Implicit research is everywhere in consumer, sensory, and market research—but not all “implicit” methods measure the same thing.In this episode of Nerdoscientist, behavioral neuroscientist Michelle Murphy Niedziela unpacks why so many vendors claim to offer implicit methods, how those approaches can differ dramatically under the hood, and why slick tools aren’t always grounded in validated cognitive science. She also explores the reality that many full-service research firms quietly rely on third-party implicit platforms, why that isn’t inherently a problem, and when lack of transparency becomes a risk for clients.Whether you’re new to implicit research or already using it, this episode will help you ask better questions, spot red flags, and design implicit studies that actually lead to insight and action—rather than confusion.www.nerdoscientist.com#implicit #research #behavioralscience #Consumerneuroscience#marketresearch #methods #sensoryscience #Implicitassociation#researchdesign #consumerinsights #decisionscience #Explicitvsimplicit #trustbutverify

In this special episode, I share a recording of the talk I gave with Richard Popper and Rachel Czapla at Pangborn 2025: "Unpacking Consumer Perceptions: Do Implicit and Explicit Measures Tell the Same Story?"

We dive into the results of a collaborative study using lip products (matte, gloss, balm) to compare three consumer research methods—CATA, scaled ratings, and a commercially friendly implicit go/no-go test (with our partners at RIWI). Our goal? To see if implicit methods truly reveal a different layer of truth in how consumers associate emotional, functional, and descriptive product attributes.

🧠 Key takeaways:

• Explicit methods (CATA, ratings) tend to be more differentiating across products.

• Implicit methods may reveal deeper, fast-twitch associations that reflect what “feels right” at a gut level.

• Emotional adjectives weren’t necessarily stronger in implicit responses, challenging common assumptions.

• These methods aren’t redundant—they reveal different cognitive processes (System 1 vs. System 2).

We close by discussing how these layered insights can be used in product development, positioning, and go/no-go decisions.

At the 2025 Truth in Beauty e-Summit, experts from science, regulation, and industry came together to tackle one of the biggest challenges in beauty today: misinformation. In this episode, Dr. Michelle Niedziela (aka the Nerdoscientist) shares her 5-minute recap of the summit and her talk on how behavioral neuroscience and behavioral science can help us understand:

• Why sticky myths like “paraben-free,” “detox skincare,” and “neurocosmetics” spread.

• How consumers, companies, and media create a self-reinforcing misinformation loop.

• The short- and long-term consequences for brands when they feed these myths.

• Practical behavioral science strategies to break the cycle — from pre-bunking to reframing and collaboration.

🎙️ A quick dive into why beauty myths persist, and how we can build a more transparent, science-driven future.