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Boomers Vs. Millennials

March 23rd, 2013 Rudly

According to a February article in the Huffington Post, Millennials in the Millennial Generation (also known as Generation Y, those born in the early 1980s through the year 2000) are the most stressed out demographic group.  A competing article, however, in The New York Times, also published in February, crowned Boomers as the demographic group most injured by the current recession and its aftermath.

As a Baby Boomer with Millennial children, I was curious as to what my peers thought about this issue.  I was fascinated by the findings of a new BoomerOpinions (an online research panel of babyboomers developed and managed by qSample) survey asking the following question: Which of these two generations (the Boomers or the Millennials) do you think are undergoing the most stress as a result of the recent economic crisis?  Fifty-one percent of the Baby Boomer respondents said they believed both generations were experiencing equal amounts of stress. Survey data was collected from more than 340 qualified boomer panelists. The survey was deployed during the first week of March with an average 2 day fielding time.

The data from this survey revealed Boomers are experiencing considerable anxiety about their adult children. Don’t forget these are the parents of the kids in the Millennial Generation, and Boomer parents tend to only be as happy as their saddest child.  41% say they consider it at least a somewhat serious problem that their children have incurred student loans;  45% say their adult children have been unable to find a job of their choice.  Baby Boomers haven’t been labeled “Generation Squeeze” for naught.   Thirty-one percent (31%) are caring for aging parents, while 33% are supporting adult children. 

Admittedly I’m a little biased given my status as a Boomer, but in a stress competition, I would have to say Boomers win.  They not only have to worry about their own financial plights, but those of their children as well.  No matter how much our kids love us, they generally will assert their own needs before anyone else’s.  Thus, their stress is focused on their own individual situation while Boomer anxiety is divided between themselves and their children.  But, even if Boomers win in this contest, I don’t think the prize is one worth coveting.

About the panel: BoomerOpinions provides companies with insights into the values and opinions of the largest, most affluent generation in America. BoomerOpinion research has identified important characteristics of the Baby Boomer generation, including their love of big toys, their desire for adventure, their belief in the Fountain of Youth and refusal to grow old, and a willingness to change careers or start new endeavors. For more information about BoomerOpinions, please go to boomers.micropanel.com.

About the Author: Liz Kitchens has years of professional experience conducting research and focus groups with the boomer generation. She is a frequent writer and blogs for a number of web sites, such as Boomer Café, Vibrant Nation, Skirt.com and Growing Bolder. She specializes in issues related to women of the Baby Boomer generation – women she refers to as Lady Boomers. 

Gun Control Opinions Among FL Voters

March 19th, 2013 Rudly

This past month we tapped into our voter panel in Florida to gauge their opinions about the current controversial issue of gun control. We surveyed 400 registered voters, and the results of the brief questionnaire are depicted in the Infographic below.

Though Florida has some of the least restrictive gun laws in the U.S., the majority of survey respondents are in favor of more restrictive gun laws and regulations. Our research shows that 70% of respondents (those who identify themselves as Republicans) support mandatory background checks on all individuals purchasing a gun, but have split opinions when asked if individuals should have to obtain a permit to legally purchase a gun. On the other hand, almost all respondents who identifyi with the Democrat Party support mandatory background checks, and about 88% agree that individuals should obtain permits to purchase a gun. Law makers will not take comfort into this finding, but  a majority of the respondents surveyed  indicated they had little faith in their elected officials to make gun laws and regulations more restrictive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

qSample’s pulse report is a collection of short research studies conducted each month, using one of the ten specialty panels currently owned and managed by qSample. We believe the results realized and data collected from these panels are of interest and we want to share them with you. Now, each month we will release an Infographic depicting survey data about important issues facing voters today. The topics will change from month to month, always reflecting currents events and topics of interest.

Stay tuned each month for a new Infographic! For more information about our panel and sampling services, please contact sales-team@qsample.com

 

qSample Launches Louisiana Voter Omnibus Survey

March 7th, 2013 Rudly

PelicanNow it’s easier than ever to have your finger on the pulse of Louisiana voters. Online research specialist qSample and The Kitchens Group have just opened up access to a monthly omnibus poll in the Pelican State. Each month a representative sample of Louisiana voters respond to a series of questions about issues of the day facing their state. This study is modeled after a highly successful effort in the state of Florida with more voter panels launching in various states around the country. Here is a quick look at the data from our January Lousiana Voter Omnibus Survey.

