No Child Left Behind - 2277 Words

In the case of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), is politics the enemy of problem solving? By examining selected political controversies surrounding NCLB, it will be demonstrated that politics is the enemy. Since NCLB’s enactment, vast amounts of research literature and news stories have been published on its effects, which demonstrates the impact and debate generated by this law. The major goals of this bipartisan legislation were to improve student performance through standardized testing by using data from annual test scores to measure each students’ and schools’ progress; to close the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and their better-off counterparts; and to hold teachers and schools accountable. All these actions were to†¦show more content†¦The aim is to â€Å"fix† low-performing schools. Schools and teachers would be held accountable, for low performance and the law was considered by many to be overly punitive rather than supp ortive (Jost, Ravitch). AYP leads to the next criticism of an NCLB outcome: â€Å"narrowing of the curriculum.† Because so much depends on how schools fare on these â€Å"high stakes tests,† in many schools, especially low-performing schools, fewer subjects are being taught, so more emphasis can be put on teaching reading and math and less time is being spent on developing children’s problem solving and critical thinking skills (Ravitch, Stecher, et.al.). Furthermore, to make room for honing test-taking skills, less time is being spent on teaching subjects in general. This practice is often referred to â€Å"teaching to the test.† The fact that too much time is spent working on practice tests is more than likely an unintended consequence of the law. Not only have schools modified their curriculum, but also states have adjusted their educational standards so that they are able to achieve NCLB’s requirement of AYP of 100 percent proficiency. Students â€Å"fell victim to what many observers called the school districts’ decisions to â€Å"dumb down† the standards for measuring proficiency. It’s a lot easier to push down yourShow MoreRelatedNo Child Left Behind958 Words   |  4 Pages Good intentions are no excuse to continue a fail policy. Since the No Child left Behind Act (NCLB) became in effect, teachers have been restricted to teach in a certain way. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, signed into law by President George W. Bush on January 8, 2002, which was a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. President Bush once said; â€Å"education is the gateway to a hopeful future for America’s children. America relies on good teachersRead MoreThe No Child Left Behind1974 Words   |  8 Pagesorder to improve education in America, we have to go to the root of our problem in the school system and find better ways to enforce new rules and regulations that wouldn’t be detrimental to both students, schools, and educators alike. The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act is having a negative effect on our education system because it reduces the choices of schools for parents, and the distribution of qualified teachers. It also has a negative impact on the amount that kids are able to learn in schoolRead More No Child Left Behind1472 Words   |  6 Pagesgone into many wars. Not just physical wars that I am considered about but also wars on education. The nation could destroy its own glory and way of the source of great future that it rely on by initiating a war on the minds of the children. No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is a federal education policy that was developed in 2001. (Lagana-Riordan and Aguilar 135). NCLB is a program designed to minimize the differences in the level of education that white or rich people get to poor African-American, HispanicRead MoreNo Child Left Behind555 Words   |  2 Pagesschools and their mission to build the mind and character of every child, from every background in every part of America.† Pr. George W. Bush. The No Child Left Behind Act has plenty of advantages such as: helping students with disabilities, guiding teachers and parents so that they can help the child, and push the child to succeed. Students with language disabilities will be at a disadvantage in reading. The No Child Left Behind has provides students with tutors and extra help with homework. PresidentRead MoreNo Child Left Behind Act1621 Words   |  7 Pages The support for the No Child Left Behind Act plummeted down shortly after the act passed. Many people supported the act at first simply because they supported the goals of the act, once they saw the results, their opinions changed. One of the biggest arguments towards No Child Left Behind is that it is unfair. People believed the resources of difference schools were unequal, and thought the Title 1 funding that the schools received should go to ensuring all schools had equal resources. Many peopleRead MoreThe No Child Left Behind Act1670 Words   |  7 PagesKentucky-SW 630 Abstract This literature review seeks to explore the Every Student Succeeds Act (2015), a bipartisan reauthorization and revision to the No Child Left Behind Act (2002). The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is the first law passed in fourteen years to address Reneeded changes to the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Considered progressive and innovative at the time of its passage, NCLB was the most dramatic and aggressive legislation enacted in decades and afforded theRead MoreNo Child Left Behind Essays1062 Words   |  5 Pages LITERATURE REVIEW Rushton talks about the funding for the No Child Left Behind is being held back if the students don’t do well on the standardized tests. So if the students don’t do well on the testing the teachers are being affected in the way of how much they are getting paid, also affects the school districts funding. This is encouraging the teachers not to teach the way they should, but they are teaching in the way of let’s just make the students do well on the standardized tests. In thisRead MoreNo Child Left Behind Act1418 Words   |  6 Pagessystematic oppression. The flowing water of oppression floods poor schools; drowning students with dreams, and giving no mercy. The only ones safe from the water are the privileged, who are oblivious to the fact that it exists. George Bush s No Child Left Behind Act, which passed in 2002, mandated annual standardized testing in math and reading. If schools received insufficient scores, they were punished or shut down. This fueled the construed concept that a school is only doing well if the studentsRead MoreThe No Child Left Behind Act2120 Words   |  9 PagesWhen President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) into law in 2002, the legislation had one goal-- to improve educational equity for all students in the United States by implementing standards for student achievement and school district and teacher performance. Before the No Child Left Behind Act, the program of study for most schools was developed and implemented by individual states and local communities’ school boards. Proponents of the NCLB believed that lax oversightRead MoreThe No Child Left Behind Act875 Words   |  4 PagesThe No Child Left Behind Act â€Å"NCLB† was a bill passed by the Senate in 2001 and signed into law by President George W. Bush on January 8, 2002. It was a revision of the Elementary and Secondary Act â€Å"ESEA† of 1965 by President Lyndon Johnson. The NCLB was intended to help children in lower-income families achieve the same standard of education as children in higher income families. This was done by the federal government providing extra finances for Title I schools in exchange for a rise in academic

What are the Advantages of focus group research Free Essays

1.0 Explanation of Focus group research Focus group is small group selected from a wide population and sampled. Very common in marketing research and based open discussion to collect opinions or emotional response to a subject or area. We will write a custom essay sample on What are the Advantages of focus group research? or any similar topic only for you Order Now Focus group is a form of qualitative research. 2.0 Advantages of focus group research In the marketing, focus groups are seen as an important tool for acquiring feedback. Main advantages for Zazen by choosing this tool are: More accurate information (Opinions or ideas can be refined by the group). Focus group interviews are more interesting than standard interviews, what cause longer and more revealing answers. Naturalness of the answers is greater in a focus group, because the questions are directed at a group rather than individuals. 3.0 Disadvantages of focus group research Focus group research has also some disadvantages, making different qualitative research techniques more effective. Preparing focus group question is a complicated task. The responses in the interview are can be different what make the analyze very difficult, or it may be no response what can be a serious problem as well. Focus groups are generally more expensive than other interview alternatives. Skilled moderator are difficult to find and very expensive. 4.0 Suitability of Focus Group research for Companies information The ZAZEN Company wish to know what is its brand image amongst current customers. Is the ecological and ethical image a major selling point for the brand? Focus group research will allow ZAZEN to find out the answers for those questions. This kind of research contain: synergism, snowballing, stimulation, security, spontaneity and speed which allow to generate more views, information, express their ideas and expose their feelings. People feel comfortable, their responses are spontaneous and reflecting an accurate idea of their views. It is difficult to make marketing research interesting for people, encourage them to respond or avoid self-selection bias in this type of survey, however data collection and analysis in focus group proceed relatively quickly what makes it more than suitable to meet the company’s information needs. 5.0 Explanation of the chosen research comparison Depth interviewing, is also known as unstructured interviewing and is a type of interview where researchers select information in order to achieve a holistic understanding of the situation. It is also used to explore interesting areas for further investigation. This type of interview involves asking people open-ended questions, and often involves qualitative data, so it’s called qualitative interviewing. 6.0 Advantages of research comparison Depth interview research is perfect for Zazen company to investigate personal, and confidential information which are unable to cover in a group format. It is also the best method for pre-testing, where individual interpretations and responses are wanted. Depth interviews are also ideal for researching people with busy lifestyles or living abroad. Because 90% of Zazen revenue is coming from US and Japan online sales it is a better choice than focus group 7.0 Disadvantages of research comparison The disadvantage of Depth interview research is that the respondent may feel uncomfortable and scared, because of the very private atmosphere. Many people are less willing to open in a small group opposite to group interview where atmosphere is relaxed. A well skilled interviewer can overcome this problem, by establishing the good rapport and trust. 8.0 Suitability of research comparison Zazen company have to know if the ecological and ethical image (â€Å"Soil association† approval, fair trade, not tested on animals, herbal/folk-remedy ingredients.) is a major selling point for the brand Information like, how customers see Zazen, and what they would like to improve are wanted as well. Depth interview research can be done online allowing Zazen company to avoid high cost of travelling to US and Japan. It will help ass well to reach those who are unlikely to attend a focus group because of their social status(senior businesspeople or doctors,), or cannot practically attend. (solo parents) 9.0 Conclusion Depth interviewing is widely used in many kind of different researches and is generally regarded as a powerful tool in extracting data with qualitative nature. Depth interview research has also the different features of being an open situation, and is using techniques such as probing. Focus group research is paying a particular attention on â€Å"the interaction and group dynamics†. That type of research can be an empowering process for participants, and an exciting challenge for all researchers as well because of its more interesting than other research methods nature and naturalness of the answears. Both research techniques are suitable to answer the Zazen’s questions, however because of the fact that responders are in US and Japan, Depth interview research will be a better solution. Is easier to carry on even on the distance, able to be run online and collect the information, focus group is unable to collect. It will be definitely the more extensive marketing research, but to ensure success, researchers should be sensitive to individuals situations and be flexible in different interviewing circumstances. To carry on focus group research abroad will be necessary to send well skilled and professional interviewers, what will effect in very high cost of the task. Inevitable will be as well employing some extra staff to organize accommodation, transport etc. With no doubts the recommended form of qualitative research is Depth Interview. Is cheaper, more suitable for this particular case, and will gain more interesting data. How to cite What are the Advantages of focus group research?, Essays

Critical Reflection Paper Dr. Martin Luther King Essay Example For Students

Critical Reflection Paper : Dr. Martin Luther King Essay Critical Reflection Paper Dr. Martin Luther King (1963) spoke eloquently as he declared, â€Å"I have a dream that my four little children will live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character† (p. 5). Dr. King’s dream of a character-based society is not one that denies its cultural diversity, but that celebrates it as an integral part of its character. Educators help create this society by using their knowledge, skills, and disposition to celebrate his or her students’ cultural heritage while refining characters to become productive members of society. Knowledge No one becomes a master carpenter experience, extensive knowledge, and necessary skills. The same applies to educating students of diverse cultures. Nieto (2010) makes an impassioned plea for multicultural education by citing her experience as an immigrant in a low-income home, parents who spoke only Spanish, and an educator who overcame many obstacles to success (p. 2). She writes, â€Å"Educational inequality is repugnant in a society that has pledged to provide an equal education for all students regardless of rank or circumstance. Yet educational inequality is commonplace in schools all over our country† (p. xiv). She provides an excellent overview of how to construct effective multicultural educational programs. Her characteristics of multicultural education (p. 68) create the foundation upon which we build comprehensive understanding insuring a teacher does more than give cursory asides to diversity in the classroom but appreciates fully the different gifts the students bring to the educational experience. Fundamental to multicultural education is recognizing how culture affects academic performance. Linda,. .ike servanthood and empathy. True empathy requires we demonstrate a servant heart characterizing Christ’s life as He served others with complete selflessness. Like Christ, we never use our power to benefit ourselves but our students. Being Christ-like requires we put student’s needs before our own as we serve them instead of standing on our rights. We strive to look through their eyes so that we might more effectively respond to their needs. Truly adopting this Christ-like attitude will enable us to deal effectively not only with our student’s personal needs but their educational needs as well. Today, effective multicultural education is critical if our schools are to educate our students effectively. Proponents and opponent alike need to recognize that true multicultural education is not new or novel but instead is the heart of the American cultural experience. ?

