Research
This section features primary research conducted by Council member firms and other leading groups on topics such as corporate social responsibility, social media and corporate reputation. This page will be updated periodically to reflect the latest relevant research.
2012 Edelman Trust Barometer
The 2012 Edelman Trust Barometer examines trust in four key institutions — government, business, media, and NGOs — as well as communications channels and sources. This is the 12th year of the study and this year we took a deeper look at what drives trust. The survey was produced by research firm StrategyOne and consisted…
Weber Shandwick’s The Company behind the Brand: In Reputation We Trust
Weber Shandwick’s The Company behind the Brand: In Reputation We Trust illustrates the challenging consumer landscape facing today’s marketing and communications executives. The research, which surveyed consumers and senior executives, identifies six key insights revealing a world where consumers no longer just buy products based on their own merits but also shop by company reputation….
The Impact of Social Media on Consumers
In advance of the 2011 Critical Issues Forum, “Social Revolution: Are you Mobilizing Communities or Just a Voice in the Crowd,” the Council of PR Firms and VeraQuest conducted a survey to understand the reach and impact of social media and the degree to which brands benefit from utilizing various social media platforms to create…
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Social Media: Weber Shandwick’s Socializing Your Brand: A Brand’s Guide to Sociability
Becoming social is an imperative for brands today, and while many are embracing the digital revolution, substantial improvements are yet to be made to build a brand with a distinctive social identity, according to a new global Weber Shandwick study conducted in partnership with Forbes Insights. “Socializing Your Brand: A Brand’s Guide to Sociability” offers…
ICCO World Report 2011
International PR sector in good health with double digit growth in 2010 The International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) 2011 World Report found that the international public relations (PR) consultancy sector grew bigger and stronger in 2010 and is expected to grow again in 2011. Digital and social media services are playing an increasingly important role…
- ICCO World Report 2011 (PDF)
FD/ Forbes Insights Strategic Initiatives Study
The latest FD/Forbes Insights Strategic Initiatives Study takes a rigorous look at corporate strategy — its creation, implementation, and what impacts its success or failure — and reveals how corporations have adapted their strategic plans to deal with the weakened economy and decreased growth opportunities in the past two years. It offers comparative data from…
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Sustainability: Gibbs & Soell Sense & Sustainability® Study
The second annual Sense & Sustainability® Study was conducted online in February 2011 by Harris Interactive® among 2,031 U.S. adults and 302 Fortune 1000 executives on behalf of Gibbs & Soell. Results found U.S. consumers and Fortune 1000 executives remain doubtful there is widespread commitment to “going green” among corporate America. However, executives express confidence…
Social Media: Burson-Marsteller Social Media Check-up 2011
Conducted between November 2010 and January 2011 the Burson-Marsteller Social Media Check-up looked at the at the FortuneGlobal 100’s activities on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube , corporate blogs and other local microblogs and social networks around the globe and compares results to the previous Global Social Media Check-up study conducted the prior year. Find the survey…
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Social Media: 2010 FedEx/Ketchum Social Media Benchmarking Study
An in-depth social media study conducted by FedEx and Ketchum of more than 60 well-known companies has found that significant changes are on the horizon for the way companies will use social media tools to communicate internally. The study also examines programming, team structure and budgeting trends, including how companies are increasingly working across functions…
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Social Media: 2010 Cone Consumer New Media Study
The 2010 Cone Consumer New Media Study notes that even as new media adoption explodes – up 48 percent from 2009 – loyal followers can be hard to come by for companies trying to reach consumers online. Download a copy of the results Here
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CSR: Why Corporations Invest in Corporate Social Responsibility by Weber Shandwick
Conducted in October 2010, the survey consists of input from more than 200 corporate executives in large-sized companies with responsibility for philanthropic, social responsibility or community relations, and was conducted in partnership with KRC Research. One major finding from the study is having an impact on critical issues is the number one reason why corporations…
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Reputation: Return on Reputation Indicator by APCO Worldwide
Developed by APCO Worldwide and its research division, APCO Insight, the Return on Reputation Indicator study for the retail industry is based on a national, quantitative survey among nearly 10,000 respondents, offering a 360-degree view of reputation across all stakeholders, including consumers, community activists, policy-makers, retail employees, and investors and analysts. Find the study results…
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University of Southern California – Generally Accepted Practices (GAP)
The GAP Studies which are produced annually USC Annenberg’s Strategic Public Relations Center. The following Executive Summaries capture the highlights of each report, which examines how organizations perceive the value of, use and organize their in-house public relations departments. It also includes information on how they work with their outside agencies. The full results can…