E-commerce Impact on Business Generation

This research report discusses the impact of e-commerce on business generation. It includes information on sampling methods, target population, and survey questionnaire.

Running head: MARKETING
Marketing
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Topic - E-commerce has a positive impact in the generation of business
Introduction
This research report is an overview how research questions are prepared to conduct a survey
among the respondents in the context of ecommerce and its impact. The aim of the survey is
to collect information about from the respondents to learn how e-commerce is influencing the
businesses today. The report effectively discusses how the survey is supposed to be
performed among the chosen respondents from target population. The survey will be
conducted on the basis of suitable sampling method which has been discussed in the
following. The survey aims to collect data from the people presently living in Sydney,
Australia. Taking this requirement into account, survey questionnaire has been designed with
multiple formats which are close ended in nature.
Sampling methods
Sampling method can be divided into two different categories namely Probability
Sampling and Non-probability sampling. Sampling is known as the particular principle to
choose members of population to be engaged in the research. Sampling is required because of
the large size of target population, there is no other choice but to research the number of case
elements within the population to represent the population as well as derive a suitable
conclusions about the population. Therefore, the population size should be determined and
derived from the target population. Present study uses probability sampling method because
each member of the population has the right to take part in the study. Moreover, as e-
commerce is a broad area of research, it is always effective to take feedback from people who
are involved in e-commerce trade; particularly, the customers who tend to shop online. In
order to investigate the impact, it is always effective to learn how consumers are accustomed
to emerging trend. So, by using probability sampling method, it would be easy to take

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feedback from a large population size where each member can take part in the data collection
process.
On the other side, non-probability sampling method has not been taken because in
non-probability sampling method, sample group members cannot be selected on a random
manner, which means only a certain meme of the population who has equal and adequate
knowledge about the research topic. However, when sampling size is too large, it is difficult
to choose members specifically while in probability sampling, randomization is the core of
probability sampling technique. Probability sampling is further divided into five different
types of namely simple random sampling, stratified random sampling, systematic random
sampling, cluster sampling and multi-staged random sampling. However, for conducting the
survey, simple random sampling method will be developed. Simple random sampling method
will be developed because this sampling method is known to be the most pure as well as most
straight forward probability sampling strategy and moreover, this particularly sampling
method helps to choose sample among the population for a greater range of purposes. Under
this simple random sampling method, to select members to investigate the impact of
ecommerce, each member of the population can be treated as the significant part of the
sample
In order to perform the survey among the shoppers simple random probability
sampling method will be performed. This is because probability sampling method enables to
researcher to select respondents randomly which means each population member has an equal
chance to take part in the survey.
Target population

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Target population is a particular segment within wider population that are effectively
positioned to serve as primary data sources for the research. Thus, for the survey on e-
commerce target population is the citizens of Sydney Australia.
Sampling frame: Sampling frame is a particular list of people within the target
population. Hence, for the present survey, 100 members from the target population will be
selected who particularly live in the downtown of Sydney.
Sampling size: This is particularly the number of individuals from the frame who
takes part in the study. Thus, for the survey, 80 members from the stated sampling frame will
be selected who will take part in the study.
Setting and Instruments
In order to perform the survey, a suitable questionnaire will be developed and the
questionnaire will include 16 close-ended questions with different format and scale of
measuring the answers. This is because close-ended questions tend to provide respondents
with a fixed list of responses and it is easier and faster to code. Moreover, close-ended
questionnaire allows multiple formats such as Dichotomous questions, multiple choice
questions, scale response questions, loaded questions, imposing assumptions, etc. So, all of
these formats have been used in the following to prepare the survey questionnaire.
Some of the questions are more of multiple choice, where the respondent can choose one
appropriate choice and move to next question. Likewise, in some questions, the respondent
have to rate nature of an e-commerce practice under a likert scale. Once the questionnaire is
developed, it will be distributed to the respondents. In order to distribute the questionnaire,
respondents’ personal data will be used. However, to make the process easy and simple, the
questionnaire will be prepared electronically in which the respondents can take part in the
process electronically. This means by using their Smart-phone devices they can access the

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survey form and give answers to the questions. Thus, the questionnaire will sent to
respondents via email. Nonetheless, before using the respondents’ data, their consent will be
taken and to take consent of the respondents, an ethical check list form will be prepared
which is again authorized by the University.
Ethical consideration
Ethical consideration is a significant part of the study, especially when the study involves the
primary data. When it comes to collection of primary data, it is quite certain that respondents
are required to be engaged in the process. However, when involving respondents in data
collection process, the consent of respondents must be taken. It is unethical to ask
respondents to take part in the process without their permission. Moreover, ethical issues can
often lead to failure of data collection process. Thus, to deal with the ethical issues, a consent
form will prepared and the respondents will be asked to give their signature to the form. It
will be ensured that no respondent has been forced to take part in the study and in fact each
respondent holds the right to withdraw their participation at any moment they think.
Researcher ensures that the respondent has the right to know about the purpose of the data
collection process, such as its use and application. In addition to this, confidentiality and
anonymity is another significant issue in primary data collection; thereby, researcher ensure
that identity of the respondents will not be disclosed anywhere. In order to maintain the
confidentiality of data, principle of Data Protection Act 2011 will be used. To maintain and
protect the data, it will be ensured that the collected data has not been used anywhere apart
from the use in the research paper.
Survey Questionnaire
Please answer to the following questions
1. Please choose e-commerce brand as your favourite from the following options

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 Amazon.com
 Wal-Mart
 Alibaba.com
 Zappos.com
 JB-Hi-Fi
2. How often do you make online purchase?
 Once in a week
 Twice in month
 Once in two months
 Very Rare
3. Do you believe that online shopping activities are reliable?
 Yes
 No
4. E-commerce websites have duplicity in products and services?
 True
 False
5. How far do you agree that e-commerce activities are more convenient that
traditional shopping activities?
 Strongly Disagree
 Disagree
 Prefer not to say
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
6. How much average do you spend in each transaction?
 $1000 -$2000

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 $3000-$5000
 $6000-$7000
7. Do you shop from national website or international website or both?
 National Website
 International Website
 Both
8. What factor from the following influence to shop online?
 Fast and Reliable Delivery
 Good return policy
 Innovative products
 Offers and Deals
 Price
 Rewards and points
9. For long have you been buying the products online from e-commerce vendors?
 6 months
 7 months to 1 year
 2 to 3 years
 Above 3 years
10. Which among the following features is the most attractive and influence your
purchase decision?
 Free shipping to door
 Coupon Discount
 Collaboration with overseas fashion designer
 Live chat-personal assistant
 Time-effectiveness

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11. What kind of products do you usually buy online?
 Clothing
 Home furnishing products
 Electronic goods
 Food and beverage items
 Everything
12. What kind of payment methods of usually prefer?
 Cash on Delivery
 Online Payment (Credit/Debit Card)
 EMI
13. In a liker Scale, Please rate your satisfaction level of online purchase
 Highly Dissatisfied
 Dissatisfied
 Prefer not to say
 Highly Satisfied
 Highly Dissatisfied
14. What is your employment status?
 Salaried
 Self-Employed
 Internship
15. What is your approximate monthly income?
 $10,000- $15000
 $16,000-$20,000
 $21,000-$25000
16. Please specify your gender?

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 Male
 Female

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