RESEARCH METHODS Example

RESEARCH METHODS Example RESEARCH METHODS – Coursework Example Obesity and Poverty al Affiliation Obesity and Poverty The term â€Å"case study† principally refers to the analysis of particular socialsystems and units. Such analyses have always been conducted to establish the vital relationship between obesity and poverty. High-income nations often have more cases of obesity as compared to either low or middle-income nations. For example, India and China, who have recently experienced a constant growth in their respective economies, have equally recorded increased cases of obesity in the recent past. It is, therefore, precise to conclude that the growth in obesity is often directly proportional to economic growth of various nations (Richards & Morse, 2012, p. 18). The most appropriate case study method for establishing the relationship between obesity and poverty is the use of questionnaires. In 2010, findings from the US census questionnaires approximated the number of Americans who lived in poverty to be about 15 percent. It was also es tablished that the rate of obesity in such poverty-stricken counties were less than that of their wealthy counterparts by about 35% (Richards & Morse, 2012, p. 15). In order to come up with reliable facts, specific types of questions ought to be asked by those who conduct the study to their respondents. Are obesity and poverty related? This is the most important question that all respondents ought to be asked by case study conductors. In this perspective, the organizers would be able to come up with outstandingly dependable data. It is the same question that Americans have always been asked during census (Richards & Morse, 2012, p. 28). As stated earlier, some of the most significant data, which must be collected for the effectives of the case study on the relationship between obesity and poverty are the percentage of the Americans who live in poverty, as well as the number of cases of obesity in the country.ReferencesRichards, L. & Morse, J. (2012). Read me First for a Userâ€℠¢s Guide to Qualitative Methods (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications. Research Methods Example Research Methods – Coursework Example New Coke. When the Coca-Cola company decided in April 1985 that it was losing out to its nearest competitor, Pepsi-Cola, it identified two factors which appeared to be causing this trend: the Pepsi-Cola product was sweeter in taste, and it was being marketed as the drink for younger people. Coca-Cola had been the market leader for a long time, and had built up a customer base among older people but it felt under pressure to reach out to the next generation and secure its dominant place in the marketplace. The failure of its campaign to replace the original formula with a new, sweeter one, teaches us two important lessons about marketing. First, the importance of brand loyalty must never be underestimated, and this is particularly true of brands which are iconic, and have a long and successful history like Coca-Cola. Secondly, it is dangerous to base a whole product design and marketing campaign on a reaction to perceived threat On the issue of the make-up of its formula, Coca-Cola us ed blind taste tests to determine which formula customers preferred. A better set of tests would have been a combined blind test and sighted test. In other words, Coca-Cola should have tested whether customer behaviour changes when they can see the name on the label. Many people buy the brand, not the product, because they identify strongly with thier favorite brand and are very upset if it is changed or replaced (Fisher and Stye, 1985, 1). Another useful research method would have been focus groups which explore why people are attached to Coca-Cola, or to Pepsi-Cola. The emotional connotations cannot be determined in simple yes/no questionnaires, and so more discussion and exploration in an open ended focus groups would have helped to understand the psychology behind Coca-Cola’s customer behaviour. ReferenceFisher, A.B. and Stye, R. â€Å"Coke;s Brand Loyalty Lesson.† Fortune August 5th, 1985. Available at: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1985/ 08/05/66245/index.htm