Innovation Essay Example

Innovation Essay CREATIVITY REATIVITY Report produced for the EC funded project INNOREGIO: dissemination of innovation and knowledge management techniques by Dr Eleni Sefertzi J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 0 CREATIVITY 1 Contents 1 Description 1. 1 1. 2 1. 3 1. 4 1. 5 What is Creativity Objectives of Creativity Description /structure of the methodology /alternative solutions Expected results /benefits Characteristics of providers 2 Application 2. 1 2. 2 2. 3 2. 4 Where Creativity development has been applied Types of firms /organisations concerned Implementation cost Conditions for implementation Implementation Brainstorming Story boarding Lotus Blossom Checklists Morphological Analysis Mapping Process The Excursion Technique Computer-based creativity techniques Artificial Intelligence models of creativity Idea processors software Visualisation and graphical systems Spatial representation tools 4 Bibliographic references Annexes Table 1: Stimulus to extend perspective to approach a problem Table 2: Brainstormi ng Phases Table 3: Osborn’s Checklist Figure 1: Lotus Blossom sample INNOREGIO project Dr E. Sefertzi CREATIVITY 1 1. 1 DESCRIPTION What is Creativity There are many definitions of creativity. A number of them suggest that creativity is the generation of imaginative new ideas (Newell and Shaw 1972), involving a radical newness innovation or solution to a problem, and a radical reformulation of problems. Other definitions propose that a creative solution can simply integrate existing knowledge in a different way. A third set of definitions proposes that a creative solution, either new or recombined, must have value (Higgins 1999). A novel idea is not a creative idea unless it is valuable or it implies positive evaluation. Also, according to dt ogilvie (1998), imagination, which involves the generation of ideas not previously available as well as the generation of different ways of seeing events, is important to achieve creative actions. To combine this variety of definitions, we can say that creativity involves the generation of new ideas or the recombination of known elements into something new, providing valuable solutions to a problem. It also involves motivation and emotion. Creativity â€Å"is a fundamental feature of human intelligence in general. It is grounded in everyday capacities such as the association of ideas, reminding, perception, analogical thinking, searching a structured problem-space, and reflecting self-criticism. It involves not only a cognitive dimension (the generation of new ideas) but also motivation and emotion, and is closely linked to cultural context and personality factors. † (Boden 1998). We will write a custom essay sample on Innovation specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Innovation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Innovation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer According to Boden (1998), there are three main types of creativity, involving different ways of generating the novel ideas: a) The â€Å"combinational† creativity that involves new combinations of familiar ideas. b) The â€Å"exploratory† creativity that involves the generation of new ideas by the exploration of structured concepts. c) The â€Å"transformational† creativity that involves the transformation of some dimension of the structure, so that new structures can be generated. Creative thinking in a disciplined manner can play a real role in innovation. Creativity and innovation are normally complementary activities, since creativity generates the basis of innovation, which, in its development, raises difficulties that must be solved once again, with creativity†¦It is not possible to conceive innovation without creative ideas, as these are the starting point. † (European Commission 1998). Innovation results when creativity occurs within the right organisational culture. The right organisational culture is one that provides through creativity processes (creative techniques) the possibilities for the development of personal and group creativity skills. We can define creativity IMT as the establishment of skills by implementing creativity generation techniques. 1. 2 Objectives of Creativity Main objectives of a creative thinking process is to think beyond existing boundaries, to awake curiosity, to break away from rational, conventional ideas and formalised procedures, to rely on the imagination, the divergent, the random and to consider multiple solutions and alternatives (Candy 1997, Schlange and Juttner 1997). INNOREGIO project Dr E. Sefertzi CREATIVITY 3 The result of the creative thinking process is especially important for businesses. Managers and managerial decisions and actions, confronted with fast-changing and ambiguous environments in business, need to develop creative solutions and creative action-based strategies to solve problems, as they allow to increase understanding of problematic situations, to find multiple problems, to produce new combinations, to generate multiple solutions that are different from the past, to consider possible alternatives in various situations that could occur in the future and â€Å"to expand the opportunity horizon and competence base of firms† (dt ogilvie 1998). . 3 Description / structure of the methodology / alternative solutions Creativity is not an innate quality of only a few selected people. Creativity is present in everyone. It can be learned, practised and developed by the use of proven techniques which, enhancing and stimulating the creative abilities, ideas and creative results, help people to move out of their normal problem-solving mode, to enable them to co nsider a wide range of alternatives and to improve productivity and quality of work. Creativity is thus constructed as a learned ability that enables us to define new relationships between concepts or events, which seemed apparently unconnected before, and which results in a new entity of knowledge† (European Commission 1998). Knowledge and information are the basis for creativity. The scientific research is recently oriented towards the development of creativity as an educational process. Many studies show that creative abilities can be developed by the implementation of creativity techniques (see Mansfield, Busse and Krepelka 1978, Parnes and Brunelle 1967, Rose and Lin 1984, Taylor 1972). Concrete creativity supporting techniques, including also computer-based support tools (artificial intelligence models, computer software idea processors, information systems, etc. ), are developed to promote and generate creativity, to break fixed ideas, to stimulate imagination, as well as to define the conditions in which creativity takes place (the creative environment or climate). Using such techniques, a company aims to â€Å"incorporate the employees’ potential of creativity into the process of performance creation† (Bullinger 1999). There are numerous creative techniques, which are also classified in many ways (Higgins 1994). In general, a certain type of question or a certain area of application (such as marketing, product or service development, strategic and decision planning, design, quality management, etc. ) often calls for a certain type or a certain group of creativity techniques. The description of some well-known and basic techniques and their implementation procedure is presented in session 3. A classification for these techniques can be made between analytical techniques and intuitive techniques. Analytical techniques follow a linear pattern of thought or sequence of steps, such as the â€Å"5 Ws and H† technique (it asks the questions who, what, when, where, why, and how) and have better application for very specific, analytical questions (Higgins 1999). They stimulate different ways of organising known information and help approach problems from new angles (Miller 1987). Intuitive techniques are less structured techniques. They tend to skip steps in a sequence and tend to provide a whole answer all at once, such as the â€Å"wishful thinking† technique (based on ideal possibilities and solutions), and they are more appropriate for ill-defined questions (Higgins 1999). INNOREGIO project Dr E. Sefertzi CREATIVITY 4 Another classification can be made between techniques that are more appropriate to generate creativity in individuals, and techniques, which generate creativity in groups undertaken within work groups. Improving personal creativity for individuals involves enhancing the individual’s use of intuition and reducing mental blocks creativity, such as fear of failure. At the group level it requires team building and other efforts to enhance the use of group dynamics to achieve creativity and innovation† (Higgins 1996). However, this classification is not rigorous, since many group idea generation techniques can also be used by individuals. On the other hand, the individual and th e group are two main agents that always interact in the process of creativity in business and industrial innovation. Creativity is an attribute of the individual, though generally it can only be developed efficiently when it is tackled within a group of team. For this reason, most creative techniques are proposed and undertaken within the framework of specific work groups, within companies or other organisations† (European Commission 1998). A third classification might be between creative techniques that rely upon divergent thinking and techniques that rely upon convergent thinking. Divergent thinking is the generation and the free flow of ideas and it demands considerable discipline, which is aided by the introduction of rigorous techniques forcing divergence toward many alternatives. Convergent thinking, on the contrast, demands techniques of filtering and focus to identify the ideas that have a truly innovative value, to converge on an acceptable solution (Hall 1996). Divergent and convergent thinking are complementary phases of a procedure, since divergence helps forcing towards many alternatives and possible options before convergence on an appropriate solution. Fundamental concepts for all creative techniques are: †¢ The suspension of premature judgement and the lack of filtering of ideas. †¢ Use the intermediate impossible. †¢ Create analogies and metaphors, through symbols, etc. , by finding similarities between the situation, which we wish to understand and another situation, which we already understand. †¢ Build imaginative and ideal situations (invent the ideal vision). †¢ Find ways to make the ideal vision happen. †¢ Relate things or ideas which were previously unrelated. †¢ Generate multiple solutions to a problem. Main points to increase or encourage creativity in a company are: †¢ to be happy, to have fun †¢ keep channels of communication open †¢ trust, failure accepted †¢ contacts with external sources of information †¢ independence, initiatives taken †¢ support participatory decision-making and employees’ contribution †¢ experiment with new ideas 1. 4 Expected results / benefits Creativity, through the generation of ideas with value, is needed in order to solve concrete problems, ease the adaptation to change, optimise the performance of the organisation and best practice manufacturing, and change the attitude of the staff of the INNOREGIO project Dr E. Sefertzi CREATIVITY 5 organisation. Creative thought processes are also important at all stages in the RD process. Some expected results of the creativity process are: †¢ innovation through new product and process ideas †¢ continuous improvement of products or services †¢ productivity increase †¢ efficiency †¢ rapidity †¢ flexibility †¢ quality of products or services †¢ high performance 1. 5 Characteristics of providers The implementation of creative techniques within work groups, requires the assistance and advise of external consultants. One or two consultants, experts in creative techniques, is normally enough to undertake the implementation process in a company. His/hers job normally consists of presenting the different techniques and their application method, defining the problem to be studied for the participants, initiating and clarifying the rules of the technique, gathering the necessary data and information to approach the problem, stimulating the generation of ideas of participants, and evaluating the ideas before proceeding to put them in practice. Training of management staff by experts may also be very useful. Management staff must be trained to stimulate creativity in employees, to provide motivation, to facilitate a creative climate and to encourage the use of creative techniques. Managers can also be trained to implement creative techniques by themselves. 2 APPLICATION Creativity processes are used regularly by many private and public sector organisations of all sorts in manufacturing, services, banking, or construction companies. Big firms such as Xerox, ATT, Frito-Lay, as well as car manufacturing firms, software development firms, railroad pharmaceutical firms etc. , use creativity techniques to increase efficiency and quality, especially in their research, strategic planning and marketing departments. Small firms and innovative RD organisations, such as biotechnology companies (Arlington 1997), are also becoming to implement creative techniques in order to solve problems and to improve the use of skills, techniques and processes. Creativity techniques may be applied in almost any functional area of the company: strategic planning, corporate business strategy, product development, improvement of services, functional strategy, finance, human resources, marketing, management of collection of information, product design, software design, quality management, etc. 2. 1 Where Creativity development has been applied INNOREGIO project Dr E. Sefertzi CREATIVITY 6 Nearly all innovation management techniques that can be applied in companies (BPR, benchmarking, TQM, MRP II, employee involvement, marketing of innovation, etc. require also the implementation of creativity techniques. For example, in the Innovation Programme of DG XII of European Commission, besides other innovation management techniques, creativity techniques have been applied in the following IMT projects (see European Commission 1998): -INVENT (Pro. 006) Implementation of a Method for Targeted Economic-Oriented Research in SME Invention Management. IMPA CQT (Pro. 008) PARTNERS (Pro 010) Promotion of Innovation Management Techniques in the field of Sub-Contracting. IDEAS (PRO 017 Integrated Product Development Expertise Applied to SMEs. PRIISME (Pro 029) Promoting of IMTs in ISRAELI SMEs. Programme to Create New Activities in SMEs (Pro 045). MARKPRO (Pro 050) Implementation of Market Oriented Product Innovation in Danish SMEs 2. 2 Types of firms / organisations concerned Creativity techniques can be implemented by all firms and public organisations that confront with problem solving and focus on innovation in processes, products or services. In case where the implementation of creative techniques is focused on the support of personal creativity, such as to support individual designers work for new product development, or to support individual scientists work in the laboratory, very small firms or a person can implement creative techniques for individuals. In case where the company focus is to increase group creativity and to create environments where a collaborating team work creatively together, the firm must have at least 20 employees, including 3 members as management staff. 2. 3 Implementation cost The application of creativity techniques is a continuum process. Sessions of creativity within work groups normally take place at company facilities during normal hours and working conditions. The implementation of a creative technique includes the following costs: †¢ The fee of an external consultant for 4-7 days work for undertaking a session of creativity (preparation, application, evaluation). †¢ The cost of software packages developed for personal computers or workstations (if necessary). Hardware and equipment must permit to deal with network communications. Training cost (2-4 days) (if necessary). Cost: from 3000 to 7000 Euro. 2. 4 Conditions for implementation Concerning the implementation of creative techniques, some of them are easy to apply, while others need some infrastructure, experts, work teams, training, collection of INNOREGIO project Dr E. Sefertzi CREATIVITY 7 information, resources, etc. In this case, the assistance of an external consultant is required . Besides the support of external consultants, the company itself must encourage creative environment. This implies the participation of all workers in the concerns of the company, and an open and flexible attitude on the part of management. According to Higgins (1999) factors to encouraging the creative work climate are: †¢ A secure environment with minimal administrative interference. †¢ An organisational culture that makes it attractive and easy for people to discover and solve problems. †¢ Rewards for employee performance and enhancement of intrinsic motivation. †¢ Managerial willingness to take risks for creativity and innovation, as well as an open and flexible attitude on the part of management. Providing people with formal and informal training to enhance creativity. Important conditions for implementation of creative techniques within work groups in a company are also the existence of well-trained human resources, a clear strategic definition of the company and to focus on the core competencies of the company (European Commission 1998). For solving complex problems requiring input by many areas, i. e. marketing, engineering, design, the company would preferably be one employing multidisciplinary teams. 