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Internet Survey Software

Real E-Mail and Zip Code Validation for Surveys

by Mark Kupferman • August 24, 2010 • 3 Comments

Why don’t more survey software packages offer zip code validation or real e-mail address validation? I don’t just mean syntax validation — anyone can offer that (although it is interesting that not everyone does). I mean real zip code validation where the postal code is looked up in a database or an e-mail address is tested as soon as it is entered to verify that it is real. It seems that both of these features would be easy to implement and would be of much use to the client.

IBM SPSS Statistics 19 New Features

by Mark Kupferman • August 17, 2010 • 4 Comments

IBM/SPSS have posted to their web site the features of IBM SPSS Statistics 19, the latest version of SPSS for 2010 (known briefly for a time as PASW Statistics). New features include general linear mixed models, faster performance, a statistics web portal, automated linear models, a few syntax editor improvements, default measurement levels, a few new direct marketing capabilities and integration with the (new) IBM SPSS Collaboration and Deployment Services system.

JayBird Wireless Sportsband Bluetooth Headphones

by Mark Kupferman • July 28, 2010 • 7 Comments

In my continuing effort to promote products and things that I like, I just wanted to say a few nice words about the JayBird Sportsband Bluetooth Headphones (SB2). I originally bought a set of these when they were first released in the beginning of January, 2010 and have really enjoyed owning them ever since! They work with my computer, my phone, my iPod, my iPad and my television set. They sound good, the fit comfortably, and they take a beating.

IBM SPSS Statistics 19.0 Thoughts

by Mark Kupferman • July 24, 2010 • 13 Comments

The release of IBM SPSS Statistics 19.0 is in the offing, so I thought I taken my traditional opportunity to rant about the Java platform that SPSS moved to after version 15 and offer a few suggestions regarding what SPSS could do to make me want to switch to SPSS 19 when it is released. Variable Folders and cleaner, simpler cut/paste options would go a long way to get me past my intense dislike of the Java-based interface.

Flipboard for iPad is Beautiful

by Mark Kupferman • July 23, 2010 • 1 Comment

I’ve tried several different news readers on my iPad, and it wasn’t until I tried Flipboard that I fell in love. Flipboard bills itself as a “personalized, social magazine” and it really is. It looks like a magazine. You even flip pages like a magazine. And it is just plain beautiful.

Just One Mark Kupferman in the USA?

by Mark Kupferman • July 21, 2010 • 0 Comments

Have you visited the program HowManyOfMe.com? It allows you to enter any name and instantly see how many of the 309 million people in the United States share that name. It says that there is only one #mark kupferman in the United States. It is based on statistical data from the US Census Bureau, so…

Replicating Multiple Conditional Display Variables in Sawtooth using Javascript

by Mark Kupferman • July 21, 2010 • 0 Comments

Version 6.4 of Sawtooth Software’s SSI Web allows you to use conditional relationships to display specific text based on the combination of up to four separate attributes. However, for a recent project I did where I needed to combine the results of seven attributes in order to display a certain price, the built in capabilities wasn’t enough and I had to use Javascript to achieve my goal. In case anyone is interested, here is (basically) how I did it.

Orlando BMW Repair Recommendation

by Mark Kupferman • July 18, 2010 • 0 Comments

This week I brought my 2001 BMW 325 convertible to BMW Tech LLC in Orlando for a number of long-overdue repairs and adjustments. It is a small shop located off of Orange Blossom Trail just south of the BMW dealership. The service is amazing; the prices are fair and the owner/technician who worked on my car is about as honest and forthright as I’ve ever experienced. I wholeheartedly recommend BMW Tech LCC for anyone who needs BMW service or BMW repair in the Orlando area.

Confirmit Flex Announced

by Mark Kupferman • November 20, 2009 • 0 Comments

Confirmit, one of the biggest online research software companies (they make the survey software that the big research firms use) has announced Confirmit Flex, a new application platform that makes it possible to create new data collection applications/tools very quickly while maintaining consistently high performance, scalability, and security.

