Research Project: Social Media Influence on Amazon's Consumer Behavior

This research project investigates the impact of social media on consumer buying behavior, specifically focusing on the online retail platform Amazon. The project begins with a research proposal outlining the objectives, research questions, and methodology. The study examines the factors influencing consumer choices, the perception of online shopping through Amazon, and the role of social media in shaping buying behavior. The research employs a questionnaire to gather data, which is then analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings are presented with graphical representations and include recommendations for influencing consumer behavior positively. The project explores the conceptual framework of social media and consumer behavior, reviewing existing literature to understand the current trends and challenges. The project also includes data on social media usage by consumers and major factors influencing online shopping.

Research Project

Table of Contents
RESEARCH PROPOSAL...............................................................................................................3
1.1 Research project outline specification .................................................................................3
1.2 Factors that contribute to process of research project selection............................................4
1.3 Critical review.......................................................................................................................4
1.4 Research project specification...............................................................................................4
1.5 Research plan........................................................................................................................5
RESEARCH PROJECT...................................................................................................................8
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................8
2.1 Research methodology..........................................................................................................8
2.2 Questionnaire......................................................................................................................10
2.3 Recording and collating of required data............................................................................12
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................14
3.1 Research evaluation techniques..........................................................................................14
3.2 Interpretation and data analysis...........................................................................................14
3.3 Recommendation and justification (200)............................................................................18
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................18
4.1 Presentation.........................................................................................................................18
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................18
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................19

RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Project Title
” To determine the impact of social media on consumers buying behaviour; study of Amazon”.
1.1 Research project outline specification
In the modern era online environment is being viewed as new perspective by the users.
Social media provides extremely well channel to consumers to acquire information about
specific products and services of any organization (Smith, 2014). Social media is the easiest way
through which corporation can spread their information and latest updates to mass audience. It is
the way that can turn mind of customers and can make them loyal towards the brand. Buying
behaviour of each person is differed from others. It is affected by many aspects such as age,
income, education, social factors etc (Ethel Lee, 2013). Now days companies are using social
media sites in order to promotes their brand across the world. Social media gives interesting
opportunities to the entities but it is necessary to utilize it in effective manner (Kim and Lennon,
2013).
Present research project will discuss the impact of social media on consumers buying
behaviour in the Amazon. Study will take support of research methodology in order to collect
information about subject matter. In addition, data will be analysed and interpretation will be
done through thematic analyses technique (Swani, Brown and Milne, 2014).
Aim:
To determine impact of social media on consumers buying behaviour; study of Amazon”.
Objectives:
 To understand conceptual frame work of social media and consumer buying behaviour
 To examine perception of customers towards online shopping through Amazon.
 To identify factors that influence mind of consumers to shop through social media
platform.
 To investigate impact of social media on buying behaviour of clients in Amazon. To suggest ways that can help in influencing buying behaviour of consumers positively
towards social media?
Research question:
 Explain the concept of social media and consumer buying behaviour?

 What is the perception of consumers towards online shopping through Amazon?
 What are main factors that influence mind of service users to shop through social media
platform?
 What are impact on social media on buying behaviour of clients?
1.2 Factors that contribute to process of research project selection
Social media now days most commonly used methods by buyers for shopping.
Technological advancement attract people towards internet and they like to shop through online
platform. It is found that e-commerce business has increased to great extent from last years
significantly (Xie, Zhang and Zhang, 2014). Numbers of sales have been enhanced over the few
past years due to the online environment and social media. Thus, researcher has used this topic
so that it can gather in depth information and facts about the subject matter. Feasibility of subject
has helped the scholar in selecting this topic. Investigator has interest in the social media and
advanced technologies, apart from this individual has experience of working in the same field.
That has contributed to process of research project selection (Solomon, 2014).
Thee are many researches have been done on the same topic by other investigators so
data is available. That can help the scholar in preparing the project significantly. It will help in
achieving goal of the report soon (Smith, 2014).
1.3 Critical review

