Here's why the research stats you constantly pull out are flawed.
Chatting yesterday, myself and two mates realised that the three of us had all signed up to participate on a number of market research websites. This included online surveys, attending focus groups, taste tests and being sent free products. Remuneration has taken place in the way of money, vouchers and of course free stuff.
It doesn't matter that all three of us are studying marketing which is something you're meant to declare at the start of every survey. It also doesn't matter that I'm now at a point where I know how to manipulate a survey to ensure I fit the criteria and am therefore selected. It also doesn't matter that once passed being selected, I know how to answer the questions to make the survey end as fast as possible and receive payment.
My other two mates were the same, and I imagine we're not the only three people doing it. In fact as we sat there, they were fabricating a story to report back in order to be sent another free bottle of alcohol.
I'm a poor uni student, that's my excuse anyway. Now I haven't written this post for you to lecture me on how I shouldn't be doing blah blah immoral blah blah ethics, but rather so you realise your expensive research is probably not that accurate. Thanks for the free shit though....
