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Educating leaders, the media and the public about issues of concern to your organization frequently requires market research. Effective PR research starts with a methodology that stands up to outside scrutiny, as well as a questionnaire designed to elicit interesting, newsworthy information. Because we know how to design studies for public release, Greenwald has provided critical information to both policymakers and the public. We know how to craft studies that garner the media attention you desire.

Take a look at some of our publicly-released studies...

  • MetLife Mature Market Institute's study on Multi-Generational Views on Family Financial Obligations employed both interviews with parent-child pairs and an online survey to explore Americans' views of their financial responsibilities to their family members.  The study reveals that helping a child achieve a college education is of growing importance, while far fewer see a role for parents in helping children buy a home.  Most adult children, it seems, would be willing to have a parent live with them should the need arise, but parents may be reluctant to accept this.  Lastly, the study suggests most do not think of an inheritance as a family responsibility.
  • Each quarter, Greenwald & Associates conducts the John Hancock Investor Sentiment Survey.  The online survey of affluent consumers examines investors' confidence in a variety of investment vehicles, concerns about economic issues, and their ability to reach personal financial goals.  From the results, a quarterly Investor Sentiment Index score is calculated and tracked to see how world political and economic events impact investors' overall confidence in the U.S. market.
  • Working with Tiller, LLC, a leading strategic communications consultancy, and the National Alliance for Grieving Children (NAGC), the nation's leading organization of bereavement centers, we conducted an online survey of parents who lost a spouse/partner. The study, underwritten by the New York Life Foundation and released in November 2011, revealed that parents find it challenging to know how to best support their grieving children, a challenge complicated by a lack of community awareness about bereavement.
  • Greenwald conducted an online survey of over 2,000 healthcare professionals about cleaning and disinfection of patient care areas in healthcare facilities and their role in preventing healthcare-acquired infection.  Respondents were members of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and the Association for healthcare Environment (AHE).  The study, released in Fall 2011, found that seven in ten believe their facility does a good job educating Environmental Services frontline staff about their role in infection prevention, but 54% believe others (such as doctors, nurses, and support staff) could be better educated on this important topic.
  • Released in February 2011, a survey conducted by Greenwald & Associates on behalf of the National Business Group on Health reveals a remarkable increase in consumers' reliance on their employers for health information, including assessments of the effectiveness of various health care treatments.  The Employee Attitudes toward Health Information and Comparative Effectiveness Research was an online survey of just over 1,500 employees working for larger companies with 2,000 or more employees.
  • Mathew Greenwald & Associates, along with Asset International, recently conducted the Qualified Plan Barometer Study on behalf of MetLife.  Using a barometer index, this study of Fortune 1000 plan sponsors assessed the efforts that large companies take to encourage both savings and adequate income in retirement.  The study showed that, despite a philosophical belief in encouraging employees to have adequate income in retirement, most focus their plan goals, design, communications and decision support tools toward savings, rather than income.
  • Results from the 6th annual Consumer Engagement in Health Care Study (CEHCS) were released in early December 2010.  This year's survey reveals continued slow growth in the use of Consumer-Driven Health Plans (CDHPs) and High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs), with 5% having a CDHP in 2010 and 14% having a HDHP.  Although overall plan satisfaction remains lower among CDHP and HDHP employees, the study finds that these planholders are more likely to be engaged in wellness activities and tend to be more conscious about the costs of their own healthcare.
  • New York Life's survey of over 1,000 Baby Boomers finds that buying long-term care insurance is a lesson that gets passed down through generations.  Boomers whose parents had long-term care insurance are more likely to own it themselves.  Released Fall 2010, the study explored the impact a parent's need for long-term care can have on their children.  The results show that, even though very few currently have long-term care coverage, Boomers whose parents needed care tend to say the experience made them more likely to buy it.
  • Released in November 2010, this study sought to better understand the unique situations of those who provide unpaid care for a veteran who has a service-related illness or disability.  The online survey, supplemented by in-depth interviews and focus groups, provides insight on the challenges and unmet needs experienced by this extraordinary group of caregivers, the effects of caregiving on their health, work, and life at home, as well as the types of programs and services that could help them.
  • A telephone survey of 2,000 Americans, conducted as part of the Social Security Administration's Financial Literacy Research Consortium by partners at Greenwald, RAND, and Wharton, finds that Social Security literacy is regrettably low.  Virtually all want the SSA to educate them, not just about how the system works, but about retirement preparation in general.  Despite little confidence that they will actually receive benefits, Americans trust the SSA more than any other source as a retirement educator -- a distant second on the list is financial advisors.
  • A survey conducted on behalf of John Hancock by Mathew Greenwald & Associates in July 2010 reveals that four out of five plan participants feel it is important for their retirement plan to offer choices in target-date funds to meet differing needs.  Respondents were almost evenly split between wanting portfolios that would take them "through" retirement and those that would take them "to" retirement.
  • Released in July 2010, an online survey of over 2,000 health care professionals, conducted on behalf of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), investigated health care professionals' experiences with preventing catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) in their facilities.  APIC was especially interested in understanding how health care professionals implement facility-wide prevention programs and the need for CRBSI prevention education. The study findings received notable trade press coverage.
  • In April 2010, Investment News published "What Advisers Really Think of Income Annuities," based on a webinar Brian Perlman of Greenwald & Associates presented to the Retirement Income Industry Association.  The webinar stemmed from successful focus group research with wirehouse brokers and RIAs, conducted on behalf of New York Life.  The study, webinar, and subsequent article focused on the challenges in getting advisors to sell income annuities, but also suggested communication strategies that are effective in promoting these products.
     