This year’s presidential election shed light on the growing partisan divide in our country. Everything is frequently split into Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative, and left wing or right wing. Louisiana legislators are seeing nothing new from their constituents in terms of division of support. Our questionnaire results reveal that many Louisiana elected officials are seen as “favorable” by roughly 75% of respondents that affiliate with the same party as the official. They are then seen as “unfavorable” by the remaining 25% of all respondents who affiliate with the same party as the official. In turn, these results are almost the exact opposite for those respondents affiliate with the opposing party of the elected official.

While both Democrat and Republican constituents seem to be split on which elected officials they support, survey results show that both parties are disappointed with the quality of work of their elected officials. Data analysis shows that Democrats give the Louisiana government a 75% negative job rating and Republicans give a 64% negative job rating.

Furthermore, almost half of respondents (46%) believe that Mitt Romney isn’t a real conservative. They believe that his inability to relate to real conservatives cost him the election. Further data analysis shows 79% of respondents who indicate that they are “very conservative” also indicate that Romney is not a “real conservative”.

Current economic conditions are taking a heavy toll on all of us, and this is reflected in our survey results. More than half of respondents are concerned about their household having a financial crisis this year due to loss of a job or closing of a business. Results also show that more than half of respondents indicate that they cannot handle any tax increases.

We are very excited about this new project and hope to share more information with you in the future.

To learn more about our voter panel go to www.voterfeedback.com

 

Americans to Party While Watching New Orleans Super Bowl

January 26th, 2013 Rudly

With the Super Bowl being held in the party haven of New Orleans this year, it’s only fitting that Americans across the country plan to do plenty of partying of their own.

The Sunday of the Super Bowl, the annual championship of the National Football League, is considered an unofficial national holiday in the United States. The game is only part of the spectacle. Each year there are extravagant events in the host city, a star-studded half-time show, and multi-million dollar advertisements during the game.

qSample conducted a survey of its U.S. General Population Panel among people who plan to watch the Super Bowl to gauge various activities, interest and, most importantly, predictions for the big game itself.

The game is a highly social event. Fully twenty percent indicate they will be hosting or going to a Super Bowl party, and over half (51%) say they will be watching the game at a friend’s or family member’s residence. Another 6% indicated they will watch the game at a bar. A majority of 59% say they plan to spend on food and beverages for the event.

Television advertisements have become an important part of the fun – and something to entertain people who don’t care about sports. Many advertisers save their most creative work for the Super Bowl. Fifteen percent of those surved said the ads are what they think is the most important part of watching the Super Bowl. Fully 64% say they think Super Bowl ads are effective in influencing consumer purchase decisions.

Forty percent said they were very interested (17%) or interested (23%) in the half-time show featuring singer Beyoncé.

As for the big game’s result? Thirty-nine percent picked the San Francisco 49ers, while 21% picked the Baltimore Ravens (at the time of the poll the identity of the two participants was not finalized).

In total 375 respondents completed the survey, with a distribution of 55% women and 45% men.

For more information on the qSample General Population Panel, with a global reach of over five million consumers, contact qSample at http://qsample.com.

What drives Holiday wine purchases?

December 20th, 2012 Rudly

 

For many – the Holidays mean spending time with family.  Our Holiday wine survey definitely reflects that.  Results from the survey conducted by YourWineOpinion.com during the first two weeks of December reveal that 96% of respondents indicated they will be buying wine or bubbly for a Holiday celebration; almost half (46.1%) plan to purchase wine for a family dinner this year.

So whether your purchase of “good cheer” is to make your Uncle Frank more interesting, tolerate your Aunt Rachel’s nagging or as a thoughtful pairing for your sister’s beef tenderloin, consumers reach for many forms of wine during the Holiday season.

YourWineOpinion’s Holiday Wine survey spelled out what motivates casual wine drinkers and enthusiasts towards their purchases this season. Buying wine for a family meal topped the list as the number one reason for a consumer purchase, with “purchasing for party” coming in at 29.5% and “as a gift” at 23.4%.

It’s no surprise that price led the way in factors that influence Holiday wine purchases at 39%, and perhaps this is a good sign of economic recovery – more than 34% of survey respondents indicated they were willing to spend between $11-$20 for a bottle of wine this holiday season.

