Baby boom
The large generation of Americans and Europeans born after World War II.
Usually defined as those born between 1946 and 1964.


Baby boomlet
The children of the USA baby boom which resulted in a peak in births
between 1977 and 1990.


Baby bust
Generation between 1965 and 1976, when birth rates dropped rapidly and
remained low. Often called generation X.


Back room
The room from which client personnel observe and listen to focus group
proceedings through a one-way mirror. Also called the observation room or
viewing room.


Balanced incomplete block (BIB)
An experimental design procedure for rotating a large number of products or
items in a test.


Balanced scales
Scales with the same number of positive and negative categories.


Banner
The column headings, or cross-tab breaks, that run horizontally across the top
of a computer table.


Base
The number on which the percentages in a table are calculated.


Basic research
Research aimed at expanding knowledge rather than solving a specific,
pragmatic problem.


Bayesian statistics
Statistics which incorporate prior knowledge and accumulated experience into
probability calculations.


Before and after with a control group
Random assignment of subjects to experimental and control groups with
pre-measurement of both groups.


Behavioral component of attitude
An individual's intentions to act based on attitudes about an object.


Benchmark
A control source against which one compares the area one is studying. For
example, you may compare the results of a study in one county to the results of
the nation as a whole.


Bernoulli response variables
Also known as dichotomous or binary variables. Each element is one of two
possibilities such as yes/no or on/off.


Bias
A systematic tendency of a sample to misrepresent the population. Biases may
be caused by improper representation of the population in the sample,
interviewing techniques, wording of questions, data entry, etc.


Bimodal
A distribution in which the frequency curve has two peaks.  A single peak is
called a mode.


Binomial experiment
An experiment that consists of repeatedly drawing independently from
Bernoulli population; the sequence of Bernoulli trials.


Bipolar scale
A scale with two negative, opposite end points and a midpoint representing the
ideal situation. Examples: comfortable/uncomfortable, soft/hard, too spicy/too
bland.


Birth rate
Number of births a year per 1,000 of population.


Bivariate data set
Data set in which two measurements (variables) have been made on each
experimental unit or respondent.


Bivariate regression analysis
Analysis of the strength of the linear relationship between two variables, the
independent variable and the dependent variable.


Bivariate techniques
Statistical methods of analysing the relationship between two variables.


Block numbering area (BNA)
Statistical subdivisions within non-metropolitan counties for grouping and
numbering.


Blocked calls
Calls that receive busy signals.


Blocks
Census areas usually equivalent to city blocks.


Boundary
The border around a market area that is being studied.


Boundary files
Geographic features such as streets, railways, blocks, described in a manner
that is understandable to a computer.


Box plot
A graphical tool used to picture the data and possible outliers in the data.


Brand associations
Components of brand image, usually (but not always) assessed by qualitative
research method.


Brand equity
The level of awareness and consumer goodwill generated by a company's
brands and/or products.


Briefing
A meeting in which a client and researcher discuss the client's information
needs so that the most appropriate research methodology can be recommended.


Buying intent
A scale used to measure the likelihood that the respondent will purchase a
product.