• APTER RESEARCH
• Consumer and Social Action Research
• Consumer Insights
• Social Action and Corporate Social Responsibility Research
• Reversal Theory

Consumer and Social Action Research

Uncovering The ‘Why Behind The Why’

Values and emotions are powerful drivers in our lives and the choices we make everyday. Apter International help social, political and consumer organisations tap into both the rational and emotional factors that underlie why people behave and respond the way they do. We specialize in uncovering what is really going on – especially when logic alone fails to predict how people will act, vote or buy. Research from Apter International de-mystifies the contradictory or unpredictable behaviors often exhibited by consumers, voters, humans:

• Consumer Insights: Increasing marketing effectiveness through unexpected, thought-provoking insights into the values and emotions that underlie consumer choice.
• Social Advocacy: Changing the terms of public debate on local, regional and national issues through richer understanding of voters, policy makers and citizens.
• Corporate Social Responsibility: Aligning clients and their stakeholders on a broad array of social, economic, and environmental aspirations, with the goal of improving society.

What we do

Our philosophy is that qualitative and quantitative research work best when they work together. Each balancing the other, each providing insights the other can’t. And always focused on solutions that are ingenious and strategically sound.

 

 

We prefer in-depth Psychological Probes over focus groups where responses can be filtered by face-saving, groupthink, and political or social correctness.

We advise new clients to think “small, smart and mighty.” Start with a small but powerful study. Most often, this means a round of Psychological Probes. Investment in a relatively modest number of Probes is bound to deliver some unexpected twists that can shape client thinking dramatically.

What makes our approach different?

Perhaps the most important factor that sets us apart is our intellectual capital: Reversal Theory. It is the organising framework that serves as the scientific basis for explaining consumer behaviour. The 8 lenses of reversal theory are the foundation of our highly differentiated Psychological Probes and Thematic Analysis process that captures the motivations, emotions and values ‘in-play:’ what they are, how often they appear, how intensely they’re felt.

View our case studies on Consumer and Social Advocacy Research