3 IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURE As mentioned before, there is numerous creativity supporting techniques. The description, in an illustrative manner, of some well-known creative techniques for problem solving will be presented here. See also Annex, Table 1, the use of some stimulus that can extend perspectives to approach a problem. Brainstorming This is one of the best known and most used in the business world group based creativity process for problem solving. It is a method of getting a large number of ideas from a group of people in a short time. It can be used for generating a large number of ideas or solutions for well-defined strategic or operational problems, such as for engineering design processes. It forms also a basic framework or constitutes the initial phase for the implementation of many other groups based on creative techniques. Brainstorming sessions take place in a group of 6-10 people. The presence of a leader is necessary to stimulate the generation of ideas, as well as a preparation phase to gather the necessary data and information to approach the problem. A recorder writes the problem statement and the idea generated by the group on a white board. Several guidelines for brainstorming are available, such as suspend judgement, free wheel, quantity, and crossfertilise. The whole process takes normally one hour and can be conducted through several stages. The session begins with stating the problem and calling for solutions by the leader. The following stages can be: restate the problem in the form of â€Å"How to†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , select a basic restatement and write it down as â€Å"In how many ways can we†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , warm-up session, brainstorming, and identify wildest idea. An evaluation method is additionally used for to identify the ideas that have a value for implementation. The four basic rules of brainstorming are: a) no criticism and no prior judgement of any idea, b) all ideas, INNOREGIO project Dr E. Sefertzi CREATIVITY 8 even the absurd, are welcome, c) quantity has value, the more ideas the better, if a large quantity of ideas is generated, then the idea pool very likely would contain high-quality ideas, d) sharing and combining ideas, and constructing ideas based on those developed by other members of the group for producing new ideas. See: Osborne (1963), Rawlinson (1981), Chen (1998), Higgins (1996), European Commission (1998). See also Annex, Table 2: Brainstorming phases. A special type of brainstorming tool is PMI in which the participants are directed to brainstorm the Plus points, then the Minus points and finally the Interesting points (De Bono 1992, 1993). Related to brainstorming, which is characterised by verbal communication, is also the hand-written communication as a brain-writing technique. The process is that ideas generated by individuals are written down on a piece of paper, and then exchanged and combined with those of the other individuals in the group. Written ideas are circulated and read by the other participants in the group each of whom, in turn, write down new ideas. A variation of this hand-written communication is the 6-3-5 method in which each of the 6 participants in the group generates and writes 3 ideas related to the problem on a piece of paper in 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, each participant passes the piece of paper to the person on the right, who reads it and adds 3 new ideas in 5 minutes. The process continues until each participant gets the original piece of paper back (European Commission 1998). Electronic brainstorming is also a hand-written communication technique, which employ computerised programs to achieve brainstorming. Story boarding It is a creativity technique for strategic and scenario planning based on brainstorming and used mainly by groups. It requires a leader, a secretary and takes place in a group of 8-12 people. The leader arranges the ideas generated by brainstorming in a logical order on a white board creating a story. This technique allows identify the interconnections of ideas and how all the pieces fit together. It can be used to identify issues, problems, solve a complex problem and determine ways to implement solutions. The story boarding process includes four phases: a) planning, b) ideas, c) organisation and d) communication. Each phase includes a creative session (it takes 45 minutes) and a critical session, in which participants critique their story board. †¢ The planning phase begins with the problem definition or the issue being examined the topic header. Purpose header, a miscellaneous column and other, normally 1012, headers (column titles) are laced and brainstormed in order to give Ideas and then items, which are listed under the headers (the purpose header is listed first). †¢ The second phase the ideas board, is to take one column from the planning board, which becomes the topic header and the items of that column become headers of new ideas. †¢ In the third phase the organisation board, participants identify who is responsible for implementing chosen solutions , what has to happen, and when. †¢ In the last phase the communication board, participants identify who must communicate with for all of the events identified in the organisation board to take place. Through the process, visual graphics to summarise or present relevant points are presented by the leader. These might be strategic models, places or things (Higgins 1996). INNOREGIO project Dr E. Sefertzi CREATIVITY 9 Lotus Blossom This technique can also be used in scenario planning and is very useful for forecasting strategic scenarios. It is designed for groups and is used to provide a more in-depth look at various solutions to problems. It begins with a central core idea surrounded by eight empty boxes or circles. Using brainstorming, eight additional ideas (solutions or issues) are written in these boxes. In the next step, each of these eight ideas becomes the core of another set of eight surrounding empty boxes, which are filled in by new ideas using brainstorming. The process continues until a satisfactory solution or a sufficient number of ideas have emerged (Higgins 1996). See Annex, Figure 1: Lotus blossom sample. Checklists This creative technique is used mainly for product improvement or modification. It involves applying a series of words, verbs, adjectives or phrases contained in checklists or tables to an existing product or service or its attributes. Osborn’s Checklist is the best known and includes the verbs: put to other uses, adapt, modify, magnify, minify, substitute, rearrange, reverse and combine. Each verb contains also an expanded definition in the form of questions. For example, the description of the verb substitute is: Who else instead? What else instead? Other ingredient? Other material? Other process? Other power? Other place? Other approach? Other tone of voice? (Osborn 1963). The method is to apply each of the verbs and its expanded description to a product or service. See Annex:, Table 3: Osborn’s checklist). Another checklist technique is Van Gundy’s PICL (product improvement checklist). Used in the same way as Osborn’s list, gives many options containing 792 words, both standard and unique, that can be applied to existing products or services, and 102 stimulation questions (Van Gundy 1988, 1993). Morphological Analysis This method is another product improvement technique, permitting the in-depth analysis of products or processes. It involves applying a set of words to an item another set of words. Normally, one set of words is verbs and the other set are attributes of the product. Another way is that one set of words would be components of the product (breaking the product down into its parts) and the other set of words would be alternative solutions. The method is to combine each word of one set with each word of the other set. These two sets of words result in a two-dimensional matrix. A three dimensional matrix can be created by adding a third list of factors. The difficulty of this technique is the large number of ideas deriving of the multiple combinations that can be made (Higgins 1996, European Commission 1998). Mapping Process The use of maps is particularly useful in strategic management thinking in organisations, helping to organise discontinuities, contradictions or differences, and bring pattern, order and sense to a confusing situation, acting as a spatial representation of a perspective. There are many forms of mapping, including computer-based tools to support mapping: †¢ Mind Mapping It is an individual brainstorming mapping technique designed by Tony Buzan. It begins with a central focal point, a problem, an object, a name or issue, written in INNOREGIO project Dr E. Sefertzi CREATIVITY 10 the centre of a piece of paper with a circle around it. Each major facet of the problem or the solution to the problem originating from the central idea is then brainstorming in order to generate new ideas. Each of those ideas are then written on lines drowned outward from the circle. The next step is to brainstorm those ideas in order to identify issues related to the problem, or solutions that are written on smaller lines that are drowned on the prime lines forming a branch. Additional perspectives such as implementation factors or further definition of the solutions could go on those lines. One branch may also be chosen in order to develop a whole new mind map based on that branch. When a mind map is completed, its possible interrelations and possible multiple appearances of issues, and its overall meaning in the context of the problem must be examined (Buzan 1983). †¢ Mapping for generate collective creativity The use of maps to support collective creativity is a more complicate process. It is necessary to introduce appropriate maps into a suitable type of organisation that would preferably be one employing multidisciplinary teams. It is also important that the participants find the maps useful for organising and planning their work. The mapping process usually involves three phases: 1st phase starts with a brainstorming exercise in order to initiate a discussion around the problem or the product. Normally, the participants are asked to mention all aspects they regard as relevant to the problem to be dealt with. During this process a large number of visual references are used to elicit the perspectives of the members with regard to the potential new concept. It is emphasised to the participants that the maps are intended to enrich the conversation, and should not be perceived as representations of the concept itself, but more as the semantic terrain or space, which covers all potential strategies. The knowledge elicited is discussed, and in about 2 hours is organised and structured by the participants into a map that intuitively understand. This map is the initial cognitive map, which describes all the problematic areas in brief outlines. In the 2nd phase of the process, which serves to expose the individual participants’ perspective both to themselves and to the other members of the group, the participants discuss the values that they associate with a very large range of objects and images. A number of these images are then selected that are considered to metaphorically represent potential aspects of the product strategy. In the 3rd phase, these images and appropriate annotations are arranged in a twodimensional space, positioning the images depending upon how the values of these objects relate to one another. In doing this, the group is mapping out a terrain constituted by the differences between the images, expressing the range of different product strategies open to the group (Fentem, Dumas McDonnell 1998). For creating maps, many software applications are available (see further down in computer-based creativity techniques). The Excursion Technique Is a very useful technique for forcing a group to have new thought patterns to formulate strategies. The process involves five steps (see Higgins 1996): In the 1st step the excursion the consultant asks participants to take an imaginary excursion to a physical location (a museum, a jungle, a city, another planet, etc. ), which INNOREGIO project Dr E. Sefertzi CREATIVITY 11 has nothing to do with the real problem. After the excursion each participant writes down 8-10 images, which he/she saw during the journey (things, people, places or items) in the 1st of 3 columns. In the 2nd step, the consultant asks participants to draw analogies or express relationships between what they saw on the excursion and the problem as defined, and to write them in the column 2 next to each of the items identified in the first column. In the 3rd step, participants are asked to determine what solutions to their problems are suggested by the analogies or the relationships in column 2, and write them in column 3 beside the items and analogies identified in the other columns. In the 4th step, participants share their xperiences from the excursion: what they saw, their analogies and their solutions. In the 5th step, as with brainstorming, participants may discuss on each other’s ideas. Eventually the leader helps the group come to a common solution or a set of solutions to the problem. Computer-based creativity techniques Computer-based supporting techniques to stimulate the human creative process have an immediate and pragmatic aim, which is the implementation of computational models (computer software) for generate and organise ideas for creative work. They are used more frequently in research planning, product design, knowledge acquisition, decisionmaking, motivation, etc. We can distinguish groups of computerised creativity techniques, such as AI models, Idea Processors systems and visualisation and graphical systems. AI (artificial intelligence) models of creativity AI deals with solving non-quantified, unstructured problems. Its task is about knowledge representation and reasoning and to built intelligent, rational, and autonomous agents. Current AI models of creativity involve different types and appropriate techniques of supporting the generation of new ideas. According to Margaret Boden (1998), in respect to the three types of creativity, there are also three main types of computer models that involve: a) The stimulation of the combination of ideas, mainly by using analogies in the sense that associated ideas shares some inherent conceptual structure. b) The exploration of structured concepts, so that novel and unexpected ideas result. It requires considerable domain-expertise and analytical power to define the conceptual space and to specify procedures that enable its potential to be explored. ) The transformation of a problem, so that new structures can be generated which could not have arisen before. New solutions to a problem can be created with transforming a problem into a new problem, solve the new problem and then adapting the solution back to the original problem. AI employs symbolic approaches for creative problem solving and includes stimulus such as heuristics, search, weak methods, knowledge representation and reasoning to fa cilitate problem structuring and idea generation. The focus of AI creativity techniques in the form of computerised programs, is to help users to take a fresh look at roblems by guiding what may be a user’s otherwise undisciplined intuition through a series of INNOREGIO project Dr E. Sefertzi CREATIVITY 12 problem-solving exercises, and to think in non-linear et non-logical ways. The main advantage of computerised, guided problem solving is that the programs prompt a user for ideas in a thorough manner. Recent programs of AI include also knowledge-based approaches, using large-scale databases and narrative systems (Chen 1998). AI researches have also developed efficient search algorithms for problem solving. Some AI programs of creativity are: The Copycat program that looks for analogies between alphabetic letter-strings (Hofstadter, FARG 1995, Mitchell 1993). The EURISKO program a transformational system with also an exploratory process that can be applied to a wide range of domains. The AARON program for exploring