Ruby Tabulation Software

by Mark Kupferman • October 20, 2009 • 0 Comments

Tim Macer of meaning ltd. wrote an article about Ruby Tabluation Software from the Australian firm Red Centre Software. I’ve always struggled way ways to automate the analysis and reporting on my ongoing surveys so I was intrigued. I signed up for the trial (they were very flexible — first they spent about an hour and a half with me on a webinar and then they let me try the full, unencumbered version of the software for more than a month) and fell in love with it.

PASW Statistics 18.0 (SPSS Statistics) New Features

by Mark Kupferman • July 9, 2009 • 5 Comments

SPSS has announced the new features that they plan to the upcoming release of PASW Statistics 18 (formerly know as SPSS Statistics 18, or SPSS Base).

20 Questions a Journalist Should Ask About Poll Results

by Mark Kupferman • April 27, 2009 • 0 Comments

I came across a particularly good article on the web site of the National Council on Public Polls by Sheldon Gawiser and G. Evans Witt entitled, “20 Questions a Journalist Should Ask About Poll Results.” Im not a journalist — but what I find particularly helpful about this article is that it helps me understand the way other people are viewing (or should be viewing) my research and gives me some great things to think about when I’m putting together my own projects.

Online Survey Content Security Doesn’t Exist

by Mark Kupferman • November 11, 2008 • 0 Comments

There is no way to protect the content that you display in your survey from falling into the wrong hands. If you have a secret product or concept , your best bet for keeping it secret is not to test it using online research.

Selecting the Right Respondents for your Survey (Setting your Quotas)

by Mark Kupferman • October 25, 2008 • 1 Comment

Not all respondents are created equal. It’s true. Just because you can convince someone to take your survey doesn’t mean you necessarily want them to take your survey. In fact, ensuring that the right respondents take your survey (in the right proportions) is probably among the most important things you can do to ensure that you finish your project with survey results that you can use.

SPSS Statistics 17.0 Frustrates Me (a review)

by Mark Kupferman • October 22, 2008 • 0 Comments

I finally received my copy of SPSS Statistics 17 a couple of days ago and determined that I would try to push past my frustration with the “new and improved” Java-based interface and use it to analyze some data for a report I’m working on. But I can’t do it. There aren’t enough compelling features in the new version of SPSS to help me get past my frustration with the Java interface. So I’m sticking with SPSS 15.

Favorite Survey Software Packages for 2008

by Mark Kupferman • October 18, 2008 • 1 Comment

I know I said I wasn’t going to do this, but I get asked this question a lot so I’ve caving in. Here are my (current) favorite survey software packages: Qualtrics: (internet survey software) has a fantastic variety of question types with a really easy to use survey development system. Also features advanced survey branching…

SPSS 18 New Features Survey

by Mark Kupferman • October 17, 2008 • 0 Comments

SPSS has been conducting a survey for the last couple of weeks to help them develop SPSS Statistics 18 (the “new” name of what has formerly just been known as SPSS 17). One generally imagines that the questions that are asked provide insight into the types of new features they are considering,

Great Statistical Resource: The Analysis Factor StatChat

by Mark Kupferman • October 10, 2008 • 0 Comments

Statistical consultant Karen Grace-Martin launched a new blog in July, 2008 called “StatChat” which makes a lot of relevant, important, but sometimes hard to grasp statistical concepts easy to understand. Categories of postings include linear regression, missing data, spss, sas, anova, factor analysis, and sample size — things that all market research deal with on a regular basis (whether they like it or not!).

SPSS 17.0 Features Announced

by Mark Kupferman • July 14, 2008 • 0 Comments

SPSS has announced SPSS 17.0, which will feature improved research and reporting tools, greater accessibility for business users combined with new functionality for statistical programmers, and easier enterprise integration, deployment and management.

SPSS or Excel

by Mark Kupferman • May 26, 2008 • 9 Comments

Why use a data analysis package like SPSS when you could use Excel? I’ve just come across an interesting marketing piece from SPSS that goes into benefits one gets from using a dedicated data analysis package instead of trying to do all of your analysis in a spreadsheet. While it would be fair to expect that this isn’t necessary an unbiased comparison, it might offer some food for thought to those of you trying to figure out why you should bother to upgrade.