Conceptual frame work of social media and consumer buying behaviour
According to Harley Social media is a vital tool that assist most of the companies to
deliver its products or services widely to its customers. Thus, it has been analysed that most of
the people are spend their over the internet for that purpose company promote the products in the
online platform. The main advantages of social media marketing for the new entrance company
and products in the target market can able to gain the customers base. Apart from this, it also
increase the company's sales and it also enhancing the market share is most effective manner.
The another benefits is that they can quick promote their goods and cost effective which are not
available in traditional marketing activities. Thus, in the modern era the people are too much
busy in their work and they have not enough time to gain the purchase their products or services
from the street market and shopping mall etc. Therefore, it consumer are influences towards the
social media as they can able to buy products or services by simply access over the internet. It
leads to reduce time, energy and cost of customers as well as organisation who placing goods or
services over the internet Hooper and Gunn argued that the consumer buying behaviour toward
the social media in negative as most of the customers does not like to purchasing products on
online platform. There is an increase in the numbers of fraudsters due to which most of the
customers are not comfortable buying products over it. Therefore, at the time of ordering and
purchasing products over internet the customers put personal details information over it. It
mainly includes ATM number, credit card number, e-mail, phone, home address and password. It
assist the fraudsters to hack the personal data of a customers due to which the account of them
turns into an empty.
Perception of customers towards online shopping through Amazon.
According to Jensen e-commerce are now establishing their business over the internet as
they deliver their products or services over the online platform. Thereafter, Amazon is one the
most famous online shopping that provide a wide ranges of products along the different price
structure, designs available etc. It directly influence the customers to buy products over the
internet as they feel more comfortable purchasing through social media. The customer perception
regard to buying products or services online is that they are said they reduce lot of wastage time
in travelling to go for the shopping mall and street market. The another customer perception
regard to social media is that it reduce time for bargaining with the sellers as in the online market
. It facilitate the customers to pick up the best available prices that are founded over the online

platform in most effective manner. Furthermore, customer perception regard to Amazon online
shopping is that they deliver a wide ranges of product that available the variety of designs and
offer the best prices, discount offer and schemes that attracts the customers most. On
contradictory Kim and Lennon the said that the customer perception regard to Amazon online
shopping is that they are not much comfortable through online shopping they think that
purchasing products over it is a less safer than street marketing and online shopping. . There is
an increase in the numbers of fraudsters due to which most of the customers are not comfortable
buying products over it. Therefore, at the time of ordering and purchasing products over internet
the customers put personal details information over it.
Factors that influence mind of consumers to shop through social media platform.
As per the factors that are mainly influence the customers towards the social media is
that it is a cost effective due to which the customers prefer to purchase products over online
platform. Thereafter they think that the it is the best way to buying the goods or service over the
online platform. Thus, it reduce searching cost time and travelling time due to which they can
easily search the wide ranges of products over it. Thereafter, the another thing that are mainly
influencing the customers minds regard to purchase products online is that the best available at
different products Luma argued that the online shopping influence the minds of customer in
negative manner they think that their personal data hack by the some other party. It leads to
create discomfort in the while purchasing products over the internet as they think personal
information such as ATM number, credit card number, e-mail, phone, home address and
password etc.
1.4 Research project specification
In order to accomplish goal of the study, researcher has to take support of research
methodologies. By this way in depth and accurate information can be collected t hat can be used
in getting optimistic results to the scholar. These tools and techniques supports in addressing the
problems and finding proper solution of these issues. In the present research , investigator will
take support of interpretivism philosophy that will help in making necessary modification in the
middle of the investigation (Ahmad and et.al, 2014). For collecting information, researcher will
use questionnaire techniques that would assist in gathering relevant information about social
media and its impact on buying behaviour of consumers. Inductive approach will be used so that
study can be done in systematic manner. Apart from this in the current research project,

investigator will take support of random sampling technique. It would be beneficial and will
reduce unnecessary biasness (Žikić, 2016). Thematic analyses tool will be used for analysing the
data and through graphical presentation overall results will be shown. Research type would be
qualitative, this type will help in carrying out the study in effective manner. In addition,
descriptive research design will be selected in order to identify relationship between social media
and consumer buying behaviour (Hooper and Gunn, 2014).
1.5 Research plan
Activity Week1 Week2 Week3 Week
4
Week5 Week6 Week7 Week
8
Week9
Research
Proposal
Reading of
previous
Literature
on same
topic
Formulatio
n of aims
and
objectives
for the
study
Drafting
literature
review
Collecting
data from
secondary/p
rimary
sources

Data
analyses
Develop
research
approach
Drafting
research
methodolog
y
Develop
questionnai
re
Arranging
interview
Conducting
interview
Accumulati
ng the data
Drafting
Findings
Analyzing
data
Completion
of
remaining
chapters
Taking
feedback
Revising
the draft

Printing
and binding
Final
submission
In the first week research proposal will be made by the investigator so that topic can be
decided. It is initial phases without it person can not move further. Once proposal has been made
then scholar will read some literature related to the subject matter. So that it can set its direction
for the study. In the week second, researcher will formulate aims and objective which is an
essential part of research project and dissertation. After that literature will be reviewed by the
person. Data will be analysed in the same week. In the week third, research approach, methods
will be developed, questionnaire will be prepared so that in depth information about subject
matter can be gathered (Luma and et.al, 2014). In week 4, interview will be arranged for
respondents after that data analyses and interpretation will be done. In the next week feedback
will be taken from related authorities and edition will be done. Final draft will be revised and
printing will be done. At the end research project will be submitted by the scholar.
Expected Outcome
This research will be beneficial for the investigator, with the help of this individual will
be able to enhance its knowledge about social media and consumer buying behaviour.
Investigator will get in depth information about online environment and perception of customers
about online shopping through social media platform. Individual knowledge will get developed
about several research methods and other tools that play significant role in completing research
project. In addition, by carrying out the investigation, scholar will be able to identify the impact
of social media on consumer buying behaviour. Individual will improve its knowledge about the
latest technologies and it will help in developing communication and analytical skills of the
investigator to great extent.

