Merlien Institute's list of qualitative research blogs

Following the discussion thread that we started on the QRCA Linkedin Group. Below is a list of qualitative blogs compiled from the discussion thread as well as selected blogs from Google's blogsearch website. Please note that the blogs are not in a particular order or ranking. If you find any dead links or incorrect information, please inform us by using the comment form at the end of this page.

Tom H.C. Anderson NGMR Blog Featured (http://www.tomhcanderson.com/) -Tom is a prolific blogger and a founder of an online market research firm that leverage data and text mining with other research techniques. Text analytics according to Tom is a hybrid of quant and qual.

NewQual Blog New! (http://www.newqualitative.org/blog/) - GreenBook’s NewQual Blog is where you learn about events in the online/mobile qualitative research space, read tips and case studies from those already practicing in these new technologies, and stay current on this evolving industry.

Ethnosnacker (http://www.ethnosnacker.com) A blog by Siamack Salari, a respected pioneer in video ethnography. His dream is to collect examples of all human behaviour in a shareable video archive and thereby make the world more lucid.

Go Innovate New! (http://www.go-innovate.typepad.com) goInnovate is a blog written by Greg Heist about how technology and innovation are driving the new norm in marketing research.  It’s about what’s new, what’s coming, and what’s integral to the way we think about innovation.

Latema's Blog (http://latema.wordpress.com/) This blog encompasses research, innovation, food, music and whatever catches my whim. I post in fits and starts- not consistently they way I had hoped, but I do invite you all to peruse and comment!

Martin Research (http://martinresearch.com/blog/) Martin specializes in focus groups and other qualitative methodologies, in-person and online. His special forte: helping clients use research to develop brand and product positioning and to derive strategy.

GreenBook Blog (http://www.greenbookblog.org) - This site is dedicated to providing global market researchers with access to the most interesting content posted daily across the internet, coupled with original insight and thought leadership from industry movers and shakers from both sides of the table.

Thinktank: International Qualitative Research (http://www.thinktank-international.blogspot.com/) Thinktank specialises in qual - we've been blogging for 4 years - about marketing, comms, culture, specific research issues - but certainly always from a qual researcher's perspective!

Qualitative Inquiry (http://qualitativeinquiry.com/) A blog by Nora White who writes about teaching and mentoring qualitative research and share stories about developing and coordinating at the Center for Qualitative Inquiry.

Qualitative Research Cafe (http://blogs.ubc.ca/qualresearch) - A blog by Sandra Mathison discussing about interpretive and critical research approaches

DUB blog (http://www.dubstudios.com/blog/) - Blogs about online qual and MROCs. The blog also touches on how researchers are using social technologies to engage respondents.

Maryland Marketing Source - (http://bit.ly/bzrgEQ) - This blog discusses a variety of market research and small business topics, including qualitative research, quantitative research, next generation methodologies, business development, and the humorous side found in all of the above.

QualBlog (www.qualblog.com) - a blog provided by 20/20 Research, Inc. and written by Jim Bryson. The blog has stories on qualitative techniques, the qualitative research industry, and other items of interest to qualitative researchers.  The site aims to keep one "up to speed" on qualitative happenings and techniques.

Research Design Review (www.researchdesignreview.com) Research Design Review is intended for the providers, users, and students of qualitative and/or quantitative research who have an interest in thinking about and discussing research design issues. The author, Margaret Roller has been a research professional for the past 35 years.

All About Qualitative Blog (www.allaboutqualitative.com) - this blog talks about practices for conducting focus group discussions and is written by Elizabeth (Betsy) Harrington, Ph.D., who has conducted market research for over 20 years for a full range of industries and clients including Fortune 500 companies.  

The Qualitative Research Blog (http://onqualitativeresearch.blogspot.com) - A blog by Reshma Bachwani Paritosh. It talks about research design, methods, application of research to areas like communication & branding. Paritosh works for Indian-based Mudra Communications as the group director for Brand Communications.

Research Arts (http://www.researcharts.com/) -  Frankie Johnson share her thoughts on the changes in market research, with emphasis on the qualitative side.

Perspectives on Consumers: Takes on Trends, Culture, Attitudes and Behavior (http://goldsmithstrategicservices.com/blog) - Caryn Goldsmith's blog on the impacts of marketing decision making and research in general. Goldsmith is an independent market research and strategic planning consultant in Los Angeles.

Black on Black (http://www.nickblack.org) - Nick Black's blog focuses on qualitative research and strategy (morphological research, grounded theory, ethnography etc). Nick is the Vice President of Concerto Marketing Group. He has been studying consumers, shoppers and employees across Australia, Asia and North America since 2004.

Spych Market Analytics: Innovation Meets Qualitative Research (http://www.spych.wordpress.com) - This blog is mainly about the future of the qualitative research industry, and as its blogger, Benjamin Smithee describes, the crazy life of the research road warrior.

The MROC Talk Blog (http://www.pluggedinco.com/blog ) - covers the latest developments in market research online communities (MROCs) and online qualitative research.

Customer Experience Crossroads (www.customercrossroads.com ) - Susan Abbott's blog talks about qualitative research in the context of customer experience as well as topics that is related to human behavior. Susan Abbott is the principal customer experience strategist and researcher at Abbott Research & Consulting.

Blog from Lb Qualitative Research (http://lb-qr.blogspot.com/) - A French qualitative research blog that offers news and views of the French marketing research firm, Lb Market Research, founded in 2008.

The Qualitative Report (http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/) - An online bi-monthly journal dedicated to qualitative research since 1990 maintained by Ronald J. Chenail, Ph.D.

Sociological Images (http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/) - The site is designed to encourage all kinds of people to exercise and develop their sociological imagination by presenting brief sociological discussions of compelling and timely imagery that spans the breadth of sociological inquiry. 

