C/B/1046. Proposal. Obtaining Data and Research Methods: Use of Interviews, Questionnaires and Secondary Data

The paper offers a research proposal into the potential for two individuals to set up a new business venture analysing the qualitative and quantitative methods that they could use to assess the situation, i.e. interviews, questionnaires and secondary data. Each research methods is examined and critically discussed.

P/M/186. Explain what is meant by positivism. Explain its relationship to quantitative methodology

This essay firstly outlined the definition of positivism, refers to four major components of any research process: Methods, Methodology, Theoretical perspective and Epistemology, Origin of Positivism, The Vienna Circle and Logical Positivism, Kuhn's scientific revolutions, Post-positivism, Schools of Thought, Criticisms of positivism, Quantitative Methodology, Critique of quantitative methodology and Quantitative research methods.

P/M/189. Explain what is meant by interpretivism. Explain its relationship to qualitative methodology

This paper explores the meaning of interpretivism drawing on Weber's social action theory. It attempts to explain the different branches of interpretivism namely, symbolic interactionism, phenomenology and ethnomethodology. Furthermore, it explores qualitative methodology, examining its elements and characteristics, to explain its relationship to interpretivism. Later the paper explores qualitative research methods to show how they reflect interpretivism using examples from adult education. Finally embarking on a critique of interpretivism and qualitative methodology drawing on the positivistic stance.

C/B/100. Focus Groups

Focus groups are a form of group interviewing but it is important to distinguish between the two. The main purpose of focus group research is to draw upon respondents' attitudes, feelings, beliefs, experiences and reactions in a way in which would not be feasible using other methods. Although focus group research has many advantages, as with all research methods there are limitations. Some can be overcome by careful planning and moderating, but others are unavoidable and peculiar to this approach. On a practical note, focus groups can be difficult to assemble. It may not be easy to get a representative sample and focus groups may discourage certain people from participating, for example those who are not very articulate or confident, and those who have communication problems or special needs. The method of focus group discussion may also discourage some people from trusting others with sensitive or personal information. In such cases personal interviews or the use of workbooks alongside focus groups may be a more suitable approach.

C/B/101. Cognitive and Conative theory of Focus Groups: American and European Perspective

This paper discusses and compares to different (American and European) Perspectives on focus groups: Cognitive and Conative perspectives of focus groups.

C/B/50. Evaluation of different research strategies

Conclusion: This section was describing the main research strategies: Experiment, Survey, Case study, Grounded theory, Ethnography and Action research. They all differ in the process of data collection as well as in the objectives and aims of research. However in practice there strategies are rarely used on their own, but combination of different strategies is deployed in order to answer the research question.

Y/B/12. Research Methods

This paper contains answers to the following questions: Discuss some of the implications of qualitative methodology for sampling, questionnaire design, interviewing, data analysis and interpretation. Evaluate the contribution of qualitative research, and in particular focus groups and projective techniques, to marketing decision-making. Discuss how you would construct: A quota sample and A stratified random sample. What are the benefits and problems associated with using each of these sampling procedures in marketing research? An analysis of quantitative data will have a focus which is one of 3 possible types: Descriptive; Estimation; Hypothesis testing. Use a survey of supermarket customers to illustrate the difference between each of these phases. Provide examples of the nature of analysis that could be carried out in each phase and describe the techniques that would be appropriate. There are many formal statistical testing procedures available for making comparisons. Discuss the factors that would lead you to choose one test in favour of another. Describe what is meant by confidence limits in relation to statistical estimation, and discuss factors that will affect the width of a confidence interval.

Y/B/13. Qualitative Research. Discuss some of the implications of qualitative methodology for sampling, questionnaire design, interviewing, data analysis and interpretation.

This paper contains the following sections: Definition of Qualitative Research, Characteristics of Qualitative Research, Strengths and Weaknesses of Qualitative Research, The Ten Themes of Qualitative Research and Brief Conclusion.

Y/B/14. Focus Groups and Projective Techniques. Evaluate the contribution of qualitative research, and in particular focus groups and projective techniques, to marketing decision-making.

This paper consists of the following sections: Definition of Focus Group, Why use Focus Groups and not Other Methods? Rationale and uses of Focus Groups, The role of Focus Groups, Potential and Limitations, Projective Techniques - Why should we Use Them? The Most Used Projective Techniques, Conclusion.

Y/B/15. Sampling. Discuss how you would construct: A quota sample and A stratified random sample. What are the benefits and problems associated with using each of these sampling procedures in marketing research?

This paper consists of the following sections: Introduction, Probability Sampling Techniques, Sampling Frame Necessary, Random Sampling, Systematic Sampling, Stratified Sampling, Definition of and Reasons for Using the Method, Further Theoretical Aspects and Practical Examples, Multi-Stage Sampling, Non-Probability Sampling Techniques, Sampling Frame Unnecessary, Cluster Sampling, Convenience Sampling, Quota Sampling, Short Practical Example, Why use it?

Y/B/16. An analysis of quantitative data will have a focus which is one of 3 possible types: Descriptive; Estimation; Hypothesis testing. Use a survey of supermarket customers to illustrate the difference between each of these phases. Provide examples of the nature of analysis that could be carried out in each phase and describe the techniques that would be appropriate. There are many formal statistical testing procedures available for making comparisons. Discuss the factors that would lead you to choose one test in favour of another.

This paper consists of the following sections: Descriptive Analysis, "True" Mean and Confidence Interval, Shape of the Distribution, Normality, Statistical Estimation, Correlations, Purpose and What is Correlation? Simple Linear Correlation (Pearson r), How to Interpret the Values of Correlations, Significance of Correlations, Sampling, Statistical Hypothesis Tests, Hypothesis Test, Null Hypothesis, Alternative Hypothesis, Significance Level, P-Value, Power, What Statistical Test is Appropriate?

Y/B/17. Describe what is meant by confidence limits in relation to statistical estimation, and discuss factors that will affect the width of a confidence interval.

This paper consists of the following sections: Confidence Interval, Confidence Limits, Confidence Level, and Confidence Interval for a Mean, and Confidence Interval for the Difference between Two Means.

P/B/43. What are the new opportunities of research offered by Internet?

This paper provides the outlook towards the new methods of research available through the Internet, their advantages and disadvantages and states the impact which research on the Internet is likely to have upon the traditional research methods.

P/B/96. Analysis of Observation Study applied to consumer behaviour

This paper analyses several observation techniques (direct versus indirect, disguised versus undisguised, structured versus unstructured and human versus mechanical), ethical issues of observation and conducts 100 consumer behaviour observations. The results are being analysed based on gender, information seeking and purchase discussion. It is very good example paper for those who are doing observations in their research.

C/B/86. Why should the structure of the world market for coffee as a primary product differ so radically from the retail market for branded coffee products?

This paper analyses why the structure of the world market for coffee as a primary product differ so radically from the retail market for branded coffee products. Report consists of several sections. Firstly, The Difference between the World Coffee Market and Market for Branded Coffee Products is analysed and The Structure of the World Coffee Market is discussed. Further in the report writer suggest on the suitable methodology in order to research the global coffee market. This part consists of Research Tools and Methodology; Segmentation Approach to the Research and Conclusion and Recommendations. This paper was written for the research methods course.

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