line drawing in particular styles and colouring (McCorduck 1991). The BACON program of exploratory AI-creativity designed to model scientific discovery (Langley, Simon, Bradshaw and Zytkow 1987). Idea Processors software Idea processors have a close relationship with artificial intelligence and use many artificial intelligence techniques. Idea processors are normally software packages developed for personal computers or workstations. They are used for idea generation and organisation in some specific stages of problem solving acting as knowledge-support systems (Chen 1998). In order to assist the human thinking, idea processors usually perform extensive search in large databases, knowledge bases, or text bases. For many idea processors the electronic brainstorming is the most important technique to generate ideas. The use of computer programs helps to de-structure and then to restructure thinking in a different way. The Idea Generator Plus program provide seven components to the user, that permit to go through a step-by-step problem analysis and solution finding process: examine similar situations, examine metaphors, examine other perspectives, focus on goals, reverse the goals, focus on the people involved, and make the most of the ideas (Nirenberg 1985). In another program, the IdeaFisher, using hypertext databases from Fisher Idea Systems Inc. , all entries in the database are cross-referenced by concept and association. It uses a giant cross-referenced text base of words and phrases representing concepts and images enhanced by a series of questions (see also spatial hypertext systems). The program also allows to generate new ideas based on combination of words by creating a list of people, animals, verbs, adjectives and phrases that are associated with the combination of two words that a user choose. Some other programs related to an idea processor are: The Ideatree system with an exploratory focus, linking laterally or hierarchically concepts that exist into the idea-boxes of the program. The Emergent Media Environment (EME), an interactive computer system that integrates facilities for supporting the generation, collection, organisation and presentation of ideas and advises about the divergence and convergence of the ideas. The GENI (GENerating Ideas) experimental system incorporates a variety of techniques to assist in making different types of connections: internal connections (between elements of the focal problem itself) and external connections (between the focal problem and external factors). INNOREGIO project Dr E. Sefertzi CREATIVITY 13 There are also many idea processors programmes available on the Internet (most of them are commercial products) including the following: http:/ideaprocessor. citi. doc. ca http:/www. maxthink. com http:/www. ozemail. com. au http:/www. inspiration. com http:/www. signet. com. sg/axon2000 Visualisation and graphical systems Computer support methods, such as visualisation of data and graphical techniques for marking up visual phenomena and expressing knowledge about data in rule form, are also available. Visualisation of data and graphical techniques are very important to support creativity. They involve working with visual data such as images, drawings, sketches, diagrams, charts, graphs, graphical objects, that are specific to the domain, and they take the form of expressing ideas and concepts through sketching, annotation and examining multiple or alternative views of the same data, all of which varies according to the domain of interest. There are many such systems giving various opportunities to the users. A visualisation system, the Inspiration (from Inspiration Inc. ) provides a blank canvas in which the user can quickly record and arrange ideas as they occur and allows a visual approach to organising thoughts. The system can also change the relationship between ideas and connect related ideas by dragging kinks between them to create a graphical map of the users thinking. Another visualisation system is Axon 200 used for creating complex flowcharts or concept diagrams and describes how different factors or events influence each other. It uses checklists and visual attributes such as colour, shape, size, scale position, depth, link and icon. It also creates relationship diagrams, which allow the user to represent multiple relationships between various visual objects on the screen (Chen 1998). Visualisation systems are also very important in design such as the Speech Knowledge Interface (SKI) system that support rapid graphical interaction with visual images, the Vehicle Packager Knowledge Support System (VPKSS) that aids designers at the conceptual stage of the design process (Candy 1997). Spatial representation tools In relation with visualisation systems, there are also computer-based tools, such as computer-based information and communication systems, for supporting representations and creating cognitive maps in two-dimensional spaces. Some representations use a specific notation, others use spatial proximity to indicate the relationship between objects (usually words relating to concepts) in the spaces, and others, used in marketing and design departments called â€Å"mood boards†, use collections of images as metaphors that reflect the quality aspects of the product strategy (Fentem, Dumas and Mcdonnell 1998). †¢ Kelly Repertory Grid technique is a knowledge elicitation tool used in the marketing, management and expert systems development. It analyses data using principal components analysis (PCA) software and produces a map by plotting the INNOREGIO project Dr E. Sefertzi CREATIVITY 14 first two components. The map produces a spatial positioning of text with respect to dimensions that are significant or correspond to the personal constructs that the participant member uses to categorise and evaluate the world (Kelly 1955). An Internet version of this tool is Webgrid. Available at http://www. cpsc. ucalgary. ca/ †¢ Spatial Information Systems These systems have been designed to support creativity by mapping objects (concepts, text objects, design requirements and parameters) into two-dimensional spaces, using various combinations of ‘knowledge processing’ and multivariate statistical analysis techniques. Users can also select an area of this space and to create a new space by reprocessing using principal components analysis (PCA) only the data associated with the objects lying within this subspace (Fentem, Dumas and Mcdonnell 1998). For example, one of these systems searches research papers for the frequency of certain keywords and uses a type of PCA to analyse the results of this search and represent these keywords and the papers within a common twodimensional space (Sugimoto, Hori, Ohsuga 1996). Another system named En Passant 2 stores researcher’s notes and triggers to recall and to reconsider. The users can browse their notes and view relations among them interactively (Aihara, Hori 1998). Spatial hypertext systems These systems have been designed for the â€Å"exploration of alternative structures for content, and applications in which the domain structure is not well understood at the outset, or changes during the course of a task†. In spatial hypertext, the links between nodes are conveyed implicitly by arranging the nodes in the space. â€Å"Nodes appear in different contexts through multiple spatial references to the same underling content† (Marshall and Shipman 1995). The users are presented with a window that acts as a work- space in which they organise their material. The nodes arranged in the space represent links to familiar objects such as documents, images, comments, and links to WWW hypertext pages, plus more unique structures known as ‘composites’ and ‘collections’. Marshall and Shipman’s VIKI spatial hypertext system, for example, was designed to support new product development, helping teams to make sense of the many diverse kinds of business-related material relevant to the new product, by assisting them in arranging it spatially. †¢ 4 BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES (1) Aihara, K. , Hori, K. (1998), â€Å"Enhancing creativity through reorganising mental space concealed in a research notes stack†, Knowledge-Based Systems, No. 11, pp. 469-478. Arlington, S. (1997), â€Å"Accelerating drug discovery: creating the right environment†, Drug Discovery Today, Vol. 2, No. 12, pp. 547-553. Boden, M. A. (1998), â€Å"Creativity and artificial intelligence†, Artificial Intelligence, No. 103, pp. 347-356. Bullinger, H. J. (1999), â€Å"Turbulent times require creative thinking: new European concepts in production management†, Int. J. Production Economics, No. 0-81, pp. 9-27. Buzan, T. (1983) Use Both Sides of Your Brain, Dutton, New York. (2) (3) (4) (5) INNOREGIO project Dr E. Sefertzi CREATIVITY 15 (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) Candy, L. (1997), â€Å"Computers and creativity support: knowledge, visualisation and collaboration†, Knowledge-Based Systems, No. 10, pp. 3-13. Chen, Z. ( 1998), â€Å"Toward a better understanding of idea processors†, Information and Software Technology, No. 40, pp. 541-553. De Bono, E. (1992), Serious Creativity, Harper Collins, London. De Bono, E. (1993), De Bono’s Thinking Course, Facts and on File, New York. t ogilvie (1998), â€Å"Creative action as a dynamic strategy: using imagination to improve strategic solutions in unstable environments†, Journal of Business Research, No. 41, pp. 49-56. European Commission (1998), Innovation Management Techniques in Operation, European Commission, Luxembourg. Fentem, A. C. , Dumas, A. , McDonnell, J. (1998), Knowledge-Based Systems, No. 11, pp. 417-428. Hall, D. J. (1996), â€Å"The role of creativity within best practice manufacturing†, Technovation, Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 115-121. Higgins, J. M. (1996), â€Å"Innovate or evaporate: creative techniques for strategists†, Long Range Planning, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 370-380. Higgins, J. M. (1994), 101 Creative Prob lem Solving Techniques: the Handbook of New Ideas for Business, The New Management Publishing Company, Florida. (16) Higgins, L. F. (1999), â€Å"Applying principles of creativity management to marketing research efforts in high-technology markets†, Industrial Marketing Management, No. 28, pp. 305-317. (17) Hofstadter, D. R. , FARG (1995), Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies: Computer Models of the Fundamental Mechanisms of Thought, Basic Books, New York. (18) Kelly, G. A. (1955), The Psychology of Personal Constructs, Norton. (19) Langley, P. , Simon, H. A. , Bradshaw, G. L. and Zytkow, J. M. (1987), Scientific Discovery: Computational Explorations of the Creative Process, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA. (20) McCorduck, P. (1991), Aaron’s Code, W. H. Freeman, San Francisco, CA. (21) Mansfield, R. S. , Busse, T. V. and Krepelka, E. G. (1978), â€Å"The effectiveness of creative training† Review of Educational Research, Vol. 48, No 4, pp. 517-536. (22) Marshall, C. C. , Shipman, F. M. (1995), â€Å"Spatial hypertext: designing for change†, Communication of the ACM, Vol. 38, No. 8, pp. 88-97. (23) Miller, W. (1986), The Creative Edge, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA. (24) Mitchell, M. 1993), Analogy-Making as Perception, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA. (25) Newell, A. and Shaw, J. C. (1972), â€Å"The process of creative thinking†, in A. Newell and H. A. Simon (eds), Human Problem Solving, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, pp. 144-174. (26) Nirenberg, G. (1985), The Idea Generator, Experience in Software, Berkeley, CA. (2 7) Osborne, A. F. (1963), Applied Imagination: Principles and Procedures of Creative Thinking, 3rd ed. , Scribner, New York. (28) Parnes, S. J. and Brunelle, E. A. (1967), â€Å"The literature of creativity†, Journal of Creative Behavior, Vol. 1, No 1, pp. 52-104. (29) Rose, L. H. and Lin, H. T. 1984), â€Å"A meta-analysis of long-term creativity training programs†, Journal of Creative Behavior, Vol. 18, No 1, pp. 11-22. (30) Rawlinson, J. G. (1981) Creative Thinking and Brainstorming, Gower, UK. (31) Schlange, L. E. , and Juttner, U. (1997), â€Å"Helping managers to identify the key strategic issues†, Long Range Planning, Vol. 30, No. 5, pp. 777-786. INNOREGIO project Dr E. Sefertzi CREATIVITY 16 (32) Sugimoto, M. , Hori, K. , Ohsuga, S. (1996) â€Å"A system to visualise different viewpoints for supporting researches’ creativity†, Knowledge-Based Systems, No. 9, pp. 369-376. (33) Taylor, C. W. (1972), â€Å"Can organisations be creative, too? , in C. W. Taylor (ed. ), Climates for Creativity, Pergamon Press, New York, pp. 1-15. (34) Van Gundy, Jr. A. B. (1988), â€Å"Product improvement check list†, New Product Development Newsletter, New Jersay. (35) Van Gundy, A. B. Jr. (1993), Techniques of Structured Problem Solving, Chapman Hall, London. INNOREGIO project Dr E. Sefertzi CREATIVITY 17 Annexes Table 1: Stimulus to extend perspectives to approach a problem †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ List the elements that would bring on success. List the elements that we visualise as failure. Visualise success seen from the viewpoint of fifty years from now. Visualise success seen from the perspective of one hundred years ago. Look for impossible and desirable ideas. Create analogies with other things that have been successful. Imagine and write down ideas that are wild, illegal, crazy, etc. Insert the problem from its present scenario to a totally different scenario. Return from the fantasy scenario to the present scenario and try to associate the ideas generated in the fantasy scenario, with ideas that might apply to the real problem. Imagine what people we admire would say. Search for pairs of ideas that are apparently unconnected and that can be associated by a third. Imagine that everything exists and all we have to do is find it. Change the level on which the problem is approached. Source: European Commission, Innovation Management Techniques in Operation, European Commission, DG XIII, Luxembourg, 1998. Table 2: Brainstorming Phases Phase Orientation Preparation Warm-up Production of ideas Application Define the problem to be studied for the participants, clarify the rules of the game. Gather data and information necessary to approach the problem in an efficient manner. Carry -out the exercise: redefine a problem different from the one to be studied, experiment with it for a few minutes. Generate the maximum of ideas without prior judgement always ask â€Å"what else† quantity of ideas is quality no limits no criticise modify other’s ideas to produce new ones. Let the subconscious work. Gather the ideas generated analyse them work with logical thinking. Evaluate the ideas gathered and analysed develop and combine them before proceeding to put them in practice. Incubation Syntheses Evaluation Source: European Commission, Innovation Management Techniques in Operation, European Commission, DG XIII, Luxembourg, 1998. INNOREGIO project Dr E. Sefertzi CREATIVITY 18 Table 3: Osborn’s Checklist Question Put to other uses? Adapt? Description New ways to use as is? Other uses if modified? What else is like this? What other idea does this suggest? Does past offer parallel? What could I copy? Whom could I emulate? New twist? Change meaning, colour, motion, sound, odour, form, shape? Other changes? What to add? More time? Greater frequency? Stronger? Higher? Longer? Thicker? Extra value? Plus ingredient? Duplicate? Multiply? Exaggerate? What to subtract? Smaller? Condensed? Miniature? Lower? Shorter? Lighter? Omit? Streamline? Split up? Understate? Who else instead? What else instead? Other ingredient? Other Material? Other process? Other power? Other place? Other approach? Other tone of voice? Interchange components? Other pattern? Other layout? Other sequence? Transpose cause and effect? Change pace? Change schedule? Transpose positive and negative? How about opposites? Turn it backward? Turn it upside down? Reverse role? Change shoes? Turn tables? Turn other cheek? How about a blend, an alloy, an assortment, an ensemble? Combine units? Combine purposes? Combine appeals? Combine ideas? Modify? Magnify? Minify? Substitute? Rearrange? Reverse? Combine? Source: J. M. Higgins, â€Å"Innovate or evaporate: creative techniques for strategists†, Long Range Planning, Vol. 9, No 3, pp. 370-380, 1996 (reprinted from Alex Osborn, Applied Imagination, Charles Scribner’s Sons, Inc. , New York). Figure 1: Lotus blossom sample INNOREGIO project Dr E. Sefertzi CREATIVITY 19 1 by packaging 4 smaller / bigger 6 other material 2 by design A product differenti ation 7 change color 3 other uses 5 plus ingredient 8 change meaning A product differentiati on D lower cost F supply flexibility B product quality core idea: increase product consumption G product credibility C customer needs E service quality H competitors product strategies B C D E F G H INNOREGIO project Dr E. Sefertzi