Copernicus Consulting blog - (http://copernicusconsulting.net/category/blog/) Sam Ladner's blog focuses on qualitative research methods, research, and design to help designers understand and apply them in their own designs. Copernicus Consulting, as it describes itself, is a boutique social research firm which aims to help clients understand the socio-cultural lives of their customers in Canada and the United States.

Anthropology in Practice (http://www.anthropologyinpractice.com) - this site is designed to bring anthropology to the general public as it lays bare the relationships people have with each other and the world by drawing on practical, everyday events to explain anthropological theory. It is written by Krystal D'Costa, an anthropologist working in New York City whose interests include communication, identities, technology, immigrants, and the relationships that make up daily life

Society for Humanistic Psychology (http://societyforhumanisticpsychology.blogspot.com) - This organizational blog by the Division 32 of the American Psychological Association (APA) talks about humanistic psychology which is said to be a helpful factor in contributing to psychotherapy, education, theory, philosophy of psychology, research methodology, organization and management, and social responsibility and change.

Digital Tools for Qualitative Research (http://researchosu.blogspot.com/) - A blog that offers a five-week introductory course on computer technology tools available to assist in collecting, organizing and analyzing data for qualitative research.

Qualitative Query (http://nextstepconsult.wordpress.com/) - Dave Kreimer's blog talks about his views as a veteran qualitative market researcher. Next Step Consulting, Kreimer's firm,  consists of a team of professionals that services companies such as McMillan/McGraw Hill, Microsoft Corporation, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, among others.

Revelation, Inc.'s blog (www.revelationglobal.com/news/thinking) - This company blog shows the views of the team as it seeks to provide software, methodology, and services designed to do ethnographic-inspired online qualitative research. The team claims to be driven by one goal: To make human experiences easier to access, understand, and apply.

El Blog de Metaforo (http://blog.metaforo.es/) - Marcel Cirera Amadó's Spanish blog on his views about the qualitative research industry through culture. Metaforo is a qualitative research and strategy firm in Barcelona.

Market Research Insights (www.in-depthresearch.com/blog) - this blog tracks interesting marketing and research issues as described by Jacob Brown, president of strategic market research firm, In-Depth Research.

Bernett Blog (http://www.bernett.com/Bernett-Marketing-Research-Blog/) - A blog by market research and data collection firm, Bernett Research. The blog provides useful surveys and informative figures marketing researchers can use in doing strategies for their clients.

The Lipstick Economy (http://jamiedunham.wordpress.com) - Jamie Dunham's blog talks about the buying power of the 108 million adult women in the U.S. that make 85% of all consumer purchases. According to her, these women guide their friends and families into purchasing decisions and create the word of mouth that influences those around them spending approximately $2 trillion dollars annually, making them truly the Lipstick Economy. Not only a blogger, Dunham is also a brand strategist and cultural curator.

Market Research Bulletin (http://marketresearchbulletin.com) - It is a member driven online bulletin board connecting marketing, advertising, research, consulting and strategy professionals around the world.

The FGI Blog (http://www.fgiresearch.com/category/fgi-blog/) - A blog about FGI Research’s market research insights, advances in research methods, and other exciting news. FGI Research clients include, FedEx, Disney, and Duke Energy, among others.

kumeugirl (http://kumeugirl.com) - Lee Ryan's personal views on emerging markets, digital qualitative market research, and web 2.0. Ryan is now the TNS regional qualitative director for Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for TNS. TNS is a world leader in market research, global market information and business analysis.

Freshminds Research Blog (http://blogs.freshminds.co.uk/research/) - A blog about the views of the Freshminds' team of research professionals. FreshMinds is a research marketing firm founded back in 2000 and is based in London.

The Better Research Blog (http://betterresearch.blogspot.com/) - A blog by Josh Mendelsohn, Vice President of market research and consultancy firm, Chadwick Martin Bailey (CMB). Mendelsohn describes himself as a marketer, a part time researcher, and most importantly a consumer who likes to give his feedback on all sorts of products, services, brands, among others.

LoveStats (http://lovestats.wordpress.com/) - Annie Pettit's quirky blog about social media research, charts, statistics, and market research. Pettit is the Chief Research Officer at Conversition Strategies, a social media research firm. She occasionally writes about Qual research.

Insights Qualitativos (http://www.insights-qualitativos.com/) -  A Spanish language blog by Pablo Sánchez Kohn. iQ 2.0 is a space for disseminating and share solutions relating to culture 'Wikonsumer & Netizen.

GOMC Blog (http://bit.ly/cgXcQ3) - The global online moderator community blog. Blogs on the latest online qualitative research issues, trends and interviews with key stakeholders.

The Future Place Blog (http://thefutureplace.typepad.com/) - Ray has spent 30 years at the interface of market research, innovation, and advanced techniques. He channel many of his thoughts through his widely respected blog.

Zebra Research Blog (http://www.zebra-research.com.au/) - The company blog of Zebra Research based in Australia. Writes about qualitative research, including focus groups, in depth interviews and online qualitative research.

Communispace blog (http://blog.communispace.com) - In this blog, we share true-to-life adventure stories of insights gleaned from online communities, the challenges facing the industry in general, and topical, cross-community research.

Merlien Institute's blog (http://www.merlien.org/news/) - Merlien's very own house blog that touch on the latest issues on qualitative research, updates on upcoming events and activities of our members.

Disclaimer: Please note that Merlien Institute takes no responsibility for information contained on external links from this list. Views expressed by individuals in their blogs, webpages or external sites are not necessarily those of Merlien Institute.

Know of any qualitative blogs that you think we should include on this list? Send us the link and a short description of the blog using the comment form below: