Online Research Methods - Assignment Example

Question 1

Steps involved Gathering Data

The process involved in the stage of gathering data starts after the formalization if the sampling plan. The gathering of data is a procedure of collecting or gathering information. Notably, human observers, machine recording during surveys that are web-based and in the use of scanner data, or interviewers may be involved in data collection. Undeniably, the different research techniques require different data gathering methods. Worthy mentioning, surveys need direct research respondents participation, which primarily involves either an interaction with interviewers or interviewer or filling a questionnaire. In this context, such methods of data collection are obtrusive. In definition, unobtrusive data gathering methods are not necessary for the subjects to have any distribution for collecting data.

In some cases, the subjects may not be aware that any research is happening. For example, a simplified motorist driving count past an undisclosed franchising location is a case of unobtrusive methods for collecting data (Zikmund, 2013). However, during data collection, it is vital to minimize the errors involved during the collection procedure. For instance, the process of gathering data must be consistent in every geographical area. In any case, an interviewer happens to phrase one of the questions incorrectly or even records the respondent's statement inaccurately; the results are that major errors in the collection of data will be witnessed.

Defining the Research Objectives

Any form of research starts with the outlining or statement of research objectives. Markedly, research objectives are the set goals that are achievable through carrying out the overall research. Primarily, in consulting, terms like deliverables are habitually used to describe the research objectives mainly to a client of the research. Noteworthy, the background of the research objectives is based on the decision situation type that may or will be faced. Generally, in research objectives defining the process, the objectives include exploring new market entering possibilities. In other cases, the defining process may include testing various policy change impacts, especially on employees' job satisfaction. The bottom line is that, different objectives' types result in different designs of research. For instance, in applied research in business, a learning understanding, particularly from the managerial decisions, must be established for the objectives to be determined(Zikmund, 2013). Remarkably, the understanding should then be shared amongst a lead researcher and the real decision-maker. Such kind of understanding is termed as a problem statement. Generally, the term problem defines that there must be something that is not in place. However, that is not the case until the actual research is begun.

Essentially, the objectives of the research may be simply clarifying a given situation or defining given opportunity or monitoring and evaluating the current operations of a business. The objectives of the research are significant unless researchers and managers have reached an agreement of an actual “problem” of a business that is to be researched. Therefore, the problem is set to be addressed through various interviews as well as the research proposal document. Worthy mentioning, the process of research objectives defining is aimed for a justification or a confirmation. Managers only list the symptoms that nay is an indication of a problem. For instance, the increase in employee turnover, while the managerial team may not spot the precise problem’s nature. Consequently, the statement of problem habitually involves general terms since all that is for investigation has not particularly identified.

Planning a Research Design

After the formulation of the research problem, the research should develop a design to be used during the phase of research design planning. Markedly, a research design is majorly a principle plan that specifies the procedures and methods for analysis and collection of the required information. The design of the research details a plan or framework of research action(Zikmund, 2013). The study objective, which was earlier defined during early research stages, are made part of the design to make sure the collected information is suitable in problem-solving. The scholar should determine the information sources, the technique of the design, the method of sampling, the cost, and the schedule of the proposed research.

Planning a Sample

Planning a sample includes any process that aims to draw conclusions based on the measurements of a population portion. Although there is the outlining of the sampling plan during the sampling phase, a distinct phase is involved. However, for convenience, the generation of the actual sampling planning process is involved in this section. Notably, a sampling includes any procedure concluding based on measurements of population portion (Zikmund, 2013). To explain this point, a sample is always a subset from an overall population. Thus, if a particular statistical process is included, a researcher is not required to choose all items in a given population. A good sample should show similar characteristics to the one for the entire population. Undeniably, is errors occur, samples will not result in reliable population estimates.

Processing and Analysing Data

Editing and Coding

Data needs are changed into a layout that will reply to the manager's requests, once the fieldwork has been concluded. Entirely this is part of the data dispensation and analysis phase. It is at this point where the information content will be extracted from the fresh data. Data processing, in general, initiates with editing and coding the data. Thus, editing comprises checking the data gathering procedures for errors, legibility, and uniformity in sorting(Zikmund, 2013). Then the editing process rectifies problems such as interviewer inaccuracies, for instance, an answer documented on the wrong lot of a questionnaire before the figures are moved to the computer.

Formerly data can be arranged, meaningful categories and personality symbols must be recognized for groups of replies. The rules for reading, categorizing, recording, and relocating the data to files storage means are known as codes. This coding process simplifies computer or hand tabulation. If computer investigation is to be used, the data are moved into the computer and confirmed. Computer-assisted online interrogation is a good example of the impression of technological transformation in the study process. Telephone interviewers sat at computer stations, read survey questions shown on the monitor. Then the interviewer requests the questions and forms in the respondents' responses. Thus, answers are collected and handled into the computer while removing intermediate stages that could present errors.

Drawing Conclusions and Preparing a Report.