Spanish Verbs Meaning to Begin

Spanish Verbs Meaning to Begin Spanish has two everyday verbs that can be used for to begin or to start: empezar and comenzar. They usually can be used interchangeably. Although empezar is more common than comenzar, comenzar doesnt come across as conspicuously formal like its English cognate, commence. Both empezar and comenzar are conjugated irregularly. Correct Way to Use Empezar and Comenzar To say to begin to do something, you can use either of the verbs followed by the preposition a and an infinitive: El web empieza a generar dinero. The website is beginning to generate money. ¿A quà © hora empezà ³ a nevar? At what time did it begin to snow?Cuando llegamos a Quito, comenzaba a llover. When we arrived at Quito, it was beginning to rain.Uruguay comienza a estudiar la produccià ³n de energà ­a nuclear. Uruguay is beginning to study the production of nuclear energy.Empiezo a pensar por ti mismo. I am beginning to think just like you.La inflacià ³n va a empezar muy pronto a bajar. Inflation is going to begin to drop very soon. Each verb can stand by itself without an object: La lluvia empieza a caer ms y ms fuerte. The rain is beginning to fall harder and harder.El mitin comenzà ³ finalmente a las 10 de la noche. The meeting finally began at 10 p.m.Bueno, pues sà ­, empezamos con esto. Good, then, lets get started with it. (Literally, with this.)La boda comenzar a las 12:30 hora local. The wedding will begin at 12:30 local time. When either verb is followed by a gerund, it often has the meaning of to begin by or to start out: Empezà ³ estudiando en el taller del escultor famoso. She started out studying in the famous sculptors studio.Comencà © trabajando 10 horas por dà ­a como limpiadora de casa. I started out working 10 hours per day as a housecleaner.Empezamos corriendo juntos el primer kilà ³metro. We begin by running the first kilometer together. Although probably not as common as in English, the two verbs can also take direct objects to indicate what is getting started: Tiene muchos consejillos para comenzar un negocio. He has many tips for starting a business.La ciudad empezà ³ la reparacià ³n de la calles en abril. The city began the street repairs in April. Other Verbs for To Begin As just shown, you often can use the verbs to refer to beginning an activity with the activity as the object of the verb. But it is also common to use the verb emprender for that purpose. Emprender is especially common when referring to the beginning of travel. No quiere emprender la tarea sin ayuda. He doesnt want to do the task without help.Dentro de unos minutos emprendo el viaje. Within a few minutes I begin the trip.Emprendieron el reto de construir un proyecto conjunto. They began the challenge of building a project together.Emprendà ­ el vuelo en direccià ³n hacia donde el sol se pone. I began the flight in the direction of the sunset. The verb originarse often translates to begin when it is used to mean to originate: El problema se originaba cuando navegaba ciertas pginas web. The problem started when I was going to certain web pages.La crisis econà ³mica mundial se originà ³ en EEUU. The world economic crisis began in the U.S. Use of Verb Tense To Indicate Beginning Often, when speaking of events in the past, the preterite tense is used in preference to the imperfect to indicate that an activity began. A form of begin isnt necessarily used in translation, however. A common example is the verb conocer, which often means to know a person. The difference between Conocà ­a a Katrina and Conocà ­ a Katrina is roughly the difference between I knew Katrina and I began to know Katrina. Typically, the second sentence would be translated as I met Katrina. Other examples: Yo tenà ­a calor. (I was warm.) Tuve calor. (I began to be warm. I got warm.)Ella sabà ­a la verdad. (She knew the truth.) Supo la verdad. (She began knowing the truth. She found out the truth.) This concept is further explained in the lesson on using the past tense with certain verbs.

Common, Mutual, and Reciprocal

Common, Mutual, and Reciprocal Common, Mutual, and Reciprocal Common, Mutual, and Reciprocal By Maeve Maddox A reader objects to the expression â€Å"a mutual friend†: I don’t care if Dickens did write a novel called Our Mutual Friend. Using â€Å"mutual† to describe a friend you didn’t know was also a friend of someone else is a misuse of the word. Mutual and reciprocal both mean, â€Å"directed toward each other.† For example, a â€Å"mutual admiration society† is a group of people who admire one another. â€Å"Mutual enemies† are people who hate one another. By the same token, â€Å"mutual friends† are people who reciprocate friendly feelings toward one another. Many speakers- perhaps most- use the phrase â€Å"mutual friend† in the following context: Sam is Joe’s friend. Sam is also Gloria’s friend. Joe and Gloria are friends, but they don’t know that Sam is a friend to both. One day, in speaking with Sam, Gloria learns that he just got back from a fishing trip with Joe. The next time that Gloria speaks to Joe, she exclaims, â€Å"Guess what! We have a mutual friend.† Purists would label this use as incorrect, arguing that the friendship between Joe and Gloria is mutual, but that Sam is â€Å"a friend in common.† One definition of common is â€Å"belonging equally to more than one.† We speak of â€Å"common sense,† â€Å"common beliefs,† â€Å"common interests,† and â€Å"common complaints.† Another meaning of common, perhaps more prevalent in British usage than American, is vulgar. Dickens could have named his book Our Common Friend, but he probably didn’t want the title to be interpreted to mean Our Vulgar Friend. The use of mutual might not have been strictly correct in the context, but its use eliminates misunderstanding. The Chicago Manual of Style includes a caveat against the use of mutual to describe a â€Å"third-party† friend: What is common is shared by two or more people: â€Å"borne by different mothers but having a common father.† What is mutual is reciprocal or directly exchanged by and toward each other: â€Å"mutual obligations.† Strictly, friend in common is better than mutual friend in reference to a third person who is a friend of two others. The OED has this to say about the use of â€Å"mutual friend† to mean â€Å"friend in common†: This use has in the past been censured as incorrect but it is nevertheless frequent. It has probably been used in preference to common on account of the ambiguity of the latter (which in many contexts could also mean ‘ordinary’, ‘mean’, or ‘vulgar’). In my view, objecting to the use of â€Å"mutual friend† in the sense of â€Å"a friend in common† is officious nitpicking. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Signs and Symbols You Should KnowAwoken or Awakened?Mankind vs. Humankind

The Trail of Tears Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The Trail of Tears - Essay Example Many Indians also died while being forced to relocate, a sanitized way to refer to the ethnic cleansing of tribes which were formerly located in the area east of the Mississippi River. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 mandated the relocation of many tribes, predominantly the Cherokee Nation which allowed for a ‘whites only’ America in what constituted the majority of what was the U.S. at that time. The journey out of lands occupied by the Cherokee, comprising thousands of miles and known as the Trail of Tears, is but one example of the injustices suffered by the natives of America brought about by the U.S. government. This distressing episode in American history was not acknowledged by government officials and was not included in school books until somewhat recently. This discussion illuminates this despicable action by the U.S. government, the events leading up to the deadly, forced march, its effects on those driven from their homeland and the overall consequences of eth nic cleansing American style. Ethnic cleansing is an act that is now condemned by the U.S. when perpetrated in other regions of the world but is a morbid reality of American history, perpetrated and endorsed by the American government. It may be hard to imagine the government seizing your home and forcing you, your family, relatives, neighbors and friends to walk halfway across the country in the dead of winter but that is what happened to thousands of native peoples 170 years ago. The American government, established by the people and for the people on the concept of justice for all, subjugated these men, women and children by forcing them off their lands. Those that survived the mass displacement found themselves in unfamiliar territory, a daunting proposition for a people whose survival was entirely dependent on understanding every aspect of familiar territory. Today, the Trail of Tears incident evokes sympathy from the general public but at that time,

How does a society's relationship to the natural environment influence Term Paper

How does a society's relationship to the natural environment influence the cultural beliefs and practices of its people - Term Paper Example 1). Anthropology came from the Greek word arthropos which means human and logos which mean study of. The discipline of anthropology is about the human behavior with the combination of humanistic, scientific, historical, psychological, social and biological views (Jurmain, Kilgore and Trevathan, 2009, p. 6). According to Angrosino (2002), two fields of anthropology currently exist: physical anthropology and cultural anthropology. Human population is studied by physical anthropology through their genes and mechanics of evolution. The fossils and the living creatures are compared to come up with conclusions. On the other hand, cultural anthropology is concerned with the human societies and its impacts in the daily lives of the people. Cultural anthropology has five subdivisions: archaeology, ethnography, ethnology, social anthropology, and linguistics. Archaeology deals with the culture through studies using the remains or materials (artifacts) while ethnography describes the society sy stematically and vividly usually through field work. Ethnology deals with the interpretations of the information from ethnology while social anthropology is concerned with the social structure and groups. ... Various views may help the readers to understand the importance of knowing how the ways of life of people is affected by their surroundings. DISCUSSION Environment greatly affects the culture of people like the concept of racism. The variation within the human race is not caused by biological changes but more of cultural concepts like difference in access to social and economic resources (Goodman, 2006, p. 161). It can be said that the differences is manmade because biological variation is nonconcordance according to Goodman (2006). It is inherited separately or independently. Also in the biological perspective, genes are not the only means where the effect of nature can be seen or measured. Physical body is also checked to prove the differences among races and researchers also tried to prove that racism is a biological effect. Craniometry was done by experts to compare the intelligence of the human ancestors. It was even use in the society to rank criminals and people from different races because the traditional belief of intelligence is affected by the size of the brain (Lansing and de Vet, 2006, p. 4). Many myths have been held by people regarding the concept of racism as biology, but no matter what they do, the commonly-held beliefs are still beliefs and myths, not a reality. First of all, race is not based upon fixed, ideal and unchanging concepts contrary to the popular belief which was favored by the popular culture but not science (Goodman, 2006, p. 163). A good example is the traditional concept of beauty which turns against the black. The fad favors the European-looking people to be beautiful (Mercer, 1990, p. 247). The same can be seen in the chapter of a book written by Richard Rodriguez. According to Rodriguez (1990, p. 277-278), his

