Question

For this activity, address the following:

State your Research Topic, Objective/Purpose, and Research Question(s).

Who would be the population for your study?

What would constitute an appropriate sample?

What methods would be appropriate for collecting data?

Why are these methods appropriate/effective?

What is an alternative method of data collection for this question/these questions? Why is this also appropriate?

Which method do you think is better? Why?

Answer 1

Research Topic-

A study of buying behaviour of children towards confectionery products.

Objective/Purpose, and Research Question(s)-

Children are one of the most significant customers. They are reflecting "Pester power- a capability to persuade parents for purchases also". Therefore, it is crucial for marketers to know, comprehend and analyse their buying behaviour.

Decision making process, information search process, evaluation of alternatives, post purchase behaviour, personality, perception, attitude formation, lifestyle, opinion leadership and reference group influence are some of the allied facets that can help to formulate better marketing strategies to serve this segment.

Who would be the population for your study?

The population of the study will be children between the age group 6 years- 12 years and their parents too.

What would constitute an appropriate sample?

An appropriate sample will be 500 children and 500 parents so that there's a fine varied data from different social status, educational backgrounds and gender too.

What methods would be appropriate for collecting data?

Surveys through structured questionnaires, unstructured interviews, observational method and focus group research method will be used by categorising entire sample.

Why are these methods appropriate/effective?

These methods are appropriate and effective because children will experience freedom while responding through unstructured interviews. They will be precise and concise when they choose to opt for structured questionnaires. They will express with frankness and their assertions/ submissions can be trapped through fine videos during focus group research.

What is an alternative method of data collection for this question/these questions? Why is this also appropriate?

Alternative method can be "Observational method". This is appropriate because when children are observed during purchase situations, we may come to know something exceptional and equally interesting which was not the part of any of the above mentioned methods.

Which method do you think is better? Why?

I personally feel that unstructured interviews will be the best way because there's a room to interact more. It consists of open- ended questions wherein the responses by children will be comparatively illustrative.