MRA Key Programs and Services

MRA has a number of programs and initiatives. Some include:

Certification: The Professional Researcher Certification (PRC) program was developed as a powerful tool for researchers of all levels of work experience and education. MRA’s goal is to encourage high standards within the profession to raise competency, establish an objective measure of an individual's knowledge and proficiency and to encourage professional development. Additionally, it is the hope of MRA that these certification standards will increase consumer understanding of research and foster premiere professional standards in the profession. Marketing researchers of all types are eligible to apply to be certified. PRC has three certification levels: Associate, Practitioner, and Expert.

Blue Book Research Services Directory: The Blue Book is a comprehensive directory of thousands of firms whose owners or employees or employees are MRA members and have chosen to be listed. This directory gives detailed, up-to-date information about companies' premier facilities and services. The Blue Book is published annually and features numerous research companies on Honomichl’s Top 50 list. Many listing and advertising options are available. It is also available online.

Interactive Marketing Research Organization (IMRO): IMRO is a division of MRA and is the only association in the profession dedicated to serving the online research industry. The organization provides an open forum for the discussion of best practices and ethical approaches to research being conducted via the Internet.
IMRO produces the IMRO Best Practices for Online Sample and Panel Management, a recently released set of guidelines helping researchers conduct online research as efficiently and ethically as possible.

Your Opinion Counts’ Program: The Your Opinion Counts® (YOC) program was developed by MRA partner organization, CMOR, (Council for Marketing and Opinion Research) is dedicated to supporting the mutually beneficial relationship between the public and opinion research. YOC is composed solely of legitimate survey and focus group research organizations and their clients. These organizations have pledged to maintain a high standard of respect for the public while conducting research that will impact products, services and government programs and policy- for the betterment of American society.
Research participants influence the type of products developed, the quality of customer service they receive and in some cases public and government policy. Through consumer involvement, survey research has made Americans’ lives easier and more enjoyable. The YOC program is designed to help foster the relationship between the public and researchers.

Education Endowment Fund (please include the logo): Funded by MRA Foundation, Inc., the Education Endowment Fund is registered as a 501c (3) organization and provides scholarships to deserving students of research. The future of the research profession is dependent upon strong, well-educated professional researchers, and to meet the needs of a growing profession, this fund was created. Every dollar collected will be used directly to award scholarships or to educated future researchers.