Author Archives: Simon Shaw

About Simon Shaw

I'm a Director at an insight consultancy. I'm interested in marketing, market research & consumer psychology. The views expressed are not necessarily those of my employer.

When metrics mislead: BMI

Posted on April 26, 2024 by Simon Shaw

Lambert Quetelet was a Belgian astronomer, mathematician, statistician, and sociologist born in Ghent in 1796. His work transcended the boundaries of science and statistics, influencing the fields of public health, social science, and anthropology. Quetelet’s journey toward developing what we … Continue reading →

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The information trap: how excess information can compromise decision quality

Posted on March 26, 2024 by Simon Shaw

Another week, another episode of Location Location Location. We meet Emma, a conscientious first time buyer whose journey into the housing market becomes an epic saga. Armed with her spreadsheet and an unwavering spirit, Emma embarks on her quest for … Continue reading →

Posted in Behavioral Science, Behavioural Science, Choice, Consumer Psychology, Decision Science, Market Research | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Deceptive patterns: exposing the tricks tech companies use to control you

Posted on January 26, 2024 by Simon Shaw

The Venus Flytrap is nature’s cunning strategist. This unique plant, with its jaw-like leaves and sensitive trigger hairs, is an epitome of evolutionary ingenuity. It lures, captures, and digests unsuspecting insects employing a remarkable blend of allure and deception. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Behavioral Science, Behavioural Science, Books, Consumer Psychology, Market Research, Technology | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Lollapalooza effect: decision-making in the real world

Posted on January 18, 2024 by Simon Shaw

Famed investor Charlie Munger died last In November just a couple of months shy of his hundredth birthday. Vice chairman of megacorp Berkshire Hathaway, he had a long track record of success. His long-term perspective and investment acumen meant he … Continue reading →

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Remove friction to supercharge sales

Posted on November 23, 2023 by Simon Shaw

Friction determines our behaviour more than we realise. The clever ways Vinted has removed friction makes buying and selling easier, boosting its success. Continue reading →

Posted in Behavioral Science, Behavioural Science, Consumer Psychology, Customer Experience, customer journey, Market Research | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Counterintuitive Shopper Habits

Posted on October 12, 2023 by Simon Shaw

One of the joys of being a researcher is having your expectations confounded. You’re learning all the time. We partnered with a client to explore how promotions influence online grocery shopping. We were convinced that those who regularly bought treats … Continue reading →

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The Say-Do Gap in Driver Behaviour

Posted on October 12, 2023 by Simon Shaw

We recently finished a project about speeding and it was one of those projects where counter-intuitive findings came thick and fast. Our goal was to examine ways to encourage drivers to keep to speed limits, so we needed to really … Continue reading →

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What does generative AI mean for qualitative research?

Posted on September 22, 2023 by Simon Shaw

The first AQR hackathon took place today. 60 colleagues from across the industry came together to participate, learn, and reflect together on what generative AI means for our professional community. I split the event in two parts: listening then doing. We started … Continue reading →

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Battling Overchoice

Posted on July 26, 2023 by Simon Shaw

Faced with too much choice people default to largest most well-known providers. Continue reading →

Posted in Behavioral Science, Behavioural Science, Choice | Leave a comment

MRS Awards: my tips as a judge

Posted on June 23, 2023 by Simon Shaw

I often get asked for tips on how to approach writing a paper, so I decided to gather these in an article for the MRS. Continue reading →

Posted in Awards, Market Research, Market Research Society | Leave a comment