished which can be used as required. These are listed in the following figure.
According to Maxl, four different kinds of methods are distinguished which can be used as required. These are listed in the following figure.
[[File:Figure MMR Methods.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Introduction: Mobile market research methods<ref>Figure according to Maxl (2009), p.18</ref>]]
[[File:Figure MMR Methods.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Introduction: Mobile market research methods<ref>Figure according to Maxl (2009), p.18</ref>]]
Push studies without contexts (A) are conducted independently from time and location. This can be [[CATI]]- or CACI-studies as well as surveys by [[SMS]] or MMS. In cases of these research methods, the feedback impulse actively comes from the researcher.
Push studies without contexts (A) are conducted independently from time and location. This can be [[CATI]]- or CACI studies as well as surveys by [[SMS]] or MMS. In cases of these research methods, the feedback impulse actively comes from the researcher.
With contextual push studies (B) the researcher prompts the respondent to give appropriate feedback once it is recognized that he/she is located in a particular environment or is in a certain situation.<ref>Maxl (2009), pp.18-20</ref>
With pertinent. push studies (B) the researcher prompts the respondent to give appropriate feedback once it is recognized that he/she is located in a particular environment or is in a certain situation.<ref>Maxl (2009), pp.18-20</ref>
Pull studies are characterized that participants call in the questionnaire themselves. In many cases short notes draw attention to a survey or an evaluation. Such communications may be placed in certain contexts (C) (e.g. on receipts, advertisements or product packaging) in order to encourage participation. Non-context-sensitive pull studies (D) are not relevant for marketing research since they provide only general feedback, which has no relation to a fixed object of research. Therefore, they are hardly controlled and evaluated.<ref>Döring, Nicola: Psychological Aspects of Interviewing by Cellular Telephone, Presentation / MRC 2010, London, 2010</ref>
Pull studies are characterized that participants call in the questionnaire themselves. In many cases, short notes draw attention to a survey or an evaluation. Such communications may be placed in certain contexts (C) (e.g. on receipts, advertisements, or product packaging) to encourage participation. Non-context-sensitive pull studies (D) are not relevant for marketing research since they provide only general feedback, which has no relation to a fixed object of research. Therefore, they are hardly controlled and evaluated.<ref>Döring, Nicola: Psychological Aspects of Interviewing by Cellular Telephone, Presentation / MRC 2010, London, 2010</ref>


===Data collection on a technical view===
===Data collection on a technical view===
On the technical level, three different possibilities of data collection are distinguished according to Pferdekämper/Batinic. The [[SMS|Short Message Service (SMS)]] outlines one possibility, which can be used as a basis to conduct interviews. This is very suitable for ad hoc surveys, if particular key questions have to be answered.
On the technical level, there are three different possibilities of data collection. The [[SMS|Short Message Service (SMS)]] outlines one possibility, which can be used as a basis to conduct interviews. This is very suitable for ad hoc surveys if particular key questions have to be answered. For [[Java application|Java]] applications, the participants receive a link to a [[Wireless Application Protocol|WAP]] page where an application is to be downloaded. The survey software is immediately installed on the mobile phone and the survey can be filled out straight away.

For [[Java application|Java]] applications, the participants receive a link to a [[Wireless Application Protocol|WAP]] page where an application is to be downloaded. The survey software is immediately installed on the mobile phone and the survey can be filled out straight away.
Furthermore, surveys can be accessed via the [[Mobile internet|mobile Internet]]. The webpage is also called in via [[Wap push#WAP Push|WAP push]]. Questionnaires are created and designed in different formats. This allows disrupting to complete the questionnaire in order to further process on a different technical device with internet access.<ref>Pferdekämper, Tanja / Batinic, Bernad: Mobile Surveys from a technical perspective, in: Maxl/Döring/Wallisch (Hrsg.): Mobile Market Research (Neue Schriften zur Online-Forschung 7), Herbert von Halem Verlag, Köln, 2009, pp.122-125</ref>
Furthermore, surveys can be accessed via the [[mobile internet]]. The webpage is also called in via [[Wap push#WAP Push|WAP push]]. Questionnaires are created and designed in different formats. This allows disruption to complete the questionnaire to further process on a different technical device with internet access.<ref>Pferdekämper, Tanja / Batinic, Bernad: Mobile Surveys from a technical perspective, in: Maxl/Döring/Wallisch (Hrsg.): Mobile Market Research (Neue Schriften zur Online-Forschung 7), Herbert von Halem Verlag, Köln, 2009, pp.122-125</ref>


==Disadvantages and difficulties of mobile market research==
==Disadvantages and difficulties of mobile market research==
A concern about mobile marketing research is the representation sampling. Members of the population who don’t own a mobile phone are not part of sampling. Mobile phone users have to be able to be reached as well as to be willing to take part in the survey. Equally important is to also know the number of people who use the SMS service and how many of these people own a web-enabled phone. Only if all these aspects are noticed, a conclusion regarding the sampling can be drawn.<ref>Busse, Britta / Fuchs, Marek: Relative Coverage Biases for Mobile Phone and Mobile Web Surveys, in: Maxl/Döring/Wallisch (Hrsg.): Mobile Market Research (Neue Schriften zur Online-Forschung 7), Herbert von Halem Verlag, Köln, 2009, p.223-226</ref> For these reasons, mobile surveys alone does not meet standards of statistical representability.
Probably most important point to be discussed is the representativity of the sampling regarding the quality of data.

Based on the total population, those people who don’t own a mobile phone, cannot become part of the sampling. Mobile phone users have to be able to be reached as well as to be willing to take part in the survey. But it is by far not enough to just look at the users of mobile phones. Equally important is to also know the number of people who use the SMS service and how many of these people own a web-enabled phone. Only if all these aspects are being noticed, a final conclusion regarding the sampling can be drawn.<ref>Busse, Britta / Fuchs, Marek: Relative Coverage Biases for Mobile Phone and Mobile Web Surveys, in: Maxl/Döring/Wallisch (Hrsg.): Mobile Market Research (Neue Schriften zur Online-Forschung 7), Herbert von Halem Verlag, Köln, 2009, p.223-226</ref> For these reasons a mobile survey does not meet the standards of the statistical representativity.
As mentioned in the beginning, the restricted possibilities to access WAP-Surveys are another problem. The number of those who use the internet via their mobile phone is rather small: According to IFCom only 19% of all mobile phone users do so.<ref>{{cite web|title=IFCom Crossmedia 2010 - Wer sind die mobilen Onliner?|date=February 2010|url=http://www.ifcom-research.de/ifcom_crossmedia_2010.pdf|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331033919/http://www.ifcom-research.de/ifcom_crossmedia_2010.pdf|archive-date=March 31, 2010}}</ref> But the data acquisition through mobile phones holds more difficulties. On one hand there are high costs for Incentives and an intensive recruitment by the institutes. On the other hand, the participants of the survey have to pay the costs for the internet usage via mobile phone. However, more and more respondents do not pay the internet access based on the time spent on Internet and more and more places proposes free Wi-Fi, making this issue less and less relevant for respondents. Additionally, there are also technical difficulties that may occur. The high number of different and not-compatible software or the low transmission rate of data are just a few to name. In order to improve the respondents' experience in answering the web surveys on mobile devices, optimizing the layout of the survey for smaller screen is crucial: non-optimized layouts lead to lower data quality.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Revilla|first1=M.|last2=Toninelli|first2=D.|last3=Ochoa|first3=C.|year=2016|title=PCs versus Smartphones in answering web surveys: does the device make a difference?|journal=Survey Practice|volume=9|issue=4|pages=1–6|url=http://www.surveypractice.org/index.php/SurveyPractice/article/view/338/pdf_72|doi=10.29115/SP-2016-0021}}</ref>
Data acquisition through mobile phones holds more difficulties. On the one hand, there are high costs for incentives and intensive recruitment by the institutes. On the other hand, the participants of the survey have to pay the costs for internet usage via mobile phone. However, more and more respondents do not pay the internet access based on the time spent on the Internet and more and more places propose free Wi-Fi, making this issue less and less relevant for respondents. Additionally, there are also technical difficulties that may occur. The high number of different and not-compatible software or the low transmission rate of data are just a few to name. To improve the respondents' experience in answering web surveys on mobile devices, optimizing the layout of the survey for smaller screens is crucial: non-optimized layouts lead to lower data quality.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Revilla|first1=M.|last2=Toninelli|first2=D.|last3=Ochoa|first3=C.|year=2016|title=PCs versus Smartphones in answering web surveys: does the device make a difference?|journal=Survey Practice|volume=9|issue=4|pages=1–6|url=http://www.surveypractice.org/index.php/SurveyPractice/article/view/338/pdf_72|doi=10.29115/SP-2016-0021|doi-access=free}}</ref>
Restrictions concerning the reveal and passing on of mobile phone numbers (because of [[data protection]] and the lack of [[Anonymity]]) are setting limits to the research in this field of study, too.<ref name="Maxl 2009, p.15">Maxl (2009), p.15</ref>
Restrictions concerning the reveal and passing on of mobile phone numbers (because of [[data protection]] and the lack of [[Anonymity]]) are setting limits to the research in this field of study, too.<ref name="Maxl 2009, p.15">Maxl (2009), p.15</ref>


