2008 FocusVision Focus Group Index
FocusVision Worldwide of Stamford, Connecticut has released the 2008 annual Focus Group Index, the only industry estimate of the number of focus groups and other qualitative market research interviews conducted throughout the world.
The 12th annual Focus Group Index estimated the number of focus groups worldwide at 538,000 (251,000 in the US and 287,000 outside of the US), up only 0.2% from last year. This minimal growth is due to two main factors: 1) The economic downturn and the first decrease in U.S. ad spending (-2.6%) in more than 5 years, led to a weaker second half, resulting in a 1.4% decrease in U.S. growth for the year. 2) While ex-U.S. countries did not experience negative growth for 2008, they did begin to see a slowdown in growth for 4Q 2008, resulting in a modest 1.7% ex-U.S. growth for the year.
Although the worldwide growth was smaller than in past years, any growth in these economic conditions shows that focus group research continues to be a stable and mature research methodology.
|
Total
Groups (thousands)
|
|
|
|
Year
|
Worldwide
|
USA
|
Non-USA
|
|
2008
|
538
|
251
|
287
|
|
2007
|
537
|
255
|
282
|
|
2006
|
519
|
248
|
271
|
|
2005
|
501
|
239
|
262
|
|
2004
|
490
|
233
|
257
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
%
Change Groups
|
|
|
|
Year
|
Worldwide
|
USA
|
Non-USA
|
|
2008
|
0.2%
|
-1.4%
|
1.7%
|
|
2007
|
3.5%
|
2.9%
|
4.1%
|
|
2006
|
3.5%
|
3.7%
|
3.4%
|
|
2005
|
2.2%
|
2.5%
|
1.9%
|
|
2004
|
3.2%
|
3.6%
|
2.8%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Spend (thousands)
|
|
|
Year
|
Worldwide
|
USA
|
Non-USA
|
|
2008
|
$2,641
|
$1,315
|
$1,326
|
|
2007
|
$2,653
|
$1,349
|
$1,303
|
|
2006
|
$2,526
|
$1,273
|
$1,253
|
|
2005
|
$2,438
|
$1,227
|
$1,211
|
|
2004
|
$2,383
|
$1,196
|
$1,187
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
%
Change USA
Ad Spending
|
|
|
2008
|
-2.6%
|
|
|
|
2007
|
0.2%
|
|
|
|
2006
|
4.2%
|
|
|
|
2005
|
2.8%
|
|
|
|
2004
|
7.6%
|
|
|
For more information, email info@focusvision.com
About FocusVision
FocusVision is the leading global provider of online video transmission, analysis and archive solutions for the qualitative market research industry. With transmission solutions for all venues, including the largest global network of focus group facilities, FocusVision delivers the highest audio and video quality and reliability for the most advanced research organizations in the world.
FocusVision solutions increase key stakeholder participation, avoid the hassles and costs of travel and accelerate the review, analysis and reporting process to make smarter decisions, faster.
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