Social Networking Gone Bad Essay Example for Free

Social Networking Gone Bad Essay Have you even thought about how different society would be without social networking web sites? Many of the social networking web sites today play a huge role with the way we interact with one another in our everyday lives, which include most relationships. Using a social networking web site has many negative effects on relationship. Building insecurity, advertising personal information, and building social media moods are some of the many ways relationship are negatively impacted. First and foremost, many people are building up insecurities in their relationships due to these social networking web sites. The thought of what another person is doing on these web sites or who they are interacting with are affecting the trust bond between relationships which are causing the insecurities. For example, if a couple have had pervious issues with one person going behind another’s and speaking to their ex or person of opposite sex, then the thought of being easily connected with people through these sites can really build up the insecurity in the other persons mind and make them think that their partner is being unfaithful. Since it is so easy for someone to go on their phones and open the internet and begin speaking to people half way around the world. Not only can this destroy a relationship but it can also be unhealthy, causing anxiety and depression. The web being a public place, may not be the best place to be advertising personal information such as phone number, email address, or even photos. Some spouses and significant other may become bothered by the information streamed onto these sites and could possibly anger the person and potentially ruin a relationship. Have a phone number or email address on the sites can cause a person from the opposite sex or even their ex to try and get in contact with them, and that right there can really cause some major issues in someone’s relationship. It could even lead to someone getting harmed physically out of anger, when people out their relationships and personal life on the internet, nothing is secure nor private. Therefore eople are allowing others to have access in their relationship, by making it easier for people to express their opinion or do malicious things to sabotage it Not only can this destruct a love relationship but inappropriate information can ruin a relationship with someones job or business. In addition, as part of any social network experience, becoming networked and involved with each other is what keeps these sites going. Unfortunately, â€Å"a downside of social media relationships is that we’re potentially subject to emotional contagion effects, as illustrated in research by John Cacioppo, a researcher at the University of Chicago†(Jain, Dr.  R, 2010). In other words people with bad thoughts, ideas, or moods can transmit them to other people without ever having any face to face contact with the person. So basically if you have been following someone on one of these social networks and every time you are logged on, that certain someone is just posting negative comments and ideas, chances are that the very person reading this over and over again will begin to adapt these negative thoughts and ideas and then reflect a negative mood towards other people in their own real life, and the people they love. Which ultimately begin to take a toll on a relationship, because if one person is constantly upset the other is going to look at themselves first and feel like they are not wanted anymore. Even though social networking web sites might seem like the most amazing gift of technology, its adverse impact can ruin your strongest relationship and at the end leave you with countless regrets. Online friends, self-centered attention-seeking, short attention spans, distraction, and loss of privacy are what these social networks web sites engage you in, and not having control of it can have a negative impact on you and on your relationships. So be for you consider signing up for one of these social networks web sites or signing back on to an existing account, ask yourself if you are ready to deal with the negative effects the these sites have to offer. Also keep in mind there may be a possibility of ruining any types of relationships you are currently in or at least have an effect on them.

Marijuana for Medical Use Essay examples -- Papers Weed Cannabis Medic

Marijuana for Medical Use For many years the United States government has prohibited some drugs, such as marijuana, from being sold in the marketplace. Yet, even with prohibition, marijuana use has only decreased minimally. Because of its illegality, only the bad aspects of marijuana use have been made known. However, there are many positive aspects of marijuana legalization, including its application concerning medical cures. As of today, in most of the states, marijuana is classified as an illegal drug. However, due to its proven medicinal purposes, the drug should be made available for sick people to use. Marijuana has been used for multiple purposes prior to the birth of Christ. Marijuana originated in the Middle East. China played an important part in marijuana's history. ?Hoatho, the first Chinese physician, used cannabis for medical purposes as a painkiller and as an anesthetic for surgery? stated Morgan (5). China was not the only country that used marijuana as a medicine. For example, in Thailand it was used to stimulate the appetite of people who were ill. ?It would make them sleep, and counteract diarrhea,? states Thompson (10). Clearly, we can see that the use of marijuana began as a medicine, and with more research we can find better uses of marijuana as for medicinal purposes. Marijuana is very helpful in easing the suffering of the sick but it also creates side effects. The scientific eviden ce published to date indicates that marijuana has a broad range of psychological and biological effects, some of which are harmful to human health. Marijuana has different effects on the nervous system and on behavior. Marijuana impairs motor coordination and affects tracking ability and sensory and perceptual functio... ...work. It is easier to administer and the results are often much faster. It would be a tremendous advantage if patients were allowed to smoke marijuana. Marijuana should not be an illicit drug; it should be legalized for medical purposes only. Bibliography: Berger, Philip A. ?Marijuana.? Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Microsoft Corporation. 1997. Morgan, John P. and Zimmer, Lynn. Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts. Sarasota: Book World Services, Inc. 1997. The Science of Medical Marijuana. 21 May 1999. . Thompson, Stephen P., ed. The War on Drugs: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 1998. Webster, Maddy. ?Legalizing Pot: What You Can Do.? High Times. Jan 1999: 30. Weed Wars: Facts and Stats. CNNInteractive. 1997. You Dealing with Chemotherapy. National Cancer Institute, Institute of Health. 28 Jan. 1999. .

Leadership Qualities of Martin Luther King

I. IntroductionMartin Luther King Jr. was a United States clergyman and civil rights leader. King became the nation’s most prominent spokesman for equal justice for black Americans. He was a charismatic leader and an eloquent speaker, who preached nonviolent resistance to unjust laws and practices, a tactic he adopted from Indian leader Mohandas K. Gandhi. His civil rights efforts helped to bring about passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. In 1983, the U.S. Congress voted to make his birthday, January 15, a national holiday (celebrated on the third Monday of the month).King began his involvement in the modern civil rights movement in 1955 with leadership of the Montgomery (Alabama) bus boycott, which ended segregated seating on that city’s public buses. He then urged black Americans to follow the Montgomery example and win their rights through nonviolent protest. As head of the Southern C hristian Leadership Conference, which he helped to found in 1957, King led demonstrations, marches, sit-ins, and boycotts in many cities in both the South and the North, often meeting hostility and sometimes violence (Haskins, 2000). He was jailed several times in the South for his activities. In 1967, he also became a leader of the peace movement, seeking an end to the Vietnamese War.This paper scrutinizes the leadership qualities of Martin Luther King.II. BackgroundA. EARLY LIFEMartin Luther King was born in Atlanta, the capital of the US state of Georgia, on January 15, 1929. His father, also called Martin, was a minister of the Christian religion and he passed on his faith to his son.When Martin was very young, his family was able to protect him from the injustices that black people suffered on a daily basis. Later, as he grew older, he realized the truth. His first school was for black children only, and in the streets and shops of Atlanta, all black people were treated as seco nd-class citizens (Lincoln, 2000).B. A COLLEGE EDUCATIONMartin Luther King was an excellent pupil, and at 15 years old he moved on to Morehouse College in Atlanta. There he decided that he wanted to be a preacher like his father. In 1948 he took up a place at Crozer Seminary in the state of Pennsylvania, far to the north.While at Crozer, Martin became interested in the ideas of the Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi. In particular, he began to share Gandhi’s view that people should not use violence to fight injustice. Martin also met Coretta Scott, a black woman from the Southern state of Alabama. The couple married in 1953, after Martin had left the seminary to study for a postgraduate degree at Boston University in Massachusetts (Haskins, 2000).III. DiscussionA. THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTTIn May 1954, Martin became preacher at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, and moved to the city with his wife. In the same year, the US Supreme Court ruled that segregated educ ation was wrong. This was a great leap forward for black civil rights, but it was only the beginning.In Martin’s new home of Montgomery, all the buses had separate seats for black and white people. If there were no free seats when a white person got on a bus, the law said that a black person had to give up his or her seat. On December 1, 1955, a black passenger called Rosa Parks refused to stand up so that a white man could sit down. She was quickly arrested (Oates, 2002).Martin and other local black leaders were angry at this injustice, so organized a bus boycott. They asked all the black people of Montgomery to stop traveling by bus and, for over a year, most did. Finally, on December 20, 1956, the US Supreme Court ruled that the bus segregation laws were against the constitution and so illegal.B. ORGANIZING THE FIGHTIn 1957, Martin Luther King and other leaders set up an organization called the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Its main aims were to end segr egation, and to make it easier for black people to vote. The Constitution of the United States gave them this right, but the governments of many individual states, especially in the South, tried to stop them from voting. Over the next few years, Martin organized many strikes, marches and other protests. At the same time, he enjoyed a happy family life and by 1963 he had four children (Oates, 2002).C. A NEW ROLE?Martin did not give up his work. Instead, he began to think more about the injustice faced by black people in the northern states of the United States, and by other groups of people across the country, particularly the poor of all races. He also began to campaign against the war the Americans were fighting in Vietnam. Martin’s last great plan was to lead a Poor People’s March to Washington, D.C. On April 4, 1968, while he was visiting the city of Memphis in Tennessee, he was shot dead by an escaped criminal called James Earl Ray. Four days later, he was buried i n Atlanta, Georgia (Lincoln, 2000).IV. ConclusionMartin Luther King Jr. has left a very notable reputation that even his own race cannot compare with his notable record as a man who brought changed in America’s society.  Ã‚   Martin Luther King, Jr. has truly contributed to the history of United States of America. His upright deeds will not be forgotten for every individual especially for those who experienced racism. He was a type of a leader that was able to lead a mass writhe for racial equality that doomed separation and brought changed to the United States of America. His assassination was not the end of the â€Å"black people society† to keep fighting for their rights but it was only the beginning that motivated their hearts to continue fighting for its principles and rights.Reference:1. Haskins, J. The Life and Death of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Lothrop, Lee & Shephard, 2000).2. Lincoln, C.E. Martin Luther King, Jr.: a Profile (Hill & Wang, 2000).3. Oates, S.B. Let the Trumpet Sound: the Life of Martin Luhter King, Jr. (Harper & Row, 2002).

