Lazo, Lizadette B.

BSOA 3-3N

1. What are the benefits and opportunities of online research for business?

Online research is crucial for businesses to stay competitive and make informed decisions. Here
are some reasons why online research is important to businesses:

1. Market Research: Online research allows businesses to gather information on their

industry, target market, and competitors. This information can help them develop
strategies to reach their target audience and differentiate themselves from competitors.

2. Customer Insights: Online research helps businesses gain insights into their customers'
needs, preferences, and behavior. This information can help businesses create more
effective marketing campaigns, improve customer service, and develop new products
and services.

3. Competitive Analysis: Online research enables businesses to monitor their competitors'

activities and track industry trends. This information can help businesses identify new
opportunities and stay ahead of the competition.

4. Product Development: Online research can help businesses identify gaps in the market
and develop new products or improve existing ones. By conducting surveys or focus
groups, businesses can gather feedback from customers and make data-driven
decisions about product development.

5. Cost-Effective: Online research is a cost-effective way for businesses to gather

information. Compared to traditional methods like surveys or focus groups, online
research is less expensive and can be conducted quickly.

In conclusion, online research is essential for businesses to make informed decisions, stay
competitive, and grow. By gathering data on their industry, customers, and competitors,
businesses can develop effective strategies, improve their products and services, and create a
better customer experience.

2.  What are the benefits and opportunities of online research for business?

 
Online research offers several benefits and opportunities for businesses. Some of the key
benefits and opportunities are:

1.     Greater Access to Data: Online research provides businesses with greater access to data
than traditional methods of research. Businesses can gather information from a wide range of
sources, including social media, forums, and online surveys. This data can be used to develop
insights into customer behavior, market trends, and industry best practices.
2.     Cost-Effective: Online research is often more cost-effective than traditional methods of
research. Businesses can conduct online surveys or polls at a fraction of the cost of traditional
methods like phone surveys or in-person focus groups. This makes it easier for small
businesses to gather data and insights.
3.     Faster Turnaround Time: Online research allows businesses to gather data quickly and
efficiently. Responses to online surveys can be collected in real-time, allowing businesses to
analyze data and make decisions quickly.
4.     Targeted Research: Online research allows businesses to target specific audiences with
their surveys or polls. This can help businesses gather data that is more relevant and valuable
to their specific needs.
5.     Improved Customer Engagement: Online research can be used to engage customers and
gather feedback. This can help businesses build stronger relationships with their customers,
improve their products or services, and increase customer loyalty.
6.     Competitive Analysis: Online research allows businesses to gather data on their
competitors and track industry trends. This can help businesses identify new opportunities and
stay ahead of the competition.

In conclusion, online research provides several benefits and opportunities for businesses. It
allows businesses to gather data quickly and efficiently, at a lower cost than traditional methods.
It also provides businesses with the ability to target specific audiences and gather valuable
insights into customer behavior and industry trends.
 
3. What are the weaknesses of online research for business?
 
While online research provides numerous benefits and opportunities, it also has some
weaknesses that businesses should consider. Here are some of the weaknesses of online
research for business:
1. Sample Bias: Online research is susceptible to sample bias because respondents who
participate in online surveys may not be representative of the entire population. This can lead to
skewed results, which can lead to inaccurate conclusions.
2. Lack of Control: Online research is often conducted in an uncontrolled environment,
which can lead to respondents not taking the survey seriously, providing inaccurate information,
or dropping out of the survey. This can lead to incomplete or unreliable data.
3. Limited Response Options: Online surveys often have limited response options, which
can limit the insights that businesses can gather from their respondents. Open-ended questions
can help mitigate this limitation, but they can also be time-consuming to analyze.
4. Limited Reach: While online research provides businesses with access to a wider
audience, it may not reach certain segments of the population that are less likely to use the
internet. This can limit the representativeness of the sample and lead to biased results.
5. Technical Issues: Online research can be affected by technical issues, such as server
downtime, slow loading times, or internet connectivity issues. These issues can prevent
respondents from completing the survey, leading to incomplete data.

In conclusion, online research has some weaknesses that businesses need to be aware of,
including sample bias, lack of control, limited response options, limited reach, and technical
issues. Businesses should take steps to mitigate these weaknesses, such as using random
sampling techniques, providing clear instructions to respondents, including open-ended
questions, and testing the survey before launching it.

 
4.  In your opinion as a student, which survey method is better for gathering data,       the
online or actual paper survey? Defend and explain your answers.
 
For me, Both online and paper surveys have their own strengths and weaknesses, and the
decision to choose one over the other depends on various factors such as the nature of the
research, the target population, and available resources. Here are some of the arguments for
each survey method:

Online Surveys:
Advantages:

1. Cost-effective: Online surveys are generally more cost-effective than paper surveys
since they don't require printing or mailing expenses.
2. Wider Reach: Online surveys can reach a larger audience, including respondents from
different geographical locations, which can lead to a more diverse sample.
3. Faster Response Time: Online surveys can be distributed and completed faster than
paper surveys, allowing for quicker data collection.
4. Better Data Quality: Online surveys can have better data quality since they can include
automated checks to ensure that all questions are answered.
Disadvantages:
1. Limited Access: Some individuals may not have access to the internet or may not feel
comfortable with completing an online survey.
2. Sample Bias: Online surveys may be subject to sample bias since the sample may not
be representative of the entire population.
3. Technical Issues: Technical issues such as internet connectivity, device compatibility,
and browser compatibility can affect the quality of data collection.

Paper Surveys:
Advantages:

1. Familiarity: Paper surveys are a familiar method of data collection and may be more
comfortable for some respondents.
2. Accessibility: Paper surveys can reach a wider range of the population, including
individuals who do not have access to the internet.
3. Flexibility: Paper surveys can be completed in any location, and respondents can
complete them at their own pace.
Disadvantages:
1. Higher Cost: Paper surveys can be expensive due to the cost of printing, postage, and
processing.
2. Slower Response Time: Paper surveys take longer to distribute and collect than online
surveys, leading to slower data collection.
3. Errors: Paper surveys can have errors such as missing data or illegible handwriting,
which can affect the accuracy of data.

In summary, the reason why I have chose both is because both online and paper surveys have
their own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of method depends on various factors.
If the target population is geographically dispersed, an online survey may be a more cost-
effective option. However, if the target population has limited access to the internet, a paper
survey may be a better option. Ultimately, the choice of survey method should be made based
on the research question, target population, and available resources.