Research Rat

What is a research rat?

Definition of RESEARCH RAT

re·search rat – noun

(\ri-ˈsərch, ˈrē-ˌ\ \ˈrat\)

: a professional market research respondent who generates income by misrepresenting his or her self to qualify for numerous market research studies (for example, focus groups)

Examples of RESEARCH RAT

1.<the research rat falsely claimed to own a Mercedes in order to qualify for a $300 luxury automobile focus group>

Discussion of RESEARCH RAT

Market Research is the primary method that the corporate world uses to solicit feedback from consumers about a wide variety of goods and services.

Research Rats falsely claim various professions (doctor, plumber, information technology director, airline pilot, CEO, etc) to own various luxury automobiles, and consumer products, to smoke various cigarettes, or consume various foods, or alcoholic beverages in order to qualify for numerous, often high paying market research studies. A research rat will say anything to book a high-paying market research study.

In order to pull off this often lucrative deception, research rats use aliases, fake  IDs, multiple phone numbers, and disguises.

The term, “research rat” was coined in 2003, in Los Angeles, California by a subculture of twenty-somethings, who made their livings by lying to qualify for high paying market research studies.

Synonyms of RESEARCH RAT

professional respondent

First known use of RESEARCH RAT

2003

Addition Information

Market Research is an international, multi-billion dollar industry. In its annual study, ESOMAR, the global trade association for market research, estimated that the worldwide MR market is $29 billion. (the US market = $9B, and the European market = $13B).

This page contains the definition of Research Rat with phonetic spelling, usage examples, discussion, synonyms, first known use, and additional information.