Amity Assignment

`qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyui opasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfgh jklzxclzxcvb Market Research tyuiop Amity University yuiopas dfghjklfghjklzx cvbnmqvbnmq wertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuio pasdfghjklzuiopasdfghj klzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbn mqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwerty uiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdf ghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxc vbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrty uiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdf ghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxc vbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqw ertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiop asdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjkl | | |Market Research |ADL-10 | | | | | |Preface | | | | | |Research acts as a platform for all the statistical manipulations and filtration of data and interpreting the results thereof, solving the defined problem to be | | |search upon.The role of measurement and statistics in social science research is treated sensitively and competently. | | |The term Research basically refers to search of knowledge is widely used in the area of Academics and various Industries as well. Our brain starts working and we | | |feel that it is something related to finding new areas, collecting all related information’s and preparing a consolidated report.As the management | | |students we are expected to have good knowledge and practice of these topics. | | |Hence before going into the technical knowledge of these topics let’s understand the basic meaning of the terms Research Methods.Research Methods includes the | | |concepts as they relate to a particular discipline or field of inquiry is a collection of theories, concepts or ideas; comparative study of different approaches; and| | |critique of the individual methods | | | | | | | | |Research methodology, as introduced in this book, is a means to understand the ways in which social science research produces multiple accounts of the world. | | |Further, methodology specifies how the researcher may go about practically studying whatever he or she believes can be known. | | |Regarding the organization, the study material consists of 8 chapters, well arranged in a coherent manner with an intention to serve as a study material for MBA | | |students.The different sections of this study material are: | | | | | | | | |Introduction to Research Methods, which basically describes the role of Research, the steps in the process considered carrying out a research, the different types of| | |research and brief information about ethics of a good research. Research Problem and Research Design, describing the concept, purpose and importance of a research | | |problem, the steps involved in defining and selecting a research problem; meaning, need, features and elements of a Research Design and the various types.Methods | | |of Data Collection, giving out the introduction of two types of data-Primary and Secondary, their collection procedure and the different methods and techniques | | |used in their collection. Data Processing and Analysis develops the understanding of collection of data, its arrangement and analysis. Measurement | | |and Scaling Techniques describes various types of measurement scales with the important scale construction techniques. Sampling Design helps to understand the | | |concepts of sampling and types of Sampling. Testing of Hypothesis gives the detailed concept about developing a hypothesis, its testing using various tests and | | |concluding the final result. Report Writing briefs various points to be kept in mind while compiling a report. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |2 | | Index Market ResearchADL-10 |Sl. No. |Chapter |Page No. | | | | |1 |Introduction to Research Methods |4 | | |Research Problem and Research | | |2 |Design |11 | | | | | |3 |Methods of Data Collection |22 | |4 |Data Processing and Analysis |30 | |5 |Measurement and Scaling Technique |38 | |6 |Sampling Design |50 | |7 |Testing of Hypotheses |68 | |8 |Report Preparation |93 | |9 |Key to th e End Chapter Quizzes |98 | | |Bibliography | | |10 | |99 | 3 Market ResearchADL-10 Chapter 1 Introduction to Research Methods Contents: 1. 1 Role of Research In Business Decision‘s 1. 2 Research Process 1. 2. 1.Selecting a Topic 1. 2. 2. Literature Search 1. 2. 3. Discussion with â€Å"Informants and Interested Parties† 1. 2. 4. Sampling 1. 2. 5. Formulating your hypothesis 1. 2. 6. Questionnaire Design 1. 2. 7. Fieldwork 1. 2. 8. Data Processing 1. 2. 9. Statistical Analysis (Hypotheses Testing) 1. 2. 10. Assembly of Results 1. 2. 11. Writing up The Results 1. 3Types of Research 1. 3. 1 Exploratory Research 1. 3. 2 Descriptive Research 1. 3. 3 Analytical Research 1. 3. 4 Causal Research 1. 3. 5 Quantitative Research 1. 3. 6 Qualitative Research 1. 3. 7 Conceptual Research 1. 3. 8 Modeling Research 1. 4 Criteria of good research 1. 5 Ethics of Research 4 | | |Market Research |ADL-10 | | | | | | | | | | | |1. 1 Role of Research in Business Decision‘s | | | | | |R esearch is a process of using the methods of science to the art of management for decision- making. Every organization operates under some degree of uncertainty. | | |This uncertainty cannot be eliminated completely, although it can be minimized with the help of research methods. Research is particularly important in the decision | | |making process of various business organizations.To choose the best line of action (in the light of growing competition and increasing uncertainty); it is very | | |important that one should be able to gather all the data, analyze it and reach to the appropriate decisions. Research in common context refers to a search for | | |knowledge. It can also be defined as scientific and systematic search for gaining information and knowledge on a specific topic or phenomena. In | | |management research is extensively used in various areas. Research provides a base for your business sound decision – making. There are three parts involved in any | | |of yo ur systematic finding: Implicit question posed, explicit answer proposed and Collection, analysis, and interpretation of the information leading from the | | |question to answer Illustration. Research comprises of defining and redefining problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions; making | | |deductions and reaching conclusions; and at last carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulating hypothesis?. | | | | | | | | |Market Research has become an important part in management decision-making. Marketing research is a critical part of such a Market intelligence system; it| | |helps to improve management decision making by providing relevant, accurate, & timely information. Every decision poses unique needs for information gathered | | |through marketing research.Thus, we can say that marketing research is the function that links the Consumer, Customer, and the public to the marketer | | |through information used to identify and define market ing opportunities and problems; Generate, Refine, and evaluate marketing actions and monitor marketing | | |performance; improve understanding of marketing as a process. | | | | | | | | | | | |1. Research Process | | | | | |1. 2. 1. Selecting A Topic: Topic is related to the area of interest. | | | | | |1. 2. 2. Literature Search: A researcher should be aware of the current research in the related area and further scope of expansion. | | | | | |1. 2. 3. Discussion with â€Å"Informants and Interested Parties† | | | | | |1. 2. 4.Sampling (described in Chapter VI) | | | | | |1. 2. 5. Formulating Your Hypothesis (described in Chapter VII) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |5 | | | | |Market Research |ADL-10 | | | | | |1. 2. 6. Questionnaire Design -Translating the broad objectives of the study into questions that will obtain the necessary information. | | | | | |1. 2. 7. Fieldwork – Collection of data through questionnaire or interview | | | | | |1. 2. 8. Data Processing à ¢â‚¬â€œ coding and inputting the responses | | | | | |1. 2. . Statistical Analysis (hypotheses testing) | | | | | |1. 2. 10. Assembly of Results | | | | | |1. 2. 11. Writing up the Results- drawing conclusions / interpretations and relating the findings to other research. You will have been given separate notes on report | | |writing. | | | | | |1. Types of Research | | |A research can be classified as follows | | | | | |1. 3. 1 Exploratory Research | | | | | |1. 3. 2 Descriptive Research | | | | | |1. 3. Analytical Research | | | | | |1. 3. 4 Causal Research | | | | | |1. 3. 5 Quantitative Research | | | | | |1. 3. 6 Qualitative Research | | | | | |1. 3. Conceptual Research | | | | | |1. 3. 8 Modeling Research | | | | | | | | |1. 3. 1 Exploratory Research: – The Exploratory Research structures and identifies new problems; it is an initial research which is commonly unstructured, ? informal? | | |research that is undertaken to gain background information about the gen eral nature of the research problem, without having any specific end-objective.It is | | |usually conducted when the researcher does not know much about the problem and needs additional information or desires new or more recent information. A research | | |that analyzes the data and explores the possibility of obtaining as many as relationships as possible between different variables of the study. | | |Ex: – Literature Survey, Experience survey. | | | | | | | | |1. 3. 2 Descriptive Research: – Descriptive research is more rigid than exploratory research, this research carries out specific objectives and hence it results to a| | |definite conclusion. Descriptive research is undertaken to provide answers to questions of who, what, where, when, and how – but not why.For example, it describes | | |users of a product, determines the proportion of the population that uses a product, or predicts future demand for a product or describes the happening of a certain | | | | | | | | | | | |6 | | | | | |Market Research |ADL-10 | | | | | |phenomenon. As opposed to exploratory research, if you are doing descriptive research you should define questions, people surveyed, and the method of analysis prior | | |to beginning data collection. | | | | | | | |1. 3. 3 Analytical research: – This type of research is used where information is already available, and analyzes these to make a critical evaluation of the material. | | |Analytical research takes descriptive research one stage further by seeking to explain the reasons | | |behind a particular occurrence by discovering causal relationships. Once causal relationships have been discovered, the search then shifts to factors that can be | | |changed (variables) in order to influence the chain of causality.Typical questions in analytical research are: What factors might account for the high drop-out | | |rate on a particular degree programme? | | |Typical methods used in analytical research include: | | | | | | | | |[pic]Case studies [pic]Observation [pic]Historical analysis [pic]Attitude surveys [pic]Statistical surveys | | | | | |1. 3. 4 Causal Research: – Casual Research seeks to find cause and affect relationships between variables.It accomplishes this goal through laboratory and field | | |experiments. | | | | | | | | |1. 3. 5 Quantitative Research: – This research answers the questions about data that can be measured in terms of quantity or amount. It is applicable to | | |phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity. | | | | | | | | |1. 3. 6 Qualitative Research: – This research involves analysis of data such as words (e. g. , from interviews), pictures (e. g. , video), or objects (e. g. , an | | |artifact).Answer questions about nature of phenomena in order to describe phenomena and understand it from the participant‘s point of view. | | | | | | | | |1. 3. 7 Conceptual Research: – This type of research is related to some ideas or th eory and generally used by philosopher. | | | | | | | | |1. 3. 8 Modelling Research: – This type of research is related to business situation where business situation is formulated into different types of model. | |Ex:-Mathematical model, simulation models | | | | | | | | |1. 4 Criteria of good research | | | | | | | | |One thing that is important is the research work and the studies meet on the common ground of the scientific method. One expects scientific research to satisfy the | | |following criteria. | | | | |1. The purpose of research should be clearly defined and common concepts be used. | | | | | | | | |7 | | | | | |Market Research |ADL-10 | | | | | |2.The research procedure used should be described in sufficient detail to permit another researcher to repeat the research for further advancement. | | |3. The procedural design of the research should be carefully planned to yield results that are as objective as possible. | | |4. The researcher should report with comple te frankness, flaws in procedural designs and estimate their effects upon the findings. | | |5. The analysis of data should be sufficiently adequate to reveal its significance and the methods of analysis used should be appropriate. | | |6. Conclusion should be considered to those justified by the data of the research and limited to those for which the data provide an adequate basis. | | |7.Greater confidence in research is warranted if the researcher is experienced, has a good reputation in research. | | | | | |In other words we can state the qualities of a good research as under: | | | | | | | | |1. Good research is systematic: it means that research is structured with specified steps to be taken in a specific sequence in accordance with well defined set of | | |rules. | | |2.Good research is logical: this implies that research is guided by the rules of logical reasoning and logical process of induction and deduction are of great | | |value in carrying out research. | | |3. Good r esearch is empirical: it implies that research is related basically to one or more aspects of real situation and deals with concrete data that provides a | | |basis for external validity to research results. | | |4. Good research is replicable: this characteristic allows research results to be verified by replicating the study and thereby building a sound basis for | | |decisions. | | | | | |1. Ethics of Research | | | | | | | | |As a profound social activity, research connects us to those who will use it, to those whose research we used, through them, to the research that our sources used; | | |Hence beyond technique, we need to think about ethics of civil communication. In addition to construction of bonds within any community, ethics deal with a range of | | |moral and immoral choices; Research challenges us to define individual moral principles; Academic researchers are less tempted to sacrifice principle for a| | |gain than commercial researchers. Plagiarism, claiming credit f or results of others, misreport sources or invent results, data with questionable accuracy, destroy | | |or conceal sources and data important for those who follow beyond simple moral. Do not to what we should affirmatively do, i. e. concern for the integrity of the | | |work of the community combined with narrow moral standards with the larger ethical dimension. Research done in the best interests of others is also in your own | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |8 | | | | |Market Research |ADL-10 | | | | | |End Chapter quizzes: | | | | | |1. Research, in management, forms a base for a) Gathering knowledge | | |b) Interpretation of information | | |c) Business decision-making d) Reaching to conclusions | | | | | | | | |2. In research process, what is the next step after Defining the problem definition? | |a) Determine the Sampling design b) Review of Literature | | |c) Hypotheses Testing | | |d) Data interpretation and analysis | | | | | | | | |3. A research that analyzes the data and explores the possibility of obtaining as many as relationships as possible between different variables of the study, is | | |known as: | | |a) Exploratory Research | |b) Analytical Research | | |c) Quantitative Research d) Descriptive Research | | | | | | | | |4. Observations, case studies and surveys are methods which are implemented under: | | |a) Quantitative Research b) Analytical Research | | |c) Conceptual Research d) Exploratory Research | | | | | | | | |5.Mathematical and simulation models are examples of: | | |a) Descriptive Research b) Conceptual Research c) Qualitative research | | |d) Modeling Research | | | | | | | | |6. Which statement, out of the following, doesn‘t cater to the Research Ethics? | | |a) Concern for the integrity of the work b) Define individual moral principles | | |c) Plagiarism | | |d) Work community with moral standards | | |7.Research, seeking to explain the reasons behind a particular occurrence by discovering causal r elationships, can be defined as: | | |a) Causal Research | | | | | |9 | | Market ResearchADL-10 b) Modeling Research c) Qualitative Research d) Analytical Research 8. A descriptive research describes the users of a product, determines the proportion of the population that uses a product, or predicts future demand for a product a) Strongly agree b) Agree c) Disagree d) Strongly disagree 9. Quantitative Research does not deal in: a) Figures b) Amount c) Relationships d) Quantities 10. Complete the statement:In addition to construction of bonds within any community, ethics deal with a range of a) Sacrifice people for a gain b) Claiming credit for results of others c) Moral and immoral choices d) Concealing objections that cannot be rebutted 10 Market ResearchADL-10 Chapter-II Research Problem and Research Design Contents: 2. 1 Introduction 2. 2 What is a Research Problem? 2. 3 How to Select the Problem 2. 3. 1 Sub-problem(S) 2. 3. 2 Statement of the Problem 2. 3. 3 Steps Involved In D efining A Problem 2. 