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A little about the
owners and researchers:
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 "Qualitative and quantitative research are not like
oil and water – they do mix. As a research Psychologist, my interests have
always centered on quantitative methodologies and analysis. My entré into
marketing research was through large scale telephone data collection – back
when the critical tools were a blue pencil and calculator. When Anndel
Hodges Martin -- our founder, president, and a gifted moderator -- and I
joined forces in 1988, Opinions Unlimited became greater than the sum of
the parts. We love research, and we strive hard to provide research
services that meet and exceed our clients' expectations."
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Dr. Andy Martin, Vice President
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Anndel
Martin, President
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Anndel founded Opinions Unlimited, Inc.
She has moderated over 5,000 focus groups and IDI sessions and has been
associated with Burke Marketing Research since 1988 as a Qualitative
Consultant. She served on the MRA Board of Directors for six years, and
was elected President in 1994. She has served on more than twenty
committees for the MRA and QRCA, including the MRA/QRCA Joint Committee
(a group that investigates and addresses issues affecting qualitative
research providers) since its inception in 1996. The MRA recognized her
many contributions to the industry by selecting her for the 2000 MRA
Distinguished Service Award.
Anndel is a frequent presenter at QRCA,
MRA and AMA conferences; and has authored numerous articles and industry
guidelines on qualitative research topics.
Anndel currently represents the
interests of qualitative researchers as a member of CMOR Board of
Directors.
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Dr. Andy Martin,
Vice President
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After earning a Ph.D. in Developmental
Psychology, specializing in research on learning and memory, ‘Captain’
Martin spent 4 years at the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Lab where he
began a love affair with ‘applied research’. Research to discover new
things is good – research to discover new things and then apply the
results to save lives is better! After leaving active duty, Andy took his
love of applied research and coupled it with his training in learning and
memory research at a Research and Training Center in Mental Retardation
where he conducted research on training mentally retarded children and
adults and on ‘training the trainers’ who work with the mentally
retarded.
In 1983, Andy discovered marketing
research, a calling that the academic environs had neglected mentioning.
Here was the chance to conduct applied research for all kinds of people –
and get paid for it! In 1988, Andy joined Anndel at Opinions Unlimited and
two years later, LT. Colonel Martin took marketing research to war.
Called to active duty for Desert Storm, Andy landed at the Presidio of
San Francisco at Letterman Army Medical Center. Whatever else the Army
had planned for LTC Martin took a backseat when they discovered his
quantitative civilian occupation. The hospital, along with all of the
Presidio, was being closed and the hospital commander had been given the
job of surveying all of the active patients (350,000) in order to develop
plans for alternate health care – they needed a market researcher. Andy
stayed a year in San Francisco fighting the "sushi bar" war and
accomplished the needed research with no budget and no staff, but lots of
help from some really great people.
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And life after
research:
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Anndel and Andy approach their "pastimes" with
the same passion and attention to detail that they have always given to
Opinions Unlimited. They adore their eight grandchildren and they lovingly
restored a 1958 Morgan, a British sports car. visit www.mogmog.org
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The Martins also own and operate
Martin Vineyards in West Texas. Andy first planted the vineyard in 1975,
and was a pioneer in the Texas wine industry.
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Sauvignon Blanc, planted 1985
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