Abstract:

The primary objective of the Seminar is discussion of the utilisation of panel data; a secondary, preliminary objective is examination of the validity of panel techniques. This paper is directed towards the latter objective. It is based on the attempts of one major spender on research into consumer purchases of textile articles to evaluate the data being obtained. In five main sections, the paper: - outlines the interest of the research for a fibre producer; - compares the data with information from other sources; - compares the data on an inter-country basis; - reviews the research methods being used; - concludes that a fully satisfactory research method has not yet been found.