6 responses

• todd Apr 02, 2008
   

  This makes so much sense and is simultaneously so horrible. Marketers have long struggled with the challenge of getting honest, true feedback from panelists. This is similar to the use of anthropologists in marketing. But way creepier.

   
• Shimon Apr 03, 2008
   

  I don't think this is creepy. Marketing has been about understanding buyer psychology for around 100 years now, and thus it's only logical that the full range of psychoanalytic techniques would eventually be applied to marketing products. As long as the focus group subjects know what they're going into, I don't think it's creepy.

   
• Jim Cowie Apr 03, 2008
   

  One day the marketers will download your brain into an online emulation platform, and torture it to death over weeks in an attempt to find out what REALLY motivates your purchase decisions. The real you will get juice and cookies and $100 for your time.

   
• james Apr 04, 2008
   

  Sounds like Volvo would have done well to do a blind contextual inquiry instead of a focus group, or any blind study for that matter. I think the hypnosis angle is great though. They should also try getting the focus group drunk. I would like to learn how that works out.

   
• todd Apr 05, 2008
   

  james: blind people can't drive. i don't think that they're volvo's target market. your comments are surprisingly offensive to blind people everywhere.

   
• Jim Cowie Apr 05, 2008
   

  finally, I think we're bringing this conversation to a deeper, more emotional place