==Advantages and possibilities of mobile market research==
==Advantages and possibilities of mobile market research==
Statistical methods in the mobile market research profit from the fact that they do not depend on place or time.<ref>Maxl (2009), p.16</ref> This means that surveys via mobile phone can be done anywhere and at any time and are therefore much more advantageous compared to surveys via land line phones. Considering that a high number of participants of the main target groups can not be reached at home at most hours of the day,<ref>Romano (2009), p.251</ref> the chance to get hold of them by mobile phone is much higher.
Statistical methods in mobile market research profit from the fact that they do not depend on place or time.<ref>Maxl (2009), p.16</ref> This means that surveys via mobile phone can be done anywhere and at any time and are therefore much more advantageous compared to surveys via landline phones. Considering that a high number of participants of the main target groups cannot be reached at home at most hours of the day,<ref>Romano (2009), p.251</ref> the chance to get hold of them by mobile phone is much higher.
Especially with regard to people under the age of 25 as well as business people, who are often on the way and cannot get hold of easily, the chances of the mobile market research are promising. As most people always carry their mobile phone with them, an immediate transmission of personal impressions of current events, is possible at any time.<ref name="Maxl 2009, p.15"/> Thus, the so-called ‘magic moment’ can be captured, which is often very helpful. Surveys concerning product placement and efficiency of sales promotion measures at the [[point of sale]] turned out to be perfectly realizable this way. Looking at the topic “Access possibilities to WAP-Surveys” by mobile phone, as well as at the topic “Getting hold of potential participants”, there are some developments that should be named. The trend towards the increasing distribution of web-enabled mobile phones, and the improved representativity that comes along with it, does still continue: from 2007 to 2008, ''Nielsen Mobile'' noticed an increase of the mobile internet usage.<ref>Busse/Fuchs (2009), p.223</ref>
Especially concerning to people under the age of 25 as well as business people, who are often on the way and cannot get hold of easily, the chances of the mobile market research are promising. As most people always carry their mobile phones with them, an immediate transmission of personal impressions of current events is possible at any time.<ref name="Maxl 2009, p.15"/> Thus, the so-called ‘magic moment’ can be captured, which is often very helpful. Surveys concerning product placement and efficiency of sales promotion measures at the [[point of sale]] turned out to be perfectly realizable this way. Looking at the topic “Access possibilities to WAP-Surveys” by mobile phone, as well as at the topic “Getting hold of potential participants”, there are some developments that should be named. The trend towards the increasing distribution of web-enabled mobile phones, and the improved representativity that comes along with it, does continue from 2007 to 2008, ''Nielsen Mobile'' noticed an increase in mobile internet usage.<ref>Busse/Fuchs (2009), p.223</ref>
With decreasing costs and an improving technology, a further upward tendency can be expected. In addition, the mobile internet usage increases with the rapidly developing distribution of smart phones. According to IM (Mediawork Initiative), already in 2013 more people will log in with their smart phone, than with a PC. Mobile statistics show a high and very fast response rate. As a result of the independency from time and place, answers can be submitted immediately. This also means that results can almost be transmitted in real time. A study from Globalpark shows that approximately 35% of the participants answered a mobile survey within 2 hours.<ref>Kaufmann (2010), p.5</ref> Through the novelty of the form of survey and its playful design, mobile research has a motivating effect on the participants. This applies especially to young, technologically interested male persons. But also [[iPhone]] users are considered to be very communicative. As the devices are easy to handle, the users are more likely and more motivated to take part in surveys.<ref>Maxl (2009), pp.13-16</ref> A study examining how to best reach mobile respondents published in the Journal Social Science Computer Review underlines the importance of social factors. Especially their subjective belief of how they are seen by significant others, or their intention of how they would like to be seen by significant others seem to play a major role in their mobile phone behavior.<ref name="reaching-the-mobile-respondent"/>
With decreasing costs and improving technology, a further upward tendency can be expected. In addition, mobile internet usage increases with the rapidly developing distribution of smartphones. According to IM (Mediawork Initiative), already in 2013 more people will log in with their smartphones, than with a PC. Mobile statistics show a high and very fast response rate. As a result of the independence from time and place, answers can be submitted immediately. This also means that results can almost be transmitted in real-time. A study from Globalpark shows that approximately 35% of the participants answered a mobile survey within 2 hours.<ref>Kaufmann (2010), p.5</ref> Through the novelty of the form of the survey and its playful design, mobile research has a motivating effect on the participants. This applies especially to young, technologically interested male persons. [[iPhone]] users are also considered to be very communicative. As the devices are easy to handle, the users are more likely and more motivated to take part in surveys.<ref>Maxl (2009), pp.13-16</ref> A study examining how to best reach mobile respondents published in the Journal of Social Science Computer Review underlines the importance of social factors. Especially their subjective belief of how they are seen by significant others, or their intention of how they would like to be seen by significant others seem to play a major role in their mobile phone behavior.<ref name="reaching-the-mobile-respondent"/>


