Business Research Methods Define the distinctions between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources in a secondary search A primary source is one that is original. An example of a primary source is the recently published results of a new study. Primary sources are the work of the only the author. When using a primary source, it is usually contemporary with the research being examined. A primary source is without interpretation. Examples of secondary sources would include newspaper articles, newscasts, or encyclopedias. Secondary sources are considered one step removed from primary sources.
The can contain opinions. When researching a topic in a bibliography or index it represents a secondary source. Using this secondary source can reveal data relevant to the research. Researches can find new primary data in that manner. This enables the researcher to find primary data within secondary or tertiary source. * Explain how internal data-mining techniques differ from a literature search A literature search can be done on the Internet. Data mining is the finding of knowledge from corporate database or stored in a data warehouse.
Researchers use data mining to determine patterns from information that is known to be valid in relation to a particular research topic. Data mining information is an internal source. The information can be a simple database or large enough to require data warehousing. This information can be searched for information to resolve questions from management. In contrast, the literature search is external searching for data. A literature search acquires data similar to the intended research. The literature search provides additional information about the topic to be studied.
Data-mining has access to specific information on the intended research topic. Data mining will normally provide a better understanding of the researched issue. What problems of secondary data quality must researchers face? Secondary data frequently contains opinions from those compiling primary data to reach a conclusion. Secondary research may be out of date. Researchers must be sure that their information is recent and currently factual. When using secondary data researchers need to look at who compiled the data. For xample, if a drug company did research showing their new drug to be very effective at eradicating an illness, the opinion of the information might be slanted. If that same research compilation was done be an independent source, the findings would be perceived to be more accurate and not slanted toward the drug company. * * How does qualitative research differ from quantitative research? * According to (2006), ”Qualitative research explores attitudes, behavior and experiences through such methods as interviews or focus groups.
It attempts to get an in-depth opinion from participants. ” “Quantitative research generates statistics through the use of large-scale survey research, using methods such as questionnaires or structured interviews. This type of research reaches many more people, but the contact with those people is much quicker than it is in qualitative research. ” (Andrew Sanchez, para. 1). Both methods of research have advantages. If you strictly want raw data without any conclusions or opinions then Quantitative research should be used.
If you need opinions or ideas from the people you are using for your sample group, then Qualitative methods would be best. Sometimes research calls for both to reach the right decision. * Why do senior executives feel more comfortable relying on quantitative data than qualitative data? * Because qualitative data is too subjective, might be slanted toward one side of an issue or the other and might contain errors in interpretation, senior executives prefer quantitative data. The strength of quantitative data is that it allows for compilation of mass amounts of data.
A good example of quantitative research would be the United States census. Quantitative research makes it possible to pull in large amounts of date and make sense of the results. The quantitative approach often looks at larger groups than the qualitative method and gets a good idea of the major trends among a large sample size. Quantitative research is an effect approach when it is used correctly. People generally put a lot of faith in quantitative research. One of the crucial items when using quantitative data is to decide on what sample size to use and if the sample reflects the population you ish to examine. Senior executives might feel more comfortable relying on quantitative data because it is strictly facts, without interpretation. * * How might a qualitative research company lessen the senior-level executive’s skepticism? * In the readings for this course a scenario is described asking the participants of a group to imagine something. As a result of the ideas of the focus group, a new perception for a movie was conceived. Sometimes what researchers need for the research are ideas from outside the box of preconceived notions.
The qualitative approach to research can be very effective when done correctly. It takes time and effort to accurately set up, carry out, and analyze quantitative research. The problem begins when people skew the way in which they either collect or analyze data to benefit their own cause. A researcher needs to remember two things when looking at data. First, they need to determine how the data was collected, was the study done effectively. Second, they need to look at the source of the information. Researchers must determine if the information is reliable. * Assume you are a manufacturer of small kitchen electrics, like Hamilton Beach/Proctor Silex, and you want to determine if some innovative designs with unusual shapes and colors developed for the European market could be successfully marketed in the U. S. market. What qualitative research would you recommend, and why? I would recommend focus groups. First I would determine who my target market is. I would make sure that the target group was well represented in the focus groups. I would have a predetermined list of questions to be answered.
It would also be advisable to ask the members of the focus groups specifically what they liked or disliked about the new colors or shapes. It would be best not to limit the research to just the answers on the list, but to ask the opinions of the focus group as to what they would change about the product if they could change something. This would give the researchers more insight into the opinions of potential consumers. The researchers would ask the members of the focus groups to use the small appliances and rate their performance.
A product might be attractive, but not work well. Assembling this primary information would produce valuable information. The manufacturer might need to modify the new product, or it might be widely accepted by the groups. A simple thing like color can make a difference. References (2006). Articles and tutorials. Retrieved from http://e-articles. info/e/a/title/THE-DIFFERENCE-BETWEEN-QUALITATIVE-AND-QUANTITATIVE-RESEARCH/ Cooper, D. R. , ; Schindler, P. S. (2006). Business Research Methods (9th ed. ). New York: McGraw-Hill.