The utmost important work that a researcher accomplishes is collaborating the research results. Even though this is the last stage of the research plan, but it is far-off from the least vital. The conclusions and report preparation step involves understanding the research results, defining the suggestions, and drawing the applicable conclusions for managerial choices. These assumptions should satisfy the deliverables guaranteed in the research proposal. Altogether, the researcher must reflect the varying capabilities of people to understand the research consequences. Thus, the report should not be transcribed the same way to a group of PhDs since it would be a collection of line executives(Zikmund, 2013).

Entirely too many functional business study reports are overly complex statements of procedural aspect s and refined research methods. Commonly, the organization is not involved in thorough reporting of the research scheme statistical conclusions but desires only a summary of the outcomes. If the research findings keep on unread on the manager's desk, the study will have been unusable. The significance of real communication cannot be exaggerated; thus;, the study is only as good as its submissions.

Question 2

The most suitable research design or Case 4.1 is forecasting the sales for the year to ome. This will involve some forecasting methods for the survey whih will include executing opinion, gathering sales force opinions composite, surveying the expectations of the consumers, projecting the current trends, and examining environmental factors.

The top three key decisions faced by Joe are deciding if the United Sates is the most promising for starting a new cofeee shop, deiding which location is best for starting a new coffee shop , and doing a research on what coffee the Amerians prefer. Importantly, the key deliverables that an outside researcher should produce to help Joe with the main decisions are Starbucks coffee and McDonald’s Premium coffee. This is because Joe is planning to start a new coffee shop hence he must get the kind of coffee preferred by Amerians. Besides, he has to compare the prices since it is obvious that the lower priced coffee will have many customers.

The relevance of the coffee tastes studies that Joe should consider in trying to weigh the merits of their results is that the taste of the coffee is all what matter in the preferene of the Americans. However, there are flaws in the taste of coffee that Joe should consider which is that although Starbucks’ coffee has the best taste and flavor, it need some improvements.

According to different major stages of marketing research process the advantage and the disadvantage of all types of coffee in terms of taste and flavor should first be considered before settling for any particular coffee type. This is because every customer has his or her own preferarnce of coffere based on flavor and taste. This is why the American consumer preferences are not the same all across the United States.

Most importantly, it would be better for Joe to ahev a consultant in performing the work. In this case a manager and a research should be Joe’s consultants to write down the decision statement in expressing Joe’s business situation. Thuis decision will be a research objectives’ statement that will culminate the clarification proess for Joe to change it to actions. Overall, the consuktants, whih are the manager and the researcher the key deliverables that would be vital for Joe in settling to a deision in launching the “A Cup of Joe” coffee shop are the two different coffee types, that is Starbucks coffee and McDonald’s Premium coffee.

Essentially, the objectives of the research may be simply clarifying a given situation or defining given opportunity or monitoring and evaluating the current operations of a business. The objectives of the research are significant unless researchers and managers have reached an agreement of an actual “problem” of a business that is to be researched. Therefore, the problem is set to be addressed through various interviews as well as the research proposal document. Worthy mentioning, the process of research objectives defining is aimed for a justification or a confirmation. Managers only list the symptoms that nay is an indication of a problem. For instance, the increase in employee turnover, while the managerial team may not spot the precise problem’s nature. Consequently, the statement of problem habitually involves general terms since all that is for investigation has not particularly identified.

Planning a Research Design

After the formulation of the research problem, the research should develop a design to be used during the phase of research design planning. Markedly, a research design is majorly a principle plan that specifies the procedures and methods for analysis and collection of the required information. The design of the research details a plan or framework of research action(Zikmund, 2013). The study objective, which was earlier defined during early research stages, are made part of the design to make sure the collected information is suitable in problem-solving. The scholar should determine the information sources, the technique of the design, the method of sampling, the cost, and the schedule of the proposed research.

Planning a Sample

Planning a sample includes any process that aims to draw conclusions based on the measurements of a population portion. Although there is the outlining of the sampling plan during the sampling phase, a distinct phase is involved. However, for convenience, the generation of the actual sampling planning process is involved in this section. Notably, a sampling includes any procedure concluding based on measurements of population portion (Zikmund, 2013). To explain this point, a sample is always a subset from an overall population. Thus, if a particular statistical process is included, a researcher is not required to choose all items in a given population. A good sample should show similar characteristics to the one for the entire population. Undeniably, is errors occur, samples will not result in reliable population estimates.

Processing and Analysing Data

Editing and Coding

Data needs are changed into a layout that will reply to the manager's requests, once the fieldwork has been concluded. Entirely this is part of the data dispensation and analysis phase. It is at this point where the information content will be extracted from the fresh data. Data processing, in general, initiates with editing and coding the data. Thus, editing comprises checking the data gathering procedures for errors, legibility, and uniformity in sorting(Zikmund, 2013). Then the editing process rectifies problems such as interviewer inaccuracies, for instance, an answer documented on the wrong lot of a questionnaire before the figures are moved to the computer.

Formerly data can be arranged, meaningful categories and personality symbols must be recognized for groups of replies. The rules for reading, categorizing, recording, and relocating the data to files storage means are known as codes. This coding process simplifies computer or hand tabulation. If computer investigation is to be used, the data are moved into the computer and confirmed. Read More