James P. (Jim) Murphy earned M.A. and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Pennsylvania, with concentrations in social and behavioral research methodology and communications theory.
Jim began his career at National Analysts, a division of Booz Allen and Hamilton in Philadelphia, working with company principals and methodology consultants from the Wharton School on some of the earliest commercial applications of conjoint measurement, multidimensional scaling, and benefit-based segmentation for leading marketers, including Coca-Cola, Miller and Xerox.
After three years and two promotions he left Booz Allen to become director of research at Weightman Advertising, where he was promoted to vice president. Weightman was the only Philadelphia agency with nationally advertised consumer product clients, one of which – Alpo – was the #1 brand in its category. Jim has maintained uninterrupted self-employment as a research consultant since opening his office in 1980. He also taught marketing research as an adjunct at Penn’s Wharton School for seven consecutive years.
He designed a comprehensive leisure and conference guest satisfaction tracking system for America's premiere resort conference hotel, The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., and ran it for over ten years.
Jim has moderated over one thousand focus groups in 36 of the 40 largest U.S. markets and six foreign countries. He fields consumer and business surveys using telephone, mail, online and personal interviewing. He recently established the National Institute of Consumer Research and the National Institute of Business Research as platforms for mail and web surveys.
Although many clients are Fortune 500 corporations, others are medium-size companies whose growth is driven by new product development and innovation. More than 80 percent of volume is repeat business.
Raised in Swampscott, Mass., and West Orange, N.J., Jim graduated from West Orange High School and Holy Cross College in Worcester, Mass.
Member
American Association for Public Opinion Research
Better Business Bureau (company member and director)
Booz Allen Alumni Connections
Population Reference Bureau
Sigma Xi – The Scientific Research Society of North America (elected)