Opinion Leader Research (company)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Opinion Leader Research is a market research company based in the United Kingdom that uses a range of qualitative, deliberative and quantitative methods.
The company was founded in 1992 and in 1998, Opinion Leader Research became part of Chime Communications plc, the holding company for several public relations, research, and advertising and marketing companies.
The company works for a wide range of clients from the private, public and voluntary sectors.
Opinion Leader Research and Acacia Avenue jointly received the Prosper Riley-Smith Effectiveness Award of the Association for Qualitative Research.[1]
[edit] Public sector clients
The company has been engaged by UK Government departments, including, over the last nine [2] years:
| Department | Costs | Total cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Affairs | Not available | Not available | [1] |
| International Development | £38,247, £43,000, £50,309 | £121,556 | [2], [3] |
| Health | £1.05 million | £1.05 million | [4] |
| Treasury | £19,021, £133,237 | £152,258 | [5] |
| Work and Pensions | £794,130 | £794,130 | [6] |
| Total | £2,117,944 (minimum) |
Compiled from Hansard records of Parliamentary debates and Written Questions [7]. Efforts have been made to address duplication arising from multiple mentions of payments in the record including where figures were rounded.
[edit] Controversy
Deborah Mattinson who runs the firm advised three Labour Party election campaigns between 1987 and 1997 [3].
[edit] References
- ^ Association for Qualitative Research – Acacia Avenue and Opinion Leader Research Jointly Awarded AQR’s Prosper Riley-Smith Effectiveness Award
- ^ In a written answer from Gareth Thomas to John Bercow on Tuesday, 14 September 2004 quote "In 1998"
- ^ The Guardian, Sunday March 4, 2007 – Pendennis – Oliver Marre – Labour's on to a winner again States that "There is a cosy relationship between Opinion Leader Research ... and the government."]
- The Daily Telegraph, February 24, 2005: The art of keeping staff. Article discusses a survey carried out by Opinion Leader Research.
- The Guardian, Wednesday, September 28, 2005 – Patient approach Discusses "citizens' juries", "all-day events structured by consultants Opinion Leader Research".
- HM Revenue & Customs – "Opinion Leader Research was commissioned by the Inland Revenue Tax Law Rewrite project to undertake an evaluation of the Capital Allowances Act (CAA) 2001"
- BBC Governors Archive – OLR Audience Research Report "Opinion Leader Research was commissioned to conduct the audience research."
- Blogger, Guido Fawkes has highlighted a conflict of interest between director Deborah Mattinson's work for charity The Smith Institute and Opinion Leader Research's Treasury work
