A common practice among research firms is selling branded “black-box” methodologies. These branded techniques are quite varied and include proprietary scaling, sampling, sample correction, data collection methods, market segmentation, and specialized indexes (e.g., customer satisfaction, loyalty, or quality indexes). Some techniques that are branded do involve sufficient disclosure, so a methodology is not a black box just because it is branded. Methodologies are called black-box methodologies when they are proprietary, and research firms will not fully disclose how the methodology works. While the desire to maintain a proprietary technique is understandable, without access to the inner workings of the technique, research buyers and other cannot assess its validity. Of course, no one focus clients to choose black-box methodologies. If client are unable to get sufficient insight into the method’s strengths and weaknesses prior to purchase, they can choose other suppliers.