RESEARCH PROJECT
TASK 2
2.1 Research methodology
It is necessary to pay considerable attention on research methods in order to achieve
objective of the study significantly. It describes the components which are needed to be taken
into consideration for fund-able proposal and research project. Research methodologies are
comprehensive overview of paradigms and methods that make a good project (Rochon, du Bois
and Lange, 2014). It min objective is of using research methodologies are to identify relationship
between causes and effects. It helps to verify essential facts so that research can be authentic.
Research philosophy
it is vast topic that deals with nature of research and development of knowledge. It helps
in making aware researcher, formulating belief and assumption about subject matter. It reflects
the assumptions of author and serve as strategy for the research project. There are several types
of philosophies such as pragmatism, positivism, realism, interpretivism. In the present study
scholar has used interpretivism philosophy that helps in making relationship between social
media and its impact on consumer perception (Harley and et.al, 2015). This doctrine has
emphasized on values and belief that provides clear justification and address the research
problems clearly. With the help of this method individual has obtained facts and figures that
influence mind of customers from online shopping from Amazon.
Research design
It is the detail outline for investigator or list of specification so that research can be
conducted in structured way and investigator can make effective control over it. It is termed as
master plan of the study through which a study can be completed in effective manner. There are
several kinds of designs that can used in different researchers such as; descriptive, exploratory,
case study etc (Shabani Varaki, Floden and Javidi Kalatehjafarabadi, 2015). In the present
investigation scholar has used descriptive research design. It is used to describe characteristics of
research problems. There are two main methods used in this such as questionnaire and interview.
The main reason of selecting this design is hat it portrays t he actual profit, situation of the
respondents. It ensures that factual information used in the study in order to make it more
effective (Masyn, 2013).

Research approach
It is another important part of research methodology. It has two main types; inductive and
deductive. In the current study researcher has used inductive approach, the reason of selecting
this tool that in this universal explanation are done and no hypotheses is formulated by the
scholar (Jensen, 2013). It moves from specific observations to generalization. It assists the
investigator to explore alternate theories and understand nature of research problems
significantly. By this way scholar would be able to find out optimistic results and that will
support in fulfilling the objective of the research project.
Data collection
There are main two types of data collection methods such as primary and secondary.
Primary data collection is the type of method in which information is collected for the first time.
It is for specific topic, researcher has gathered information from managers of Amazon to find out
their perception about buying behaviour of consumers through social platform (Ahmad and et.al,
2014). These details are not being published yet so fresh material will be there in the study in the
research project, scholar has also taken support of secondary sources to gather information.
Some details are taken from books, journals, internet articles. These are already used materials
but give investigator extra information about research problems.
Sampling
Sample is the group of people those who participate in the study as respondents. There
are several kinds of sampling techniques such as random, judgemental, systematic etc. In the
present report random sampling technique is being used by the scholar that helps in knowing the
perception of different people in differed situations (Žikić, 2016).
Data analysis
It is the most essential part of research methodology, if this is not correct then overall
study will not be able to achieve its objective significantly. There are mainly two types of
researches such as qualitative and quantitative (Hooper and Gunn, 2014). In the Quantitative
study, scholar involves numbers and after calculating the figures actual results find out. Whereas
in the qualitative investigation, scholar involves words, pictures to analysis the data. In the
present research project, investigator has used qualitative technique of analysing the information.
Individual has taken support of thematic analyses, that is the great way that can help in analysing

the details effectively. Information collected by respondents are presented through graphical
presentation that is the great way of examine the data well (Luma and et.al, 2014).
Ethical considerations
It is the essential part of research methodology in which it is necessary to follow ethical
guidelines and conduct study ethically. In the present research project, scholar has given respect
to all respondents and no participants have been pressurized by the investigator to give their
answers. Individual have developed faith among respondents and they have share their views
without any pressure. Scholar has not copied the material which are gathered from internet,
books and journals (Rochon, du Bois and Lange, 2014). All details are understood by the
researcher and individual has written in its own language. That has helped in avoiding issues of
plagiarism in this research project.
Research limitation
While conducting this study, scholar has faced many problems which were limitation for
the person. The main constrain of this study was limited time length. Social media is vast topic
and it is necessary to involve various factors in the investigation (Harley and et.al, 2015). In such
limited time period it was very difficult for the investigator to complete the project. Another
limitation of this research was limited funds. Due to this individual was unable to use advanced
software in this investigation.