Decision Framework for Measuring and Reporting Consumer Finances

Researchers measuring consumer finances face three decisions that are rarely made explicit: what to measure, how to measure it, and what to report about it. These decisions matter whether the measure is your focal variable or enters as a demographic control.

From the paperImproving Consumer Finance Measures: Evidence from Linked Survey and Administrative Data Jenna Barrett, Elisabeth Brüggen, Jens Hogreve and Jan van den Brakel · R&R at Journal of Marketing, 2026

Where are you in your study?

Planning a studyWhich measure fits the outcome I want to explain?Choose a measure
Writing the surveyWhat exactly do I ask?Write the survey questions
Writing up, or reviewingIs the method section complete?Check how you report it