4 Checklist for Testing the Feasibility of the Research Problem 2. 5 Meaning, Need and Features of a Research Design 2. 6 Different Research Designs 2. 6. 1 Research Design in case of Exploratory Research 2. 6. Research Design in case of Descriptive Research 2. 6. 2. 1 Longitudinal Studies 2. 6. 2. 2 Cross-sectional Studies 2. 6. 3 Research Design in case of Causal Research 11 | | | |Market Research |ADL-10 | | | | | |2. 1 Introduction | | | | | |Research forms a cycle.It starts with a problem and ends with a solution to the problem. The problem statement is therefore the axis which the whole research | | |revolves around, because it explains in short the aim of the research. | | | | | |2. 2 What is a Research Problem? | | | | | |A research problem is the situation that causes the researcher to feel apprehensive, confused and ill at ease. In other words, it refers to some difficulty which a | | |researcher experiences in context of a situation and wants to obtai n the solution for the same.It is the demarcation of a problem area within a certain context | | |involving the WHO or WHAT, the WHERE, the WHEN and the WHY of the problem situation. There are many problem situations that may give rise to research. Three sources | | |usually contribute to problem identification. Own experience or the experience of others may be a source of problem supply. A second source could be scientific | | |literature. You may read about certain findings and notice that a certain field was not covered. This could lead to a research problem. Theories could be a third | | |source. Shortcomings in theories could be researched. | | | | | |2. How to Select the Problem | | | | | |The prospective researcher should think on what caused the need to do the research (problem identification). The question that he/she should ask is: Are there | | |questions about this problem to which answers have not been found up to the present? Research originates from a need that arises . A clear distinction between the | | |PROBLEM and the PURPOSE should be made. The problem is the aspect the researcher worries about, thinks about, and wants to find a solution for.The purpose is to | | |solve the problem, i. e. , find answers to the question(s). If there is no clear problem formulation, the purpose and methods are meaningless. | | | | | |Keep the following in mind: | | | | | | | | |[pic] Outline the general context of the problem area. | | |[pic] Highlight key theories, concepts and ideas current in this area. | | |[pic] What appear to be some of the underlying assumptions of this area? pic] Why are these issues identified important? | | |[pic] What needs to be solved? | | |[pic] Read the subject to get to know the background and to identify unanswered questions or controversies, and/or to identify the most significant issues for | | |further exploration. | | | | | |The research problem should be stated in such a way that it would lead to analytical thinking on t he part of the researcher with the aim of possible concluding | | |solutions to the stated problem. Research problems can be stated in the form of either questions or statements. | | | | | | | | | | |12 | | | | | |Market Research |ADL-10 | | | | | |[pic] The research problem should always be formulated grammatically correct and as completely as possible. You should bear in mind the wording (expressions) you| | |use. Avoid meaningless words. There should be no doubt in the mind of the reader what your intentions are. | |[pic] Demarcating the research field into manageable parts by dividing the main problem into sub- problems is of the utmost importance. | | | | | |2. 3. 1 Sub-problem(S) | | | | | | | | |Sub-problems are problems related to the main problem identified. Sub problems flow from the main problem and make up the main problem. It is the means to reach the| | |set goal in a manageable way and contribute to solving the problem. | | | | |2. 3. 2 Statement of the Problem | | | | | | | | |The statement of the problem involves the demarcation and formulation of the problem, i. e. , the WHO/ WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY. It usually includes the | | |statement of the hypothesis. | | | | | |2. 3. Steps involved in defining a Problem | | | | | | | | |1) Statement of a problem should be given in broad general way: For example in case of a social research it is advisable to perform some field operations, collect | | |the survey, study it, and then phrase the problem in operational terms. | | |2) Understanding the origin and the nature of the problem clearly: It is essential to know the point of origin of the problem and discuss the problem with those who | | |has a better knowledge of the concerned area. | | |3) Survey all the literature available and examine them before defining a research problem. | | |4) Finally rephrase the research problem in to a walking proposition. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |13 | | Market ResearchADL-10 2. 4 Checklist for Testing the Feasibility of the Research Problem | |YES |NO | | |Is the problem of current interest? Will the research results have social, educational or scientific value? | | | |1 | | | | |2 |Will it be possible to apply the results in practice? | | | |3 |Does the research contribute to the science of education? | | | |4 |Will the research opt new problems and lead to further research? | | | |5 |Is the research problem important? Will you be proud of the result? | | |6 |Is there enough scope left within the area of research (field of research)? | | | | |Can you find an answer to the problem through research? Will you be able to handle the research problem? | | | |7 | | | | |8 |Will it be practically possible to undertake the research? | | | |9 |Is the research free of any ethical problems and limitations? | | | |10 |Will it have any value? | | | | |Do you have the necessary knowledge and skills to do the research? Are you qualified to undertake the research? | | |11 | | | | | |Is the problem important to you and are you motivated to undertake the research? | | | |12 | | | | | |Is the research viable in your situation? Do you have enough time and energy to complete the project? | | | |13 | | | | |14 |Do you have the necessary funds for the research? | | | |15 |Will you be able to complete the project within the time available? | | | |Do you have access to the administrative, statistic and computer facilities the research necessitates? | | | |16 | | | | | |TOTAL: | | 2. 5 Meaning, Need and Features of a Research Design A research design is the plan or strategy, which helps in arranging the resources required for research purpose. It acts as a path or blueprint for the researcher. In other words, it is the advanced planning of the steps to be adapted for collection of relevant data and techniques to be used in their analysis keeping different time and budget constraint in mind.Along wi th the population to be surveyed, size of sample, tools for analyzing data, interpretation of data, it also includes the budget and the time constraints too. 14 | | | |Market Research |ADL-10 | | | | | |The Design decision is in respect to following terms: What is the study about? | | |Why to study a particular topic? Where the study will be conducted? Techniques to collect the relevant data? What will be the sample design? | | |How will the data be analyzed? What is the time required? What is the allocated Budget? | | | | |Need for Research Design: It helps for a smooth running of various research operations thereby making the research efficient, gaining maximum information with the | | |minimum expenditure of time, effort, and money. | | | | | |The Research Design is divided into following parts:- | | | | | |ResearchDesign | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Operational Design | | |Sampling Design | | | | | |Observational Design | | |Statistical Design | | |(Sub-d ivisions of a Research Design) | | | | | |Sampling Design: It deals with method of selection of samples to be collected /observed for a given study. | | | | | |Observational Design: It deals with the constraints and exceptions under which the observations are to be made. | | | | | |Statistical Design: It deals with the editing, coding and analysis of the data gathered. | | | | | |Operational Design: It deals with the techniques by which the procedures specified in the above designs can be carried out. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |15 | | | | |Market Research |ADL-10 | | | | | | | | | | | |Features of a Good Design | | | | | |It should define the objective of problem to be studied | | |It should minimize the biasness and maximize the reliability of data | | |It should give smallest experimental error | | |It should be flexible enough to permit the consideration of many different aspects of a phenomenon. | | | | | | | | | | |Elements of a Research Desi gn: | | | | | |The important elements of a research design are: | | |[pic] Introduction: The Research proposal should define the research problem and the researcher‘s | | |precise interest in studying it. In other words it deals with the scope of study. | | | | | | | |[pic] Statement of the problem: It includes the formulation of problem which actually explains the objective of research. | | | | | | | | |[pic] Literature Review: It includes a review of different literatures and articles related to objective | | |of study. It is performed to get all the information‘s and researches done on the topic earlier. | | |[pic] Scope of Study: A complete study of any problem is difficult to study as it would entail an overwhelming amount of data.Therefore, the scope and dimensions | | |of the study should be delimited with reference to its depth, length, and geographical area to be covered, reference period, respondents to be studied and many other| | |different issues. We shou ld consider the time frames decided for the study and should finish it within the same tome slot. | | | | | | | | |[pic] Objective of Study: The questions to which the researcher proposes to seek answers through the study, comes under objectives. It should be stated clearly. | | |For example: | | |I.To study the nature of †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ | | |II. To investigate the impact of †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. | | |III. To examine the nature of relation between †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ and †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ | | |IV. To identify the causes of †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ | | |The objective statements should not be vague like ? to explore unemployment in India? | | | | | | | | |[pic] Conceptual Model: After completing the above steps the researcher formulates and develops the structure of relationships among the variables under | | |investigation. | | | | | | | |[pic] Hypotheses: A hypothesis is a specific statement of prediction. They refer to different possible outcomes. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |16 | | | | |Market Research |ADL-10 | | | | | |[pic] Operational definition of concepts: It involves the different techniques used in exploratory and descriptive research in operational terms. | | |[pic] Significance of study: It is a careful statement of the value of the study and the possible applications of its findings which helps to justify purpose of | | |study, its importance and social relevance. | | | | | |[pic] Geographical area to be covered: The territorial area to be covered depends on the purpose, nature of study and availability of resources. It should | | |be decided and specified in the research plan. | | | | |[pic] Reference Period: This refers to the time period of which the data is analyzed. Also it depends on the availability of data. | | | | | |[pic] Sampling Plan: It is the study that requires collection of data fro m the fields, then we should decide the population to be selected for study and the | | |sampling design. | | | | | |[pic] Tools for Gathering data: Personal and Telephonic Interviews, Questionnaire, checklist are different tools for data collection. | | | | | | | | | | |[pic] Plan of Analysis: This includes the statistical techniques used for editing, coding and analysis of data. | | | | | |[pic] Chapter Scheme: The chapter scheme of report or dissertation should be prepared to give the outlines and the studies of the research conducted. | | | | | |[pic] Time Budget: The time period of research should be decided in advance and the research work should not exceed the time limits. This leads to loss of | | |resources and extra cost is involved. | | | | |[pic] Financial Budget: The cost of the project includes major categories like salary, printing, stationery, postage, travel expenses etc. | | | | | |2. 6 Different Research Designs: | | | | | | | | |2. 6. Research Design in case of Exploratory Research: -It is also termed as Formulative Research Studies. In this case we do not have enough understanding of the | | |problem. Its main purpose is more precise investigation about the objective of study. It is particularly useful when researchers lack a clear idea of the problems | | |they will meet during the study. Through this the researcher develops more clear concepts, establishes priorities, develop operational definitions also. This means | | |that a general study will be conducted without having any end-objective except to establish as many relationships as possible between the variables of study.The | | |Research Design in such studies must have inbuilt flexibility because the research problem broadly defined initially, is transformed into one with more | | |precise meaning. This type of research lay the foundation for formulation of different hypotheses of research problems. It involves the study of | | |17 | | | | | |Market Research |ADL-10 | | | | | |sec ondary data. It rarely involves structured questionnaire, large samples and probability sampling plans. | | | | | | | |Different types of Exploratory Research | | |[pic] Literature Survey: It is a study involving a collection of literatures in the selected area in which the researcher has limited experience, and critical | | |examination and comparison of them to have better understanding. It helps in updating the past data related to the topic of research. It also helps in | | |formulation of relevant hypothesis if it is not formed. | | | | | | | | |[pic] Experience Survey: It is a survey of experiences of experts/specialists related to the field of research which acts as a database for future research.This | | |helps in generating ideas with minimum data collection. The decision making in the probabilistic situations is a complex process therefore the study of the | | |experiences of the executives/researchers can be carried out using experience survey. Bidding of Tenders, Technol ogy forecasting, Manpower and Materials planning, | | |Production Scheduling, Portfolio Decisions etc. are examples of experience survey. | | | | | | | | |2. 6. 2 Research Design in case of Descriptive Research : – It is carried out with specific objectives and hence a definite end-result.It is structured | | |research with clearly stated hypothesis or investigative questions. It deals with describing the characteristics associated with the population chosen for | | |research, Estimates of the proportions of a population that have these characteristics and discovery of relationship among several variables. It is based on large | | |representative samples. The design in such studies must be rigid and focus attention on the following: | | |What is the study about and why is it done? Designing methods of data collection. Selecting the sample. | | |Processing and analysis of data. | | |Interpretations of Results. Budget and Time Constraints. | | | | | | | |For example: to descri be characteristics of consumers, sales people, market areas or organizations. | | | | | | | | |2. 6. 2. 1 Longitudinal Studies | | |Longitudinal studies are time series analyses that make repeated measurements of the same individuals, thus allowing you to monitor behavior such as | | |brand switching. However, longitudinal studies are not necessarily representative since many people may refuse to participate because of the commitment required. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |18 | | Market ResearchADL-10 cross-sectional analysis is a cohort analysis, which tracks an aggregate of individuals who experience the same event 2. 6. 2. 2 Cross-sectional Studies Cross-sectional studies sample the population to make measurements at a specific point in time. A special type of within the same time interval over time.You can use Cohort analyses for long forecasting of product demand. 2. 6. 3 Research Design in case of Causal Research: -When it is necessary to determine that one variable determi nes values of other variables, causal research design is used. Thus the relationship between different variables is established. It is a research design in which the major emphasis is on determining a cause-and-effect relationship. When we start the research work it is not necessary that only one type of research is used, we can use a combination of two or all the three types of research. Also research is an unending process, so there may be a clue left, which can initiate a research objective for other researchers. 19 | | |Market Research |ADL-10 | | | | | |End Chapter Quizzes | | | | | |1. For an appropriate research, there should be a clear distinction between a. Methods and Tools | | |b. Purpose and Techniques | | |c. Problem and Methods for implementation d.Problem and Purpose ** | | | | | | | | |2. Which one of the following does not state the components of a research problem? | | |a. An individual or group having some difficulty | | |b. There shouldn‘t be any doubt in the mind of researcher with regard to selection of | | |alternatives** | | |c. There must be some environment to which the difficulty pertains d.There must be some objectives to be attain