Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Scarborough?

Scarborough Research is a national research company that has been in business for over 30 years. Scarborough conducts over 220,000 surveys a year throughout the United States in 81 metropolitan areas like yours. Scarborough is a professional research company with nothing to sell you. Your answers will be kept confidential and reported only in combination with other survey participants.

What is the Scarborough Research San Diego Consumer Survey?

The Consumer Survey asks about the activities you like, your shopping, travel and entertainment preferences, and your media behavior – which newspapers you read, what you listen to on the radio, and what you watch on TV. Retailers and media in the San Diego area will use this information to better meet the needs of their customers. Your answers will represent thousands in your area who were not invited to take this important survey.

Why did you contact me?

Your household was included in a group of randomly selected households in the San Diego area. Since it would be impossible for us to contact every household in your area; we randomly selected a small number of households to represent the thousands of people who live in the San Diego area. This is why your participation is so important.

Who in my household should complete the survey?

The adult, age 18 or older, living in your household who had the last, most recent birthday should complete the survey. We ask this person within each household to complete the survey to be sure that, as a group, our survey participants are representative of the entire San Diego area.

How should I fill out the survey?

Please only use a black or blue ball point pen and write an X in the box next to the answer you have chosen for each question. Please do not use a pencil, felt tip pen, crayon, or magic marker.

How do I return the survey to you?

After you complete the survey simply extend the flap to the back cover, remove the adhesive strip, seal the flap over the front cover and put it in the mail. No envelope or postage is necessary.

How long do I have to complete my survey?

Please complete and return your booklet as soon as you can to ensure that your answers are included in this important study. We will be accepting completed booklets for only a few short weeks.

How did you get my address?

Your address was among a group of randomly selected addresses from the entire San Diego area. Since it would be impossible for us to send a survey to every address in your area; we randomly selected a few to represent the thousands of people who live in the San Diego area. This is why your participation is so important.

Why did I receive two different surveys?

You may have received one survey booklet in English and another in Spanish. Other than language, these two booklets are identical. Please complete and return only one booklet; choose the one in your preferred language.

What if I received a booklet in English, but would prefer a Spanish booklet?

If Spanish is your preferred language and you did not receive a Spanish booklet, please let us know so we can mail one to you. You can let us know by calling us at 1-800-753-6043 or emailing us at lkinkaid@scarborough.com. Since these booklets are identical, please complete and return only
one booklet.

Why is the return address in New York if your headquarters are in Florida?

Our headquarters are in Florida, we have operations offices in other locations including New York.

Can I take the survey online instead of filling out a paper survey?

Sorry, but this survey is not available online right now. We are currently working on this option for the future.

Why is Scarborough conducting this survey?
What will the survey results be used for?

The Consumer Survey asks about the activities you like, your shopping, travel and entertainment preferences, and your media behavior – which newspapers you read, what you listen to on the radio, and what you watch on TV. Retailers and media in the San Diego area want to know how to better serve you. By learning more about your preferences and behaviors, these companies will be able to determine what changes need to be made. Your answers will represent thousands in your area who were not invited to take this important survey.

What will Scarborough do with my answers?

Your answers will be grouped together with the answers of all the other survey participants. No single participant’s answers are looked at individually; they are only looked at grouped together with the answers of many other participants for companies to determine how to better serve their customers. Your answers will represent thousands in your area who were not invited to take this important survey.

Are my answers kept private?

Yes. Your answers will be kept confidential and reported only in combination with other survey participants; they will never be reported individually. All of the information that you give us will be kept absolutely private. Protecting your privacy is one of our largest priorities. Scarborough Research will never give your name or address to any company that wants to sell you things.

Why do you ask personal questions?

The personal questions we ask (age, grade in school, race, etc.) help to give retailers and local media an idea of what types of services appeal to different people. All of the information you give us will be kept absolutely private. Protecting your privacy is one of our largest priorities. We will not give your name or address to any company that wants to sell you things.

Why should I do the survey?

Your opinion counts! You have the opportunity to speak for thousands of adults in your area who were not chosen to participate in this study. Retailers and media in your local area want to know how to better serve you; let them know.

Why did I receive a cash gift?

The money that you received is a small token of our appreciation for the time that you will spend filling out the Scarborough Research San Diego Consumer Survey. We cannot fully compensate you for your time, but wanted to give you this small cash gift as a thank you.

What if I have more questions not answered here?

If you have any questions that are not answered here, please feel free to call us at 1-800-753-6043 or send us an email at lkinkaid@scarborough.com.