A commonly used completion technique (Gordon & Langmaid 1990; Will
et al. 1996) in qualitative market research is ‘bubble drawing’. This is a
device based on a technique called the Thematic Apperception Test where,
according to Tucker-Ladd (2001), clinical psychologists use a series of
standard pictures and ask subjects to make up stories about them. Tucker-
Ladd says that what people see in the pictures says something about
themselves and thus reveals their personality.
Projective techniques can be used in a variety of market research
situations as well as in social and educational research (Catterall &
Ibbotson 2000), and these do not have to be aiming at uncovering aspects
of personality of any great depth. For example, a bubble drawing was used
(Boddy 2004a) by one researcher to uncover students’ underlying attitudes
towards the delivery of a lecture on marketing research rather than to
uncover any deeper aspects of their own personalities. Projective and
enabling techniques are thus useful when research participants have
difficulty expressing opinions or feelings and researchers need some way
of accessing these from the participants’ minds (Gordon & Langmaid
1990; Kay 2001).
The influence of psychology on qualitative market research has led some
commentators – for example, Colwell (1990) – to discuss whether qualitative
market researchers should have an academic background such as a
degree in psychology or other behavioural sciences. Many do have this
background. However, it is a matter of debate whether such a background
is needed for the competent analysis of projective techniques. The personal
characteristics of the moderator (in focus group discussions) are said (Will
et al. 1996) to be important in the use of projective and enabling
techniques, and a person with a ‘warm, friendly, interested and relaxed’
approach, and who is capable of establishing rapport is recommended.