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 22:09, 12 December 2024

Mobile marketing research is a method of data collection using the functions of mobile devices, like mobile phones, smartphones, and PDAs. With increasing members of the public having access to personal mobile devices in the 21st century, mobile marketing research developed as a way to utilize mobile communication for research purposes.[1]

Background

[edit]
Survey on a mobile phone

Due to trends towards digitization at the turn of the 21st century, the marketing research industry found increasing difficulty reaching respondents via traditional media, making it harder for marketing researchers to make assumptions about their behavior. Researchers adapted their approaches alongside these changes.[2]

Definition and development

[edit]

In the 21st century, mobile device use is common in most countries.[3] Researchers noticed this trend in the early 2000s and began adapting their marketing research approach, responding to predictions that mobile devices will become the most often used instrument to connect to the internet by the year 2020.[4]

A Pew Research’s Internet & American Life study in January 2014, 58% of adults in the US had a smartphone,[5] up from 56% in May 2013. In other parts of the world, like Central and Latin America, many people never had a PC, but they now have a smartphone. For instance, in Chile, more than 85% of the participants of an online panel had a smartphone in 2014, whereas only around 60% had a desktop.[6]

Some marketing methods include conducting surveys via mobile phones, in part to reach a younger audience.[7][8] Although, generally, researchers found that the proportion which prefers to answer through smartphones is significant across many countries.[9]

Mobile survey methods

[edit]

Methodology

[edit]

According to Maxl, four different kinds of methods are distinguished which can be used as required. These are listed in the following figure.

Introduction: Mobile market research methods[10]

Push studies without contexts (A) are conducted independently from time and location. This can be CATI- or CACI studies as well as surveys by SMS or MMS. In cases of these research methods, the feedback impulse actively comes from the researcher. With pertinent. push studies (B) the researcher prompts the respondent to give appropriate feedback once it is recognized that he/she is located in a particular environment or is in a certain situation.[11] Pull studies are characterized that participants call in the questionnaire themselves. In many cases, short notes draw attention to a survey or an evaluation. Such communications may be placed in certain contexts (C) (e.g. on receipts, advertisements, or product packaging) to encourage participation. Non-context-sensitive pull studies (D) are not relevant for marketing research since they provide only general feedback, which has no relation to a fixed object of research. Therefore, they are hardly controlled and evaluated.[12]

Data collection on a technical view

[edit]

On the technical level, there are three different possibilities of data collection. The Short Message Service (SMS) outlines one possibility, which can be used as a basis to conduct interviews. This is very suitable for ad hoc surveys if particular key questions have to be answered. For Java applications, the participants receive a link to a WAP page where an application is to be downloaded. The survey software is immediately installed on the mobile phone and the survey can be filled out straight away.

