MRA Launches Qualitative Qualification

The USA's Marketing Research Association (MRA) this week added a specialist qualitative track to its Professional Researcher Certification (PRC) program, launched in February this year. It offers three levels: Associate, Practitioner and Expert.

The Qualitative Research Consultant track, the first specialist section of the PRC program, aims to help both professionals and employers. It was developed by MRA's Qualitative Consultant Committee, along with Louise Kroot-Haukka of Louise Kroot Associates, George Sloan of Customer Strategy Consulting, and Carla Lindemann of Issues & Answers Network.

Kroot-Haukka states that designing the new qualification was 'not an easy task, but one that got us all in touch with just how complex this profession is'. She views it as a positive opportunity for researchers, stating that it will 'help to define the profession for new people' and also 'define the ways that more experienced professionals can enhance their skills and abilities'.

The goal of the PRC program is to encourage high standards and professional development, and to establish an objective measure of knowledge and proficiency. It is designed to cover all US marketing and opinion research professionals from End User to Interviewer. MRA membership is not required.

More information on the program is available on the MRA's web site at www.mra-net.org .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.