Gift card buyers are an extremely diverse group in their attitudes and behaviors toward different types of cards, the number of cards they purchase, preferred purchase locations and affinity for e-gift cards. Savvy retailers take the time to understand how attitudes, behaviors and usage vary among consumers.

In its December 21, 2011 issue, Modern Medicine reports on a new study from Market Strategies International that indicates 58% of primary care physicians (PCPs) expect to join an accountable care organization, and 44% expect it to happen within the next 3 years. PCPs also have a negative outlook for how healthcare reform will affect their practices’ finances.

The November 2011 issue of Oncology Business Review features a research study conducted by Market Strategies International about the future of biosimilars in the US, which we believe will lead to spirited competition.

In the 2011 CASRO Journal, Market Strategies' Theo Downes-Le Guin examines how researchers handle "big data" sources. He suggests that qualitative researchers seeking to apply the tools and principles of unstructured text analysis need to rethink the way they analyze.

In its December 9, 2011 issue, American Banker reports on a new study from Market Strategies International that suggests young adults are more likely than any other group to trust banks more than alternative payment providers when it comes to emerging mobile-payment services.

In its November-December 2011 issue, M2M Now features a guest column from Market Strategies' Keri Christensen based on an internal research study that reveals if the average US consumer household is aware of emerging machine-to-machine (M2M) products and solutions, and, if they are, which solutions appeal to them most.

What gameplay mechanics can we apply to research? In the December 2011 issue of Research, Erin Leedy and Erica Ruyle of Market Strategies International pick out some of the most promising and explain how they might work.

Over the past decade, retailers across categories–from restaurants to specialty stores to discount retailers–have grown to rely on gift cards as a valuable source of revenue. Market Strategies International teamed up with First Data to learn how consumers perceive and use gift cards.

In the November 2011 issue of Quirk's Marketing Research Review, Market Strategies' David Ying Hon Ho shares a number of considerations unique to research in China that practitioners should heed to design meaningful, culturally appropriate studies.

It's an age-old problem for product planners: How do you get beyond what customers say they like to what they like the most? The answer is MaxDiff, a technique that forces tradeoffs and provides insight into the perceived value of individual features or scenarios. Learn more about MaxDiff and the unique steps Market Strategies takes to increase its power.