Furthermore, surveys can be accessed via the mobile internet. The webpage is also called in via WAP push. Questionnaires are created and designed in different formats. This allows disruption to complete the questionnaire to further process on a different technical device with internet access.[13]

Disadvantages and difficulties of mobile market research

[edit]

A concern about mobile marketing research is the representation sampling. Members of the population who don’t own a mobile phone are not part of sampling. Mobile phone users have to be able to be reached as well as to be willing to take part in the survey. Equally important is to also know the number of people who use the SMS service and how many of these people own a web-enabled phone. Only if all these aspects are noticed, a conclusion regarding the sampling can be drawn.[14] For these reasons, mobile surveys alone does not meet standards of statistical representability.

Data acquisition through mobile phones holds more difficulties. On the one hand, there are high costs for incentives and intensive recruitment by the institutes. On the other hand, the participants of the survey have to pay the costs for internet usage via mobile phone. However, more and more respondents do not pay the internet access based on the time spent on the Internet and more and more places propose free Wi-Fi, making this issue less and less relevant for respondents. Additionally, there are also technical difficulties that may occur. The high number of different and not-compatible software or the low transmission rate of data are just a few to name. To improve the respondents' experience in answering web surveys on mobile devices, optimizing the layout of the survey for smaller screens is crucial: non-optimized layouts lead to lower data quality.[15] Restrictions concerning the reveal and passing on of mobile phone numbers (because of data protection and the lack of Anonymity) are setting limits to the research in this field of study, too.[16]

Advantages and possibilities of mobile market research

[edit]

Statistical methods in mobile market research profit from the fact that they do not depend on place or time.[17] This means that surveys via mobile phone can be done anywhere and at any time and are therefore much more advantageous compared to surveys via landline phones. Considering that a high number of participants of the main target groups cannot be reached at home at most hours of the day,[18] the chance to get hold of them by mobile phone is much higher. Especially concerning to people under the age of 25 as well as business people, who are often on the way and cannot get hold of easily, the chances of the mobile market research are promising. As most people always carry their mobile phones with them, an immediate transmission of personal impressions of current events is possible at any time.[16] Thus, the so-called ‘magic moment’ can be captured, which is often very helpful. Surveys concerning product placement and efficiency of sales promotion measures at the point of sale turned out to be perfectly realizable this way. Looking at the topic “Access possibilities to WAP-Surveys” by mobile phone, as well as at the topic “Getting hold of potential participants”, there are some developments that should be named. The trend towards the increasing distribution of web-enabled mobile phones, and the improved representativity that comes along with it, does continue from 2007 to 2008, Nielsen Mobile noticed an increase in mobile internet usage.[19] With decreasing costs and improving technology, a further upward tendency can be expected. In addition, mobile internet usage increases with the rapidly developing distribution of smartphones. According to IM (Mediawork Initiative), already in 2013 more people will log in with their smartphones, than with a PC. Mobile statistics show a high and very fast response rate. As a result of the independence from time and place, answers can be submitted immediately. This also means that results can almost be transmitted in real-time. A study from Globalpark shows that approximately 35% of the participants answered a mobile survey within 2 hours.[20] Through the novelty of the form of the survey and its playful design, mobile research has a motivating effect on the participants. This applies especially to young, technologically interested male persons. iPhone users are also considered to be very communicative. As the devices are easy to handle, the users are more likely and more motivated to take part in surveys.[21] A study examining how to best reach mobile respondents published in the Journal of Social Science Computer Review underlines the importance of social factors. Especially their subjective belief of how they are seen by significant others, or their intention of how they would like to be seen by significant others seem to play a major role in their mobile phone behavior.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Maxl, Emanuel: Mobile Market Research: Analysis through the Mobile Phone, in: Maxl/Döring/Wallisch (Hrsg.): Mobile Market Research (Neue Schriften zur Online-Forschung 7), Herbert von Halem Verlag, Köln, 2009, p.12
  2. ^ Kaufmann, Gwen: Die Marktmacht des Konsumenten, in: Planung & Analyse, 2/2010 (Sonderteil: Jahreskongress für Marktforschung - Zukunft der Märkte - Märkte der Zukunft, April 2010), p.5
  3. ^ Stocchi, Lara; Pourazad, Naser; Michaelidou, Nina; Tanusondjaja, Arry; Harrigan, Paul (2022-03-01). "Marketing research on Mobile apps: past, present and future". Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science. 50 (2): 195–225. doi:10.1007/s11747-021-00815-w. ISSN 1552-7824. PMC 8575161. PMID 34776554.
  4. ^ Maxl, Emanuel / Döring, Nicola / Wallisch, Astrid: Introduction, in: Maxl/Döring/Wallisch (Hrsg.): Mobile Market Research (Neue Schriften zur Online-Forschung 7), Herbert von Halem Verlag, Köln, 2009, p.7
  5. ^ Susannah Fox; Lee Rainie (February 27, 2014). "The Web at 25 in the U.S." Pew Research Center - Internet & Technology.
  6. ^ Revilla, M, Toninelli, D, Ochoa, C and Loewe, G. 2015. Who Has Access to Mobile Devices in an Online Opt-in Panel? An Analysis of Potential Respondents for Mobile Surveys. In: Toninelli, D, Pinter, R & de Pedraza, P (eds.) Mobile Research Methods: Opportunities and Challenges of Mobile Research Methodologies, Pp. 119–139. London: Ubiquity Press. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.5334/bar.h. License: CC-BY 4.0.
  7. ^ Tarkus, Astrid: Usability of Mobile surveys, in: Maxl/Döring/Wallisch (Hrsg.): Mobile Market Research (Neue Schriften zur Online-Forschung 7), Herbert von Halem Verlag, Köln, 2009, p.154
  8. ^ a b Burger, Christoph; Riemer, Valentin; Grafeneder, Jürgen; Woisetschläger, Bianca; Vidovic, Dragana; Hergovich, Andreas (2010). "Reaching the Mobile Respondent: Determinants of High-Level Mobile Phone Use Among a High-Coverage Group" (PDF). Social Science Computer Review. 28 (3): 336–349. doi:10.1177/0894439309353099. S2CID 61640965.
  9. ^ Revilla, M.; Toninelli, D.; Ochoa, C.; Loewe, G. (2016). "Do online access panels really need to allow and adapt surveys to mobile devices?". Internet Research. 26 (5): 1209–1227. doi:10.1108/IntR-02-2015-0032. hdl:10446/77053.
  10. ^ Figure according to Maxl (2009), p.18
  11. ^ Maxl (2009), pp.18-20
  12. ^ Döring, Nicola: Psychological Aspects of Interviewing by Cellular Telephone, Presentation / MRC 2010, London, 2010
  13. ^ Pferdekämper, Tanja / Batinic, Bernad: Mobile Surveys from a technical perspective, in: Maxl/Döring/Wallisch (Hrsg.): Mobile Market Research (Neue Schriften zur Online-Forschung 7), Herbert von Halem Verlag, Köln, 2009, pp.122-125
  14. ^ Busse, Britta / Fuchs, Marek: Relative Coverage Biases for Mobile Phone and Mobile Web Surveys, in: Maxl/Döring/Wallisch (Hrsg.): Mobile Market Research (Neue Schriften zur Online-Forschung 7), Herbert von Halem Verlag, Köln, 2009, p.223-226
  15. ^ Revilla, M.; Toninelli, D.; Ochoa, C. (2016). "PCs versus Smartphones in answering web surveys: does the device make a difference?". Survey Practice. 9 (4): 1–6. doi:10.29115/SP-2016-0021.
  16. ^ a b Maxl (2009), p.15
  17. ^ Maxl (2009), p.16
  18. ^ Romano (2009), p.251
  19. ^ Busse/Fuchs (2009), p.223
  20. ^ Kaufmann (2010), p.5
  21. ^ Maxl (2009), pp.13-16