Our Benchmarking Study Methodology
The Premier Source of Benchmark Ratings
JD Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services, and data and analytics. Since 1968, we have been leveraging our power methodology to provide unbiased and independent ratings, rankings, and awards across a range of industries. Our benchmarking studies help companies around the world understand and improve their customer experience, product quality, and overall performance.
The Five Key Principles
Principle 1 — Independence
JD Power independently collects information from customers using our own proprietary survey instruments, analysis, and sample collection. Rather than relying on the companies’ existing client lists, our data is gathered from verified customers to establish a fair and unbiased playing field.
Principle 2 — Transparency
When a syndicated study is conducted, the results are publicly announced through a press release, regardless of whether the ranked brands purchase the study data. This is done to create a transparent view of the competitive landscape within that study’s industry. The top-ranked brands receive a JD Power Award for achieving the highest ranking in their respective study or category, giving them the opportunity to highlight their achievement in marketing and advertising efforts.
Principle 3 — Industry Leading
JD Power leverages best-in-class science to conduct our studies. Competitors often deploy lower survey sample sizes with a very targeted demographic base, making it difficult to gather a representative picture of the market. As an industry leader, JD Power uses a large, robust sample to make our analysis more accurate, and we aggregate responses into an overall index that helps surface deeper insights.
Principle 4 — Trending
Although questions within a study may evolve or change to stay current with the industry, the study index remains consistent over time, helping us track brand performance year over year.
Principle 5 — Actionability
JD Power’s data goes beyond overall rankings to provide actionable insight into what is important to customers and how to better serve their needs. This information aids in improving business strategies, customer service, and overall performance.
How Are JD Power Study Rankings Determined?
Step 1
Sample Design
JD Power surveys more than 5,000,000 consumers each year. We carefully design our research to ensure that our rankings, results, and insights accurately reflect the views of the people we study. To accomplish this, we require a representative number of survey responses from customers across a broad range of well-defined markets. We also use advanced techniques to reduce bias and improve the accuracy of our results. To capture the right data from the right people at the right time, several checks are completed before a respondent can locate and complete a survey — including digital fingerprinting to prevent multiple responses, verification of email and postal addresses, two-factor authentication, security questions, bot-detection tools, and open-ended verbatims to detect automated or inattentive respondents.
Step 2
Data Collection
JD Power’s syndicated benchmark studies are self-funded, and we source survey responses independently to ensure that our benchmark research and awards are free from bias. We do not rely on brands to provide survey respondents. Instead, we collect first-hand customer feedback and data through a range of channels, including online survey panels, phone interviews, and in-person visits. We also use mystery shopping and user testing to gain deeper insight into the customer experience.
Step 3
Data Analysis
Our proprietary customer-index models power our benchmarks. We use advanced statistical models to analyze customer feedback and data, identifying the key drivers of customer experience. We also conduct in-depth qualitative analysis to understand the underlying reasons behind customer behavior.
Step 4
Ratings and Rankings
We use our analysis to provide unbiased ratings and rankings of brands, products, and services. Consumers rely on JD Power to make better-informed decisions, and sellers rely on JD Power ratings because they are trustworthy, reliable, honest, clear, and accurate. Business clients use our rankings to improve their products or services and to strengthen their businesses.
Are the JD Power Awards Trustworthy?
What Industries Benefit From JD Power Studies?
Businesses in a variety of industries benefit from JD Power consumer satisfaction insights, including:
Automotive
Financial Services
Healthcare
Home Improvement
Insurance
Technology, Media & Telecom
Utilities
Travel & Hospitality
Senior Living
Customer Service Solutions
Benchmarking Study FAQs
What is the cost of a subscription to a JD Power study?
Subscription prices vary based on the complexity of the study, the number of respondents, and other factors. Contact us for more information.
How do I access the report or download?
JD Power publishes a public press release for virtually every benchmark study, highlighting rankings, notable study findings, and information about what was measured. Those press releases can be found in our Press Room. The complete results of JD Power syndicated studies are available via a subscription. Subscribers can access full study results and actionable insights through PowerSource, JD Power’s interactive data platform.
Can I use JD Power data and research for academic purposes?
Academic requests must be submitted to [email protected] and will be reviewed individually.