The methods of data collection I used in my market research was questionnaires, surveys and
the internet. The reason for questionnaires was because it would provide me with answers of
the type of products the participants would like and how much they would pay for it.
Furthermore, this type of research would be carried out it without any effects to its validity and
reliability since it is a primary source. In addition to this, the data that comes from this method
can be analysed more 'scientifically' and objectively than other forms of research which makes it
more valuable. As well as this, this type of research helped me find what people found
appealing in cafes and the products they sell, so that I can use this when purchasing stock and
pricing them to look affordable and a good match to its quality.
On the other hand, I have used Surveys because it would help me learn about the participants
which could also be potentials customers and my target market. By learning their likes and
dislikes, I can use this data to plan my business and use overall results on the product list for
my cafe. Furthermore, with the results I can see the results between gender, age and what they
do such as a teacher or a student, this can vary my results depending on my target market and
where my cafe is going to be located, which in this case is in the centre of the city. Also,
because of the high representativeness brought about by the survey method, it is often easier to
find statistically significant results than other data gathering methods. Multiple variables can also
be effectively analyzed using surveys.
Lastly, using internet as a secondary type of market research has helped me a lot when learning
about running a business and how economy, politics and health industry is affecting the cafe.
There are many reasons why I chose to use the internet instead of books, magazines and
newspapers. Firstly, the internet provided me with reports, articles and news about coffee,
cafes, tea and independent businesses, which is all important as it is relevant to the type of
business I am going to be operating and the products I will be selling. As well as this, accessing
and finding research on the internet is much more easier and there is endless information about
different topics, which made conducting this research fluent and effective. Furthermore, using
google as the search engine I was able to receive up to date information on the coffee and tea
industry with the latest headlines and other news that affects them. In addition to this, I could
also use the internet to communicate to people who are already running their own cafes and
could help me learn about what issues they are facing and tips on how to run a cafe. As you can
see, there are a lot of reasons why I used the internet and how it helped me do my market
research to find the relevant information.
http://libweb.surrey.ac.uk/library/skills/Introduction%20to%20Research%20and%20Managing%
20Information%20Leicester/page_51.htm
https://explorable.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-surveys
https://www.ukessays.com/essays/media/the-disadvantages-of-internet-media-essay.php