Nutri Advantages and Disadvantages of Primary and Secondary Research - Assignment Example

NUTRI ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RESEARCH By of the of School (University) City Date Research entails work that is creative that is undertaken on a basis that is systematic so as to increase knowledge stock. These include knowledge of humans, society, and culture, and the utilization of the knowledge stock to come up with new applications. Research may be used to confirm or establish facts, reaffirming the results of a previous work, solve existing or new problems, support theorems, or creating theorems that are new (Hamilton, J. 2005. Pg 14) . There are two types of research; Primary research and Secondary research. Primary research is the type of research whereby you go personally go out to collect. Examples include interviews, observations, surveys, and ethnographic research (Nargundkar, R. 2004. Pg 34). Secondary research implies getting information from sources that are third party such as magazine articles, marketing research reports, websites, and other sources. A good researcher knows and uses both primary and secondary sources in his/her writing and integrates them in a fashion that is cohesive. It is important to carry out primary research because it facilitates secondary sources research. Nutri used both the primary and secondary research as it was moving to online sales. Both of them have advantages and disadvantages. Primary Research The primary research methods that were applied were; interview, questionnaires, and focus group. Interview This is a conversation that is between two or more people, where the interviewer asks questions so as to elicit statements or facts from the interviewee. They are standard segment of qualitative research. In this research, the manager of the Nutri Natural, Herbal and Vitamin Supplement was interviewed and it had the following advantages and disadvantages. Advantages. A lot of information about the project was availed since the manager has a lot of knowledge about the business. This information can help in making important decisions regarding the project. Through interviewing the manager, several benefits that are associated with the project were also highlighted. Information associated with the problems that the project may face were highlighted. This is crucial as it adequately prepared us for the problems and ways to tackle them in the event that they occur. This is a perfect strategy of ensuring the success of the project. We explored the topic in depth and in detail. This is a cheap method since you don’t have to recruit a lot of participants or using extensive method. It was flexible as far as location and timing, as we only interviewed the manager. Disadvantages The data quality received depended on the ability of the interviewer. Some people have the ability that is natural to gather carry out an interview and gather data well, while others don’t have such abilities. Some interviewers also have their own biases and this could affect the interviewee’s responses (Rugg, et al. 2007. Pg 42). Manual data entry. If the interview is carried out on a paper, the collected data will have to be entered manually, or scanned. This may result in the increase of the cost of the project. A staff to enter the data will have to be hired and the process of data entry may prolong the analysis process (Dawson, C. 2004. Pg 72). Questionnaires This is a set of printed questions that in most cases have a choice of answers, devised for a survey or statistical study. It was administered to the members of the public who were willing and able to purchase the nutritional supplements online and those who were already using them. Advantages They enabled the researcher to develop knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behavior of the respondent. The respondents had a variety of questions to choose from since the questionnaires used in this study contained questions of various sets. The respondents were in a position of choosing the correct answer in relation to the question asked. This ensured the received information or responses from the respondents were correct (Clark, M. 1998. Pg 61). The way that various questions were presented in the questionnaire ensured minimization of biasness in the results and also the information gotten from the respondents. Respondents had an easy time in selecting the correct answers that were associated directly with the asked questions. This led to an accurate report. The information gathered became reliable. The response of the information that is gathered from the respondents’ reliability is important in making sure that the report that follows the research is accurate. It is important for the result to be reliable because it upgrades the value and credibility of the findings interpretation from the research. They are also practical, i.e. it is not difficult to tell whether a respondent is giving inappropriate responses regarding the asked question, hence the researcher has an easy time doing away with such responses from the other data given that they can mislead the readers and those who are depending on the outcomes of the research. It is important to note that information that is inappropriate can make the research to not meet its objectives (Collins, H. 2010. Pg 27). However, due to the practical nature of questionnaires, these disadvantages are greatly reduced resulting to results that are positive. By using the questionnaires, the data collected could easily be analyzed scientifically and objectively. This is due to the practical nature of the questionnaire. This ensures that the results and the findings are of high quality. Questionnaires also have the advantage since its easy to quantify its results is easy and very fast. It saves on time that is needed for analyzing the data. The quantified data can also be utilized for comparison purposes. Disadvantages There is the probability that the questionnaires that are carried out in the absence of the researcher/supervisor administering those questions can be at a risk of being misinterpreted. Researcher is not around to clarify the question. The design of the questionnaire may be at risk of the ‘researcher bias’. Closed questions may be used that restrict the respond of the participants. The participant may not be in agreement with either of the available response but feel obliged to select an answer. How validated are such results? Are these findings a correct reflection the opinion of the public? Questionnaires are at a risk of ‘response bias’. Some respondents give answers that they feel the researcher is hoping for. This happens mostly