Word of the Day: sugging

Word of the Day Daily updates on the latest technology terms |October 18, 2017

sugging Sugging, also spelled SUGGing, is an acronym that stands for "selling under the guise" of research. This practice occurs when individuals or companies pretend to be market researchers who are conducting a study when, in fact, they are simply looking for sales leads. In the United States, research firms are allowed to offer a gift to survey respondents as thanks for their participation in a study. If a research company tries to sell something under the pretense of conducting a study, however, it is in violation of standards established by the Insights Association, a non-profit membership trade organization for companies that specialize in market research, as well as federal laws that distinguish survey, opinion and marketing research from commercial activities. Sugging is similar to frugging (fundraising under the guise of research) and pugging (politicking under the guise of research).  When a survey about pets ends with a PayPal button and a request for a donation to an animal rescue organization, the participant has been frugged. Pugging often takes the form of a push poll. When a research poll asks questions that are obviously skewed to one side of an issue or favor one candidate, the participant has been pugged. Sugging, as well as frugging and pugging, undermine the efforts of ethical researchers by attempting to take advantage of those who want to participate in legitimate research. To avoid being sugged, study participants should ask the researcher if they are selling anything, including the data gathered in the study, and inquire who the research is working for. If a survey participant feels they have been sugged, the participant is advised to submit a consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Quote of the Day "The practice of sugging also undermines the value of true research which is an essential tool for the development of evidence-based policy and decision making." - Jane Frost   Trending Terms market research survey research data privacy data sampling direct marketing do not call list   Learning Center Conducting technology market research for new techs, products Find out how channel partners approach technology market research when considering adding a new technology or product as a business offering. IT channel sales and marketing strategy for the digital era Having an effective sales and marketing strategy is essential for every IT channel company in today's world. Here are the ins-and-outs to get you started. IT and marketing: working together for business success The IT department builds things that scale and last, while marketing wants the next big thing - and needed it yesterday. How can heads of technology work effectively with marketing? Cliff Saran investigates. Computer Market Research unveils marketing funds tool for partners Computer Market Research introduces a tool for managing vendor-provided marketing funds; Ingram Micro expands its ProAV/Digital Signage portfolio; and more channel news. Smartphones sound the death knell for outbound marketing strategies The smartphone-saturated consumer market is slowly deflating outbound marketing strategies and telemarketing. Quiz Yourself This is a performance-based marketing strategy in which one company pays another for referred business. a. What is recruitment marketing? b. What is affiliate marketing? Answer   Stay In Touch For feedback about any of our definitions or to suggest a new definition, please contact me at: mrouse@techtarget.com   Visit the Word of the Day Archives and catch up on what you've missed!   FOLLOW US About This E-Newsletter This e-newsletter is published by the TechTarget network. To unsubscribe from Whatis.com, click here. Please note, this will not affect any other subscriptions you have signed up for. TechTarget, Whatis, 275 Grove Street, Newton, MA 02466. Contact: webmaster@techtarget.com Copyright 2016 TechTarget. All rights reserved.