Learn About Market Research Surveys

By Mike Toth


Rarely do we dwell on it but most if not all that is around us in terms of products, services and advertising such as billboards is not where it is just by chance. Things are placed where they are as sales and marketing strategies in line with the findings made after market research surveys have been done.

These are done by investors like product manufacturers, marketing firms, service suppliers as well as governments and others who have a stake in the market. They undertake to have market research surveys done with the aim of getting the highest possible returns in their outlay.

Market investigation surveys are undertaken using two different methods that put surveys in two general categories; quantitative and qualitative research. Qualitative researching delves into how people buy in terms of brand choices and quantities and perhaps factors that drive their purchasing decisions like disposable income available. The other side of it, qualitative research seeks to establish why consumers make the purchasing choices that they do. These two kinds of investigation will normally be done together so that the findings of a survey are complete and comprehensive.

When it comes to quantitative investigation, the same questions are asked to all the participants which is why questionnaires are often the method that is used. These may be given out to people one-on-one, sent through the mail, published in mass media like newspapers and magazines, asked over the phone or through e-mail. Care should be taken to put down questions that are straight-forward and easily understood so that answers are also straight and simple.

It is different with qualitative researching which is open ended so that those involved can express their thoughts and opinions without being led towards one opinion or another. The collection of honest opinions depends on the interviewers doing their work in a skilled way and not leading those they are questioning towards their own views. The evaluation can be done as individual interviews or they questions can be put to focus groups where those in the group freely discuss their thoughts.

In order to get correct results for a market research survey, the sample or those to be questioned should come from a wide group and they should be randomly chosen. The interviewers also need to remain neutral.




About the Author: