Meaning ltd has been carrying out this annual software survey since 2004, making this the ninth successive year of the survey. The survey provides a unique set of information and insights into the interplay of technology and methodology within the market research industry. It provides a snapshot of current usage and attitudes and predictions from practitioners, and identifies trends from a number of tracking questions that are asked repeatedly each year. In addition to identifying general trends, each year, the survey also focuses on several areas of topical interest. For the 2012 survey, these topics are: 

 Survey length (and the impact of mobile surveys on this) 

 Attitudes to apps versus browsers for mobile surveys 

 Survey quality initiatives and the use of incentives in panels 

 Research communities: uptake and software requirements 

This year (as in several previous years), the survey software company Confirmit has kindly sponsored the survey and provided financial and technical assistance that support its administration. This is acknowledged in the survey’s full title, which is the 2012 Confirmit Market Research Software Survey by meaning.