Online Versus Offline Phone Accessories Sales - Dissertation Example

ONLINE VERSUS OFFLINE PHONE ACCESSORIES SALES of Affiliation] Table of Contents Research Methodology 2 Introduction 2 Research Paradigms and Approaches 3 Sampling Design of the Study 3 Research Design and Techniques 4 Data Collection Methods 4 Ethical Considerations 5 Limitations of the study 5 Findings and Discussions 6 Introduction 6 Summary of the Study Findings 6 Analysis of Findings 7 Data Analysis Methods 8 The Qualitative Methods 8 Examples of qualitative methods of data analysis that were used 8 Quantitative methods of data analysis used 9 Conclusion 9 References 10 Research Methodology Introduction In this Chapter of this research paper, the methods and procedures used in the development of research results will be discussed. The chapter will address the research design, the ethical considerations, the treatment of collected data, as well as the limitations of the study. This research will make use of case study methodology as one of the methods. Most researchers prefer the use of case studies as one of the primarily techniques in order to gain evident about the subject matter and come up with decisions that are evidence-based. The case study methodology forms part of the methodologies that the research can make use of in order to investigate the prime subjects of interest. This method also offers the opportunity to examine the phenomenon within the research context. The information about this literature can be obtained from different secondary sources such as books, eBooks, journal and other academic sources. In order to acquire detailed information, primary sources cannot be ignored since they form a basis for raw data. These techniques include the use of interviews, questionnaires, and observation on whether online phone selling is better than offline phone selling in UK in terms of sales. Research Paradigms and Approaches This research makes use of the approach of comparing the information in the primary sources and the secondary sources. The application of both the primary and the secondary sources is what makes this research robust. The primary source makes use of interviews and use of questionnaires in collection of data whereas the secondary makes use of case studies to develop an appropriate method for comparisons. The approach of doing comparisons is what substantiates key areas where the research will focus on more than other areas (Korenberg 2007).  Sampling Design of the Study Sampling techniques will be useful in filtering useful information and making the work easy. For example, instead of examining all the phone accessories business institutions and individuals who engage in online and offline phone accessories sales, the research will use the sampling technique where a small group will be used to collect the data. The sample data will then be subjected to analysis, and be used for generalizing into the overall business population (Best & Krueger 2004).  Research Design and Techniques Research design and technique will be used to examine how the research will make use of the case study techniques from the secondary sources and how the primary sources will be utilized. The use of case study shall form a significant method in collecting data for this research so as to meet the research objectives. The method is flexible and entails a number of steps which include establishment of a broad case, determination of the research questions for the research, identification of the appropriate case, identification of the techniques to be used in gathering of data and analysis, preparation of the collected data, analysis of the data and preparation of a compressive report about the entire process. The importance of the first step is that it will allow this research to choose a broader case and ensure that the areas of interest are accessible and shall provide sufficient information. Time should also be considered while choosing a broader case. The broader the case, the more time it will consume (Bordens & Abbott 2011). The research designs that were used included descriptive, explanatory, and longitudinal design. The techniques used include, product research and population sampling. Data Collection Methods In this report, both the quantitative and the qualitative research methods will be used. Quantitative data of the phone accessories sale population both online sales and offline sales will be made by measuring the variables and verifying the hypothesis. The report will use data to generate hypothesis of different variables based on the result. The report will use the qualitative research method to understand the beliefs, experiences and the ideas based on the level of sales that are made with respect to online sales and offline sales. The report will use both the methods to help triangulate the data collection (Best & Krueger 2004). For example, the report will use the questionnaires to obtain statistical data then backing it up by the interviewing method. Data will be collected in different ways such as the use of primary techniques like the interviews, questionnaire forms, and observations. The secondary sources will also provide information with regard to different cases whose information is pertinent to the research objectives.  Ethical Considerations Ethics clearance for this study will be obtained from the university supervisors. Ethical considerations will be based on the principles guiding research ethics as explained by Kenyon (2002). The respect for the privacy of the teachers, learners, and the school will be considered. Permission will be requested from the participants before data collection process starts. It is necessary to explain to the participants that the results obtained from the study will not be used for any other purposes except those relating to the academic evaluation of the researcher. The aims of the study will be communicated to the participants before obtaining informed written consent from them with regard to the study participation. Limitations of the study This study has several limitations, one of which is the process used for identifying the respondents. Participation in the study was voluntary and depended on direct contact by the researcher making it difficult for the researcher to contract assistance in recruiting respondents. No statistical sampling plan was used to assure a stratified sample of residents across all areas of the city; therefore, the results may not be used to generalize about particular boroughs in UK. Additionally, the number of respondents represents a very small fraction of the total number of residents within the city that engage in the online and offline phone accessories sale business, greatly reducing the generalizability of findings.  Another limitation is the research instrument. Although in itself, the questionnaire was able to provide this study with the necessary information needed to meet the study objectives; there are aspects that could have been improved and questions that could have been included to obtain more in-depth information.  Findings and Discussions Introduction Data analysis results are presented in this chapter. The data were obtained and then processed with respect to the problems discussed in chapter one of this report. Two fundamental objectives drove the data collection process and final data analysis process. The objectives were to develop a basis of knowledge concerning the level of sales on both online sales and offline sales of phone accessories in UK. The objectives were accomplished during the research process and the findings discussed in this chapter show the potential for the merging practice and theory. Research involves data collection, data analysis, and interpretation of the data in order to answer various questions. The research process must have various characteristics, which include; it must be controlled, systematic, verifiable, critical, rigorous, and empirical. This chapter presents the synopsis of the study results and arguments pointed out in chapter four. In addition, it draws critical closing remarks based on the results of the findings and gives suggestions. It also contains recommendations for further research. Summary of the Study Findings The purpose of the study was to establish the level of sales that can be realized for both online and offline phone accessories dealers in UK. Data for the study was collected through questionnaires that were given to 50 participants. The participants were 18 years and above. The study findings showed that despite various challenges that were encountered by numerous participants, information relative to the level of sales was obtained. In addition, there was a positive correlation established between the level of income and the sales level. On a similar note, the study revealed that there is a positive relation between the level of online and offline sales and both short and long-term positive effects attributed to the overall economic growth. Further, study indicated a positive correlation between the price index and the money circulation constraints, which poses a big challenge for those aspiring to own phone accessories businesses. Analysis of Findings In essence, the results indicate that the variations in financing constraints have only limited results on phone accessories sales prices. In the case of the retailers who are poor, the effect of calming down the borrowing challenge on the cost of accessories will be absorbed by the exchange of own phone accessories businesses into public own businesses. This is attributed to the element of offsetting of the positive wealth effect of the unchallenged phone business owners by the negative wealth effect of online business owners. Analysis and processing of data involved a number of operations performed with the aim of summarizing the data collected and organizing them to answer the questions of the research (Menard 2008).  Medoid clustering analysis The first step of data entry involved the analysis of the data. The respondents were requested to evaluate the benefits of both online phone accessories sales and offline phone accessories sales. The respondents were further asked to categorize these as equaled very important, important, somewhat important, and not important. Medoid clustering technique was used to process the data for the purpose of sorting out the people involved into clusters. In order to identify the clusters that would offer the best line of fit for the data, default settings of five to two clusters were used. The objective function value was then calculated by the program for every combination of the cluster. Data Analysis Methods The data collected in this research shall be analyzed systematically through the application of some statistics techniques and some logical methods in order to condense, recap, illustrate, and evaluate the data accordingly. The reason for applying different data analysis techniques is to draw some inductive inferences from that data and to distinguish the phenomenon that are of interest from the noise as presented in the data (Bernard 2000). Since this research is qualitative in nature, statistical procedures shall be applied to collect and analyze data both continuously and simultaneously. In general, terms, the patterns in the observations made under this research shall be analyzed. Various qualitative approached to data analysis will be applied and will cover on oral history, content analysis, unconstructive research, biography and depending on the form of data. In order to safeguard the integrity of data, the data to be analyzed should be considered both appropriate and accurate. This report has a number of data analysis methods that will be used. Both qualitative research and quantitative research methods. The Qualitative Methods Qualitative data analysis had few procedures and rigid rules and the researcher went through content analysis in order to identify main themes emerging from the responses by respondents. Examples of qualitative methods of data analysis that were used Analytic induction In this method, the report considered the events and built hypothetical statements of the findings. The report considered other related events if they fit within the hypothesis. The entire hypothesis was revised to fit into the encountered examples. Finally, the report built on the hypothesis that counteracts the observed cases (Lee & Wang 2003). Thematic analysis Thematic analysis was the simplest and most convenient strategy in as far as categorizing qualitative data is concerned. It involved identifying, analysing, and reporting themes within data. It minimally organised and described data set in (rich) detail. The researcher was therefore able to, move from abstract data and identify trends and themes to come up with conclusive results. However, it went further than this, and interpreted various aspects of the research topic (Mandallaz 2008). Thematic coding was used for transcripts of the interviews based on the answers given from the questionnaires. This approach served to reduce the volume of the original data and turned it into something more meaningful and easier to digest.  Quantitative methods of data analysis used Quantitative methods of data analysis were used and they were suitable for well-administered surveys and designs by use of well-constructed questionnaires. The data was analyzed both with the help of a computer and manually. Manual data analysis was found to be suitable for analysis of small data. Manual data analysis was equally suitable for calculating the frequencies and for cross tabulations. The method was time consuming and much time was allocated to carry out the whole process of data analysis. The data was coded onto the graph paper in columns and the codes were counted in every column then finally decoded. The quantitative methods that were used include frequency distribution and the descriptive statistics. Conclusion The proposal has outlined various research objectives including the general and the specific objectives and the research questions on which the research dwelled on. Details on the literature of past researchers on the same research makes inferences to the existing research objective by exploring both the primary and secondary sources of information. Further, the proposal intended to unfold the research via different research methods in order to collect the relevant data and then analyze it to come up with pertinent information that meets the requirements of the research questions. References Baggio, R., & Klobas, J. E. (2011). Quantitative methods in tourism a handbook. Bristol, UK, Channel View publications.  Best, S. J., & Krueger, B. S. 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