Meaning ltd has been carrying out this annual survey since 2004, making this the tenth 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 2013 survey, these topics are:

• Smartphones and tablets – their use in surveys and the extent to which market research companies support their use
• Customer satisfaction and voice of the customer
• Text analytics
• The last ten years and the next ten years of technological innovation

For 2013, we have updated the title, from ‘software survey’ to ‘technology survey’. This recognises the fact that this study has for many years looked at much more than software, by exploring the wider influences that technology exerts on the industry in driving innovation and change. It does not signify a change in emphasis in the project: it merely better reflects what the survey has long been about. 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.