Management Research

You are in charge of promoting a new flavour of tooth paste yet to be produced in tooth paste manufacturing unit, which sampling techniques will you use to get the required data from a population?

There are various sampling techniques available for us. The most commonly used sampling techniques are simple random sampling, stratified sampling, cluster sampling, convenience sampling, quota sampling and systematic sampling. All these methods are used according to the demand of the situation. Usually cluster sampling is used when sampling from the various geographical zones is required. Simple random sampling is usually used when highest accuracy level has to be achieved however cost associated with simple random sampling over the large population size is quite high. Stratified sampling is used when groups of data elements are selected randomly from various bigger heterogeneous groups. All these methods are used depending upon the nature and demand of the research.

We would do consumer research to see what people thought of your product. Prepare a questionnaire about launch of new toothpaste.......question like

1. Which other brand they are using any why

2. Whether they want fluoride base or chloride base.

3. Whether it is mint based or not - their preference

4. What they are expecting from our company

Sampling Methods:

Imagine that we are studying political attitudes in the India and want to know how the electorate is feeling about the political parties at one point in the year, say for instance in the summer. If our method of sampling consisted of standing outside the venues of the main political parties' annual conferences, asking questions of passers-by, it is likely that any conclusions that we make are invalid. This is because it is likely that the views of the respective political parties will be more loudly voiced at or around their own conferences.

Many of the people in the immediate area of the conference are likely either to be...