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Market Research Methodologies Overview

This document discusses four common market research methodologies: 1) sales data mining which analyzes purchase data, 2) focus group discussions to understand perceptions and gather feedback, 3) observation techniques to watch customer behavior without interaction, and 4) survey research using questionnaires to collect quantitative data. It also describes three graphs used in market research: histograms, frequency polygons, and pie charts.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
119 views4 pages

Market Research Methodologies Overview

This document discusses four common market research methodologies: 1) sales data mining which analyzes purchase data, 2) focus group discussions to understand perceptions and gather feedback, 3) observation techniques to watch customer behavior without interaction, and 4) survey research using questionnaires to collect quantitative data. It also describes three graphs used in market research: histograms, frequency polygons, and pie charts.

Uploaded by

Jasper Alcantara
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Market Research Methodologies

1. Sales Data Mining

Case Example: Selling cupcakes

A researcher observed and recorded the following data in a store selling cupcakes

1. Boy, aged 10, bought two cupcakes at 2 pm.


2. Girl, aged 8, bought ne cupcake at 4 pm.
3. Man, aged 26, bought three cupcakes at 1pm.
4. Couple, man and wife, aged about 30, bought two cupcakes at 8 am.
5. Boy, aged 1, bought five cupcakes for friends at 3 pm.
6. Three girls, aged, abut 18, bought six cupcakes at 6 pm.
7. Girl, aged 5, asked mom to buy her one cupcake at 11 am. Mom aged 27, bought one for herself.
8. Twin boys, aged 7, asked their older brother to buy them four cupcakes at 12 noon. Older
brother, aged 14, bought two cupcakes for himself.
9. Two teenagers, boy and girl, aged about 15, bought two cupcakes at 1pm.
10. Five children (two girls, three boys), about nine years old, bought five cupcakes at 12 noon.
11. Man, aged 27, bought two cupcakes at 9 am.
12. Woman, aged 30 bought three cupcakes at 10 am.
13. Three boys, aged 13, bought five cupcakes at 4 pm.

Hotdog Sales Summary

Cupcakes
Time Bought Male Female
20 above 20 above
12 below 13-19 12 below 13-19
7-8 am 2 1 1
9-10 am 5 2 3
11-12 nn 13 7 2 3 1
1-2 pm 7 2 1 3 1
3-4 pm 11 10 1
5-6 pm 6 6
Total 44 9 13 6 4 7 5

2. Focus Group Discussion (FGD)

Focus group discussion is one of the most common qualitative research tools. It is effecting in extracting
consumer and non-consumer experiences regarding products, places, or programs. This method can also
be used in generating initial insights.
FGD can be used to address substantive issues such as:

 Understanding consumers’ perceptions, preferences, and behavior concerning a product category.


 Obtaining impressions or new product concepts
 Generating new ideas about older products
 Obtaining preliminary consumer reaction to specific marketing programs
 Securing price impressions

The FGD is an interview by a facilitator of a small group of people that normally lasts for an hour and
a half up to three hours. The participants are selected because of their knowledge about the topic.
The objectives must be clear and precise.

3. Observation Technique

Observation technique is probably one of the best ways of gathering data about customers in their natural
setting without having to interact or talk to them. One has to simply observe people as they go about their
activity such as buying and using products and services and assess how they behave. Having a clear
objective in mind will help the researcher focus on the important things to observe or watch out for.
Recording this event as it happens may be the best means to capture the information. However, the
researcher must be discreet so as not to attract the attention of the one being observed.

Prior to doing observation it is important for the researcher to ensure that the following conditions are
met:

 The needed information must observable from the behavior that can be observed.
 The behaviors of interest must be repetitive, frequent, or predictable in some manner.
 The behaviors of interest must be of a relatively short duration.

4. Survey Research

Survey research is the most preferred instrument for in-depth quantitative research. The respondents are
asked a variety of questions which are often about their personal information, their motivations, and their
behavior. Surveys can be conducted via telephone, personal (face to face interview), and mail interview
(either printed or electronic mail).

Three commonly used graphs in market research

1. Histogram
14
12
10
8 Series 3
6 Series 2
4 Series 1
2
0
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4

A histogram or bar graph consists of a series of rectangles or “bars.” Each bar is proportional in width to
the range of values within a class and proportional in height to the number of items in a class.

2. Frequency polygon

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
Series 3
50%
Series 2
40%
Series 1
30%
20%
10%
0%
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4

The frequency polygon is constructed by marking the frequencies on the vertical axis with a dot
corresponding to the values on the horizontal axis. These dots are then connected with a straight line to
form a polygon.
3. Pie Chart

Sales

1st Qtr
2nd Qtr
3rd Qtr
4th Qtr

Pie chart is a circular graph divided into sections that represent the relative frequencies or magnitudes of
the grouped values

Common questions

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The observation technique enhances market research by allowing researchers to gather data about customers in their natural setting without interaction, which helps in understanding authentic consumer behavior and use patterns . It requires a clear objective and discretion to capture unobtrusive and accurate insights .

Focus group discussions can provide unique insights through deep qualitative data collection, capturing consumer perceptions, preferences, and behaviors in group dynamics . However, they are limited by groupthink, potential facilitator bias, and may not entirely represent the broader population due to small, non-random samples.

Discreet behavior is crucial in the observation technique as it prevents the alteration of consumer behavior due to observation, ensuring the data collected reflects true and unbiased behavior patterns . It maintains the natural setting integrity, thus enhancing the data's authenticity.

Timing impacts sales strategy by identifying peak purchase periods for different demographic groups, such as targeting children with afternoon promotions post-school or offering morning specials to adults and working individuals . Strategically aligning marketing efforts with these times can maximize customer outreach and sales.

Age demographics reveal consumption patterns, showing how different age groups purchase cupcakes at varying times, like children buying during midday and adults earlier . This helps businesses adjust stock and promotional strategies to target demographics more effectively during peak times.

To ensure accuracy and reliability in survey research, a researcher must consider factors such as the diversity and representativeness of the respondent sample, the method of survey distribution (telephone, face-to-face, or mail), and the design of questions, which should be precise and unbiased . Additionally, ensuring privacy and clear communication can improve response accuracy and reliability.

In market research observation, behaviors must be repetitive, predictable, and of short duration to ensure that the data collected is consistent, reliable, and representative of typical consumer actions . This enables researchers to identify meaningful patterns and trends without prolonged or uncertain observation periods impacting the data validity.

Histograms use bars to visually represent the frequency of data and are effective for showing distribution shapes, while frequency polygons, using lines to connect dots, provide a clearer view of trends and comparisons between data sets . Histograms offer a more tangible visualization but can obscure finer details, while frequency polygons are better for highlighting change over intervals but require accurate data plotting.

A researcher might opt for focus group discussions to explore deeper, subjective impressions and attitudes towards a product, which are challenging to capture through observation alone . Focus groups allow for interactive feedback and idea exchange, critical for understanding consumer thought processes and preferences.

Pie charts effectively communicate relative magnitudes of quarterly sales data by showing proportional sections of the whole . They are useful for quickly understanding the distribution of sales across quarters but lack detailed data insight compared to histograms and frequency polygons, which can handle more complex data sets.

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