  • We teamed up with Comfort Zone Camp, a non-profit provider of childhood bereavement camps, to conduct an online survey of American adults, which delved into the sensitive issues of childhood bereavement and the possible long-term effects.  The study of 1,006 Americans age 25 or older was underwritten by a grant from the New York Life Foundation.  Released in March 2010 and covered by CNN, the research revealed that one in seven Americans lose a parent or sibling before reaching the age of 20, and many would trade a year of their life for one more day with their deceased parent.
  • An online survey of 500 investors released by NewRiver, Inc. in March 2010 finds that variable annuity and life policyholders welcome the idea of electronic delivery of prospectuses and related compliance documents.  More than half who were not offered the electronic option say they would be interested in e-delivery if it were available.
  • Released in March 2009, the "American Reality Study," conducted on behalf of Northwestern Mutual Life, revealed that many Americans remain optimistic despite the economic downturn.  The online study of 1,000 Americans age 25 or older explored Americans' definitions of success and the American Dream, feelings of financial security, and expectations for their own futures as well as the nation's future.
  • A study entitled "Pensions and Retirement Security: A Roadmap for Policymakers" was recently completed on behalf of the National Institute on Retirement Security.  This widely-publicized study examined the impact of the recent economic downturn on Americans' feelings of retirement security, and also measured reactions to public policies that may be needed to help Americans obtain and maintain a secure retirement.
  • The "Life Insurance Gap Survey" conducted for New York Life in the Spring of 2008 was a telephone survey of 1,000 Americans with household incomes of at least $50,000 that evaluated the "gap" between the life insurance coverage consumers already have and the amount they say they would need when asked about specific uses of life insurance proceeds.  the study, in short, allowed consumers to identify their own life insurance needs as opposed to their needs being determined by financial advisors and companies.
  • "Preparing for Their Future: A Look at the Financial State of Gen X and Gen Y," conducted on behalf of ASEC and AARP (as part of Divided We Fail), explored young adults' financial attitudes and behaviors, including financial independence, satsifaction with current circumstances, goals for the future, savings and debt levels, financial literacy, and views toward employers and workplace benefits.
  • Our research on the “ripple effect” of college debt received the “Bulldog Award,” voted by journalists to be the top advocacy campaign in the country in 2006.
  • Surveys for Money Magazine formed the basis for their April 2005 and April 2006 cover stories. The 2006 study covered gender differences and the dynamics within a marriage related to how people think about money and investing. The 2005 study focused on the lies people tell and secrets they keep regarding money and investing and was featured on Good Morning America.
  • The Citi Smith Barney Working Wealth Investor Poll, which is a monthly survey co-sponsored by Citi Smith Barney and CNBC,provides tracking information on investor sentiment, as well as monthly topics covering a variety of areas, such as taxes, the Federal Reserve, health care, and energy costs. In addition to being featured on CNBC, the Working Wealth Investor Poll has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and a number of other publications.
  • The Boomer Lifestyle Survey explored Boomers’ social and financial perspectives on retirement. The study covered topics such as expectations for romantic relationships, financial product ownership, experience with investing, sources of financial information and use of technology. The results were featured in Boomer Market Advisor magazine.

For further information on our experience with PR studies, please view our public relations client list, explore our multi-sponsor opportunities, and read more about our work in the financial services and health industries.