when the participants is familiar with the researcher (Kothari, C. R. 2005. Pg 50). Focus Group This are the era the online consumers of nutritional supplements. Advantages It is advantageous to focus on the online customers since they present the better fraction of the customer base. This is because networking has increased due to the social media. Transaction online is also easy. Online users can be informed easily about modifications, new products and advertisements using online networks. It’s fast and easy to deliver message using online media hence continued success for the business. Disadvantages By only researching on the online users of the good that can as well be used with customers who are not found online, the business neglected a number of individuals who may have an interest of knowing what is taking place. Consequently, the business may end up losing some of its loyal customers as they will have a feeling that the business does not care what their opinion is. Secondary Research. Advantages. The first advantage that Nutri enjoyed from using secondary research is that they are always obtained at no cost. They got very important information that made them decide to go online retail at no cost. They were able to find out that the market is expected to be in the region of $786 million at the end of 2018 for vitamin and supplement industry. They also learnt the growth of the industry in recent times. They got to know the emerging companies in the industry, the number of individuals that are buying Nutri natural, vitamin and herbal supplements increase every year. The way people are willing to spend on them and believe that they have. This ia the type of information that anyone could pay for as long as business and new opportunities are concerned, but with secondary research, they come at no cost (Applegate, E. 2005. Pg 82). Good overview of the market. With the availability of these sources. Nutria was able to very well analyze the market. i.e. market analysis, distribution channels, product analysis, competitor analysis. This enabled them to come to accurate conclusion about the market, the way the economic and social factors affect growth. It was also concluded that consumers are focusing in eating habits that are healthy and they have the purchasing powers to buy food supplements; hence the market is going to grow. It is based on sales figures that are actual and research on large sample. It is through the secondary research that Nutri actually got to know the exact figures in the current market and the future market concerning vitamins and supplements. Disadvantages The data gotten from these researches may not be regularly updated. This is true since the data can stay for a long time without being updated while the situation on the ground keeps on changing each and every day. This may mislead someone who is relying on such kind of data that does not reflect what is currently happening as opposed to the time that it was obtained (Patzer, G. L. 1995.Pg 44). It is not specifically tailored to ones needs. They are not usually tailored for one specific business but for the whole industry at large. This may lead it to not being very accurate when applied to one specific business since they may have not put some aspects into consideration while collecting the data. It is also not cost friendly in buying reports on various market places. Bibliography. Hamilton, J. 2005. Primary and secondary sources. Edina, Minn, ABDO Pub. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=140228. Nargundkar, R. 2004. Marketing research: text and cases. New Delhi, Tata McGra-Hill. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=MFwpPKqxlwMC&pg=PA14&dq=primary+and+secondary+research&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HngNVYnbPOWV7Aar_YHwDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=primary%20and%20secondary%20research&f=false Rugg, G., & Petre, M. 2007. A gentle guide to research methods. Maidenhead [u.a.], McGraw-Hill/Open Univ. Press. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=AFDIsoyH6MIC&pg=PA32&dq=primary+and+secondary+research&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HngNVYnbPOWV7Aar_YHwDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=primary%20and%20secondary%20research&f=false Dawson, C. 2004. Learning how to study again: a practical guide to study skills for mature students returning to education or distance learning. Oxford, How To Books. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=IruB3ali5OMC&pg=PA129&dq=primary+and+secondary+research&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HngNVYnbPOWV7Aar_YHwDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=primary%20and%20secondary%20research&f=false Clark, M. 1998. Researching and writing dissertations in hospitality and tourism. London, International Thomson Business Press. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=8X3MzAeminwC&pg=PA8&dq=primary+and+secondary+research&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HngNVYnbPOWV7Aar_YHwDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=primary%20and%20secondary%20research&f=false Patzer, G. L. 1995. Using secondary data in marketing research: United States and worldwide. Westport, Conn, Quorum Books. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=RHs_7-nY6loC&printsec=frontcover&dq=primary+and+secondary+research&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HngNVYnbPOWV7Aar_YHwDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=primary%20and%20secondary%20research&f=false Collins, H. 2010. Creative research: the theory and practice of research for the creative industries. Lausanne, AVA Academia. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=oyAwg8qSyJYC&pg=PA120&dq=primary+and+secondary+research&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HngNVYnbPOWV7Aar_YHwDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=primary%20and%20secondary%20research&f=false Kothari, C. R. 2005. Research methodology: methods & techniques. New Delhi, New Age International (P) Ltd. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=8c6gkbKi-F4C&pg=PA95&dq=primary+and+secondary+research&hl=en&sa=X&ei=WnoNVd-YLKL07Aalj4G4Bw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=primary%20and%20secondary%20research&f=false Applegate, E. 2005. Strategic copywriting: how to create effective advertising. Lanham, Md, Rowman & Littlefield. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=R3pmk--v6AIC&pg=PA21&dq=primary+and+secondary+research&hl=en&sa=X&ei=WnoNVd-YLKL07Aalj4G4Bw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=primary%20and%20secondary%20research&f=false Read More