If All You've Got Is a Gizmo,
You've Got a Long, Long Way to Go
By David Lapovsky

	Ratings System Components Introduction Sampling Panel Balance Data Processing Station Encoding and/or Monitoring Operations and Production Sample Weighting Useful Reports Multiple Market Measurement Client Service Support for the Industry MRC Accreditation Print-friendly: Click here to print entire document.

Panel Balance
A Properly Balanced Panel Is Critical to Excellent Survey Results

For practical reasons, electronic meters are placed with a panel of respondents who participate for extended periods of time. Because the makeup of a panel is constantly changing—as people move and are replaced—an accurate survey requires documented plans and discipline to maintain the representativeness of the panel. Procedures must be in place to guarantee that respondents are recruited in a way that encourages all segments of the population to participate in the survey, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, language preference, or socioeconomic status. Procedures and staff must be in place so that, over time, panel members continue to comply with the research task.

Arbitron pioneered the use of procedures that actively encourage participation in meter panel surveys, and holds a U.S. patent for the technique. Arbitron also pioneered the use of race, ethnicity, and language identification questions in radio surveys. With years of experience in Media Rating Council^® (MRC)-accredited television meter panel sampling, Arbitron has a comprehensive set of panel management procedures to maximize the representativeness of its PPM panel, as well as a skilled and experienced staff to apply those procedures.

PPM™ is a service mark of Arbitron Inc.
Media Rating Council^® is a registered mark of the Media Rating Council.