As many in the wine industry may already know -  Label is a key influencer when it comes to how consumers choose their wine. More than 15% of our survey respondents agreed. The data also revealed that varietal is the second leading influencer among survey respondents (24%). Red varietals beating out their white wine counterparts, and Merlot leading the charge at 13.2% for reds and Chardonnay at 12.4% for whites.

What kind of holiday wine survey wouldn’t include sparkling wines?  Not ours!  Over 70% of those surveyed said they were buying Champagne/Sparkling wine – nothing surprising there, but what maybe be considered novel is the fact that American Sparkling wine came in a close second at 31.6% to swanky and festive favorite French champagne at 33%.

Of course, where consumers plan to buy wine is of interest, with the following categories in the top three: liquor store 25.9%, grocery store 18.3% and Discount/Wholesale store at 12.2%.

qSample’s Wine Enthusiast Panel – YourWineOpinion.com is an exclusive group of research panelists who are deeply profiled and agree to share their opinions on all things wine-related.  Over 300 responses were collected for the survey with respondents from the following demographics:

  • Over 50% are college educated
  • 31.4% make over $56,000 in income
  • 71% are between the ages of 25-34

Maybe this insight into our Wine Enthusiast Panel has sparked some ideas for your own Holiday purchases or ways in which you can use our specialty panels for your next research study? For more information, please contact Julie Mueller at julie.mueller@qsample.com.

Happy Holidays!

College debt survey infographics

November 20th, 2012 Rudly

Infographics change the way analytics are communicated, and qSample is onboard.  The trendy offspring of the old school Powerpoint image – Infographics are the new way to share data and transform it into information by using clever and engaging visuals.   An Infographic has an eye-catching and relevant visual coupled with the numbers being conveyed in order to reinforce the meaning behind the statistics.    The infographic below depicts how college students are fairing in the current economic climate. The data is derived from a survey conducted by Campus Universe –  an online panel of college students developed and managed by qSample.

Is the cost of college becoming hard to swallow for university students?

October 29th, 2012 Rudly
With college costs skyrocketing, a new survey conducted by CampusUniverse shows that 62% of students surveyed have student loans or aid to repay in some form.  The survey was conducted between October 18-23rd, with a sample size of 500 respondents. This year, in the United States, outstanding student loan debt will reach $1 trillion dollars.  [i]

The survey reveals that these students are also getting help from their parents 22.3%, working full or part-time 18% and relying on scholarships 16.5% to help supplement their college bills in addition to loans and aid.  Of those surveyed with qSample’s Campus Universe research panel, 82% indicates their loans are provided by the federal (59%) and state (23%) government entities with the majority of money owed per student ranging between $0 – $29,999.

Some of these students, over 30%, anticipated their loan to be paid off in 5-10 years, while 27% are not sure how long it will take to pay back their loans in this uncertain economy.  It is estimated that only half of recent college graduates are working in full time jobs[ii]

This survey was conducted with students in each grade level, and 67% consider their amount of debt manageable, with the remaining students worried that their debt is an unmanageable amount.

In fact, 31% of participants indicated that they worry “all the time” about the amount of debt they have incurred in pursuit of higher education.  Forty-eight percent of the students worry “sometimes” and the remaining 21% “never” worried or are “not really” worried about their ability to repay their student loans.

Most people who could relive their college days would make different decisions on a variety of topics. This survey indicated that 44% of students would make different choices to incur a smaller loan amount.  That is a big life lesson to learn the hard way from your college experience.

Campus Universe is an online community of on and off campus college students who have opted-in to participate in various college research studies. The panel is developed and managed by qSample, in partnership with Campus Entertainment.

To learn more about the college student panel, go to www.campusuniverse.com

[i] http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57436775/dropping-out-is-college-worth-the-cost/

[ii] http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57436775/dropping-out-is-college-worth-the-cost/

Foreign Policy Debate doesn’t change minds of Florida Voters – Independent voters are Crucial

October 24th, 2012 Rudly

 

Only two percent of survey participants believe last night’s showdown changed how they will vote on November 6th, according to a survey conducted with Florida Voter’s Voice, an online research panel of likely voters developed and managed by qSample.

This unique survey was deployed immediately after the debate and indicates the state’s voters are skewing towards Barack Obama, but with 23% still undecided.

Of note – 64% of panel participants indicated the foreign policy topics debated are important to them in this election.  When asked whom they think won the debate, 52% choose President Obama versus 31% for Governor Romney.  Also, 42% of respondents confirmed that they consider themselves a Democrat versus 35% of the survey population that declared themselves Republican.

