Recent additions to the Archive:
A selection of recent uploads to the Archive. Most recently added items are at the top. All links take you direct to the relevant Archive pages and open in a new page/tab.
How the archive works
Why are there two AMSR websites?
You are currently viewing the AMSR’s portal site. This is where we tell you about the aims, scope and structure of the Archive of Market and Social Research; what’s in the Archive and how to access it; and show how you can get involved. The Archive itself is hosted at the non-profit Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), which is why it has a different web address.
Users can access the Archive from the portal site by using the red ‘Access the Archive’ button at the top of every page, or by navigating direct to the main home page for the Archive (link opens in a new page or tab). If you are in the process of familiarising yourself with the Archive, its scope and contents, we recommend that you continue to use the portal site as your main ‘way in’.
For further guidance and information:
AMSR: The Archive of Market and Social Research
The AMSR is a living, searchable digitised archive of high quality research data and commentary. Drawn from the output of respected market research and social research practitioners over many decades, it forms an inspiring source of insight for those seeking to explore the dynamics of change – in the past, the present and crucially, for the future. This site is an introduction to the AMSR; click here for a direct link to the archive site.
‘Exploring the Archives: Researching the Narrative of Happiness and the History of Feeling’
We’ve added five new recordings to the series of Oral Histories of Market Research.
We’ve improved our ‘How to get the most out of the Archive‘ page and added an index page
LAUNCH OF THE AMSR HUB
The AMSR is breaking new ground in providing free digitised access to past market and social research resources. However if you are unable to find all the information you need, we’re delighted to announce the launch of the AMSR Hub – 50+ links to amazing potential information sources around the world.
Each link opens in a new page – so you can always find your way back to the AMSR!
We are constantly reviewing and adding new material to the archive. In early 2022, it contained nearly 1,000 books and over 6,500 documents, as well as video and audio content – all digitised, searchable and downloadable from your desktop. We recommend that you read our page on ‘How to get the most out of the Archive’ – particularly if you are new to the AMSR. We have also recently added an index page to that demonstrates the scope of the Archive.
In the unlikely event that you can’t find the information you’re looking for in our Archive, don’t forget that there are many other resources worth investigating. Take a look at our links page to find out more.
COVID-19: click here to find about how the AMSR has responded as a volunteer-run organisation during the pandemic and how you can help us to continue our work to expand and develop the archive.
Recent stories from the Archive
A Picture of Britain in the 1950s
Geoff Wicken acquired a vintage readership survey report for AMSR. It has much to tell us about a very different time… For...
Sunshine breaks pile on the stress
A recent (August 2023) survey for the Office of National Statistics among 2,000 UK adults found that overall 34% had travelled abroad...
Cricket: Tests and Challenges
An Ashes series between England and Australia is for many cricket fans as good as it gets. But the sport’s administrators and...
How popular were the royals 50 years ago?
Recent reports have commented on how the monarchy’s popularity has fallen in recent years – to just 55%, according to one poll....
Who can access the AMSR?
The archive is a resource for everyone, and anyone can access it by registering at the archive portal page. The archive contents will be of particular interest to:
• Educators and students, academic institutions
• Research practitioners
• Business and marketing consultants
• Industry associations
The long-term trend data contained in the TGI Trackback volumes, for example, place health, diet purchasing patterns in the late 20th Century in sharp relief. We have a long run of polling statistics and many other measures that will be of interest and value to anyone charting the recent past and planning for the future of our society.
Sir John Curtice, respected UK politial scientist, academic, broadcaster and psephologist, discusses the importance of the Archive.
AMSR CEO Adam Phillips talks about the rationale behind the Archive at the MRS conference in March 2021.
See our Video Gallery for more clips.
What does the archive contain?
The AMSR comprises major studies detailing UK social history, originally conducted by some of the best-known names in research. It is both a history of market and social research and our history through market and social research.
The archive contains market and social research material embracing books, research journals, data abstracts and conference papers. The sources include sector-leading organisations such as MORI, TGI, NOP, Millward Brown and the Market Research Society, to name just a few. Data goes back as far as WWII. It is the perfect place to uncover original context against which to set think pieces and proposals for future work.
A sample of the archive’s highlights will always be featured at the top of the home page – click any image to link directly to a case study. But there is much more to the archive than these, and the place to start any search is by browsing through the archive’s home page and using the word search facility. We add new material regularly so please subscribe to our newsletter (link to newsletter sign-up) to discover our latest additions.
Latest AMSR news
Who supports the AMSR?
The AMSR is funded by a growing body of committed supporters who pledge – generally for a three year period or more – a sum of money to enable the AMSR to continue the work of making the valuable contents of the archive available to those who wish to access them. Donors generally have an interest in promoting the work of the market research sector, and the AMSR’s donorship structure provides opportunities for anyone from a large organisation to an individual to play their part.
Learn more about becoming a donor and other ways of getting involved with AMSR:
Contribute material, volunteer and keep in touch
Contribute:
If you have any material you think would belong in the archive, there’s only one thing to do – get in touch! Find out more about contributing materials here:
Volunteer:
We couldn’t do what we do without a small army of volunteers. We have a dedicated team already in place but we always need more. Find out more here:
Newsletter:
The AMSR releases regular updates about the latest additions to the archive in our newsletter – it’s the best way to keep abreast of the growing resource we’re proud to curate. See past newsletters and register for the newsletter here:
The AMSR is a much needed resource for the research industry… it will be of inestimable value to all those who want to find out about research and the industry now and over the last 70 years.
Jane Frost CBE, CEO, Market Research Society
