The Marketing Research Process

Instructions:

Conduct outside research on the topic of marketing research. When completing the assignment, make sure that your conclusions are logical extrapolations of the findings of your inquiry and analysis, and that you state all relevant limitations and implications with supporting detail. Also, consider how market information, trends, and product potential relate to targeted customer groups.

1. Based on your inquiry and analysis, complete the following instructions:
   1. Explain how a company’s marketing information system (MIS) and the marketing decision support system are used to improve decision-making by the marketing department.
   2. Define the concept and practice of data mining, and explain how marketers use it to develop current, relevant, and accurate information.
   3. Describe the key parts of the marketing research process, and draw conclusions about the value of following this process.
   4. Differentiate between ethical and unethical practices used in the development of marketing research and its results. Use critical thinking to develop an argument in favor of high ethical standards for marketing researchers.
   5. Explain what can happen if marketing researchers do not use a standardized process for conducting research and evaluating their findings.
2. Write a four-page paper (minimum) that thoroughly addresses all of the questions listed above. The minimum length does not include the title page, abstract, reference page, or any additional pages containing charts, appendices, etc. Cite a minimum of two outside sources used in your research, in addition to any sources from your organization, to support your work. You must give appropriate credit to the sources of the material. The guidelines for In-Text citations may be found here.