In fact, 99% of voters who consider themselves “strong” Democrats believe Obama won the debate last night and 72% of “strong” Republicans considered Romney the winner.

These party affiliation numbers are not as tight as those forecasted in the nation-wide presidential race, but it confirms how influential the Independent voters are in this key campaign state.

Florida has 29 electoral-college votes to be won, and when asking these Independent voters who won Monday night’s debate, 55% gave the nod to Obama, while 30% sided with Romney and 15% called it a draw.

Florida Voter’s Voice participants are highly committed to this election, with 98% of respondents planning to vote in next month’s election and the remaining 2% indicating they had voted early.  Other majority characteristics of this survey include:  70 % of the respondents are Caucasian, 93% are over 35 years old and gender evenly represented.

Florida Voter’s Voice is part of VoterFeedback.com – a robust online panel of likely voters nationwide, developed by qsample. For firms that are in need of a quality sample of likely voters, VoterFeedback provides access to millions of respondents who are highly profiled and recruited to participate in a variety of research initiatives.

Wine continues to gain strength with U.S. consumers

October 24th, 2012 Rudly

The holidays mean parties, presents and pressure. There is traditionally a marked spike in wine purchases during this time of year.

With the holidays fast approaching, qSample has collected valuable insight into consumer buying habits concerning wine. The survey was deployed to our wine enthusiast panel – YourWineOpinion.com.  Not only does the festive holiday season promote increased wine purchases, but wine consumption in the United States is up 26% in the last ten years with over 784 million gallons of wine being sold in 2010[1].

For the American public, wine consumption has become affordable, more social and accessible.  Results from the survey  indicate over 83% of wine consumers have attended some form of college, but you don’t have to be a wine snob to know what you like.   Most grocery stores carry a wide selection of varietals for the convenience of their customers and over 53% regularly purchased wine at their local liquor, market or grocery store.

The characteristics of “aroma” and “taste” were noted as the most popular qualities influencing a buying decision for these consumers with “brand” coming in third.  Indicating that a consumer’s senses seem to lead the way when making a wine purchase more so than a desire for a specific brand.   Based in this finding, it makes “sense” (pun intended!) to increase sampling in stores, especially during this holiday season.

Holidays or not – more U.S. consumers are including wine as a lifestyle choice with 33% of our participants purchasing wine for consumption at home.

Also of note – 42%  of the respondents indicated that they purchased wine on a daily or weekly basis, and over 70% spent between $1-20 per bottle on their wine purchases.

What’s the favorite varietal choice? Merlot, at 13%, squeaked past Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonay at the top of this list.

[1] http://www.wineinstitute.org/resources/statistics/article86

What is driving the growth in Medical Tourism?

July 31st, 2012 Rudly

Medical Tourism, also referred to as international medical migration, patient migration and medical travel, is a new term but not a new idea. A market driven industry,  Medical Tourism is shaped by the complex interactions of myriad medical, economic, social and political forces. Medical tourists embark on worldwide journeys for health care to lower costs,  decrease wait times, and access medical services that aren’t available in their home country.  For patients from countries where a governmental health care system regulates access to health care, the reason to leave the local market is the desire to have timely treatment, circumventing delays associated with long waiting lists. Because national health programs and some insurance programs do not fund cosmetic surgery and similar types of services, patients seeking these services are driven to pursue medical tourism.  Patients also travel to medical tourism destinations for procedures that are not available in their own countries. For example, stem cell therapy, unobtainable by many patients in industrialized countries, is available in the medical tourism marketplace. The now deceased Charlie’s Angels star, Farah Fawcett, struggled to find a cure for cancer three years ago, which ultimately took her to Germany for a unique procedure that was not available in the United States

Resources are insufficient for people to comfortably purchase care in their local market, but adequate for them to buy care in lower-cost foreign facilities. An additional benefit is that another country provides privacy and confidentiality for patients undergoing plastic surgery, sex change procedures and drug rehabilitation; their medical records cannot be viewed by the myriad parties who can access these documents in the United States.

While much has been written about medical tourism and its impacts and ethics, little research has been conducted to quantify the reasons that consumers participate in it.  qSample conducted a study to target a wide range of global consumers on their experiences and consideration of medical tourism.  The study used an international sample of potential medical tourists with an estimated 575 participants.

To download the full white paper, please click on the link below:

Download White Paper

 

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