Applied Business Research: XYZ Social Network Scent Technology

This report presents a comprehensive research design aimed at investigating the influence of digital scent technology on user behavior within the XYZ social network. The study focuses on determining whether different types of smells can alter the emotional state of users and subsequently impact how they update their personal pages. The research design includes a detailed literature review that explores existing research on digital scent technology and its applications, examining the communication models and scent parameters involved. The methodology section outlines the research questions, objectives, and the proposed approach, including data collection methods, sample units, and ethical considerations. The report also discusses the potential advantages and disadvantages of digital scent technology, along with an analysis of how online scent marketing may affect user page updates. The research aims to fill a literature gap by exploring how different smells affect user updates, using descriptive research design, and considering ethical guidelines throughout the study. The report also includes a letter of transmittal and a discussion of data analysis, validity, reliability, and limitations, concluding with recommendations for future research and the potential impact of digital scent technology.

APPLIED BUSINESS RESEARCH AND ETHICS
1
APPLIED BUSINESS RESEARCH AND ETHICS
By Name
Course
Instructor
Institution
Location
Date

APPLIED BUSINESS RESEARCH AND ETHICS
2
Executive summary.
The core aim of this report was to conduct a research design that would pave way to a
research project. This research design was based on XYZ social network whose main objective
was to investigate whether they would have changed the emotional state of the end users of XYZ
social network. The main consent was to maintain ethical considerations in determining whether
different types of smells affected the users on how they would have updated their personal page
in XYZ social network. Although the digital scent technology was at development stage, more
interest were likely to arise due to online scent marketing, the design recommended all the
underlying principles that would have been relevant to pave way for actual research.

APPLIED BUSINESS RESEARCH AND ETHICS
3
Table of Contents
Executive summary.....................................................................................................................................2
Letter of transmittal.....................................................................................................................................3
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................4
Literature review.........................................................................................................................................4
Research questions and objectives..............................................................................................................7
Research questions..............................................................................................................................7
Research objectives.............................................................................................................................7
Background..........................................................................................................................................8
Theory application...............................................................................................................................9
Evidence to address research questions............................................................................................10
Solution to company XYZ...................................................................................................................10
Data approach...................................................................................................................................10
Recommended methods...................................................................................................................11
Sample unit and sample methodology......................................................................................................12
Sample unit........................................................................................................................................12
Sample methodology.........................................................................................................................12
Discussion of data collected......................................................................................................................13
Description........................................................................................................................................14
Data analysis......................................................................................................................................14
Validity, reliability and limitation of study.................................................................................................14
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................15
References.................................................................................................................................................16

APPLIED BUSINESS RESEARCH AND ETHICS
4
Letter of transmittal.
Broad Way Arcade
435 street
October 9, 2017
Dear Sir,
I submit herewith a research design in order to pave way for the research for XYZ social network
on the impact of how users will update their page based on different smells in digital scent
technology.
I recommend all the required aspect for completion of the research. Question regarding to this
research design must be addressed to me for any clarification.
Your consideration of my research design is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Enclosure: research design.

APPLIED BUSINESS RESEARCH AND ETHICS
5
Applied Business Research and Ethics.
Introduction.
The main objective of this report is to perform a research design that will pave way to a
research project. This research design is based on XYZ social network whose aim is to determine
if they could change the emotional state of the end users of XYZ social network. The main
consent is to maintain ethics in determining whether different types of smells affect the users on
how they update their personal page in XYZ social network. Although the digital scent
technology is at development stage, more interest is likely to arise due to online scent marketing.
In that connection, there are the various research questions as well as background information
that can be designed to determine the aspects of digital scent technology with regard to the
impact of user’s personal page. For this report, the research question is, what is the effect of the
different types of smells on how users updated their own page in XYZ social network?
From the above research questions, then the research design will be in proper progress to
determine the underlying concept. However, it is important to briefly express a distinct
understanding on digital scent technology offered by XYZ social network (Klosterboer 2011).
To start with, digital scent technology is as well-known as olfactory technology. Typically, it
refers to the engineering discipline that basically deals with olfactory representation. This
technology is widely associated with smell, sense along with transmission and receiving scent-
enabled digital media. By use of various technological aspects such as electronic noses and
olfactometers (Latham 2010). Finally, web pages, music, video as well as web pages are among
the scent-enabled digital media. For XYZ social network, the user web page will be the main
target based on the different types of smells.
Literature review.
Social networks are mainly in control of many communications that take place day in day
out. A lot of social networks have been designed to express a specific motive. Each social
network attract a specific audience who are mainly regarded as users in this field. Technology
has made communication to become digital and this make this report relevant. Therefore, by
analyzing any secondary data, this report can relate the data to the effect of digital scent

APPLIED BUSINESS RESEARCH AND ETHICS
6
technology on the users updates on their page. This will as well help in filling the literature gaps.
From the previous research that was conducted by Facebook, the secondary data indicated that
there was tampering with the news feed of many people. This was estimated to be nearly 700,000
users (Muller 2011). This indicated abnormal low numbers of positive and negative posts. From
the interpretation of the results that were analyzed, it was determined that more negative
comments that were posted on Facebook, duplicated more negative comments. The reverse was
also true.
Digital scent technology, has demonstrated how different smells affect how the users
update their web pages in XYZ social network. The secondary data that relate to the effects of
different smells on users updates on their page is directly connected to communication model
that is highly based on digital scent technology. This communication model applies some
verified parameters of smell. The two parameters of smell that relate to application of digital
scent technology as designed by XYZ social network include the chemical makeup as well as
connected position in the smell. Again, the data indicate how e-nose is used to detect the
different types of smells. Based on the chemical makeup as well as smell spectrum, the
underlying smell is indexed. This scent is finally coded and the system digitized.
The issue of digital scent technology and how it effect on how the user update their page
as based on the various aspects connecting to development of digital scent technology. This
technology has attained market publication via online channels. The usage of digital scent
technology has been promoted by application of various communication models regarding the
different smells associated to the users. For now we are aware that XYZ social network users
have the capacity to send different types of smell and this relate to how these users will update
their page. One application of how this smells can be applied in web pages is the use of ismell.
This is highly designed in a model that can offer protective measure against the different smells
designed for each user in a particular purpose. Another application communication model is the
scent cartridges. This particular application mainly contain natural aspects that are popularly
contained in the cosmetics, beverages as well as foods stuffs that are consumed at all times.
However, there is likelihood that the users may be allergic from the different smells. Therefore
from this particular problem, the ismell is well known in provision of locking facility. This

APPLIED BUSINESS RESEARCH AND ETHICS
7
implies that individual user will be in a position to lock those unpleasant smells that he doesn’t
like.
There are various previous researches that have been conducted in this field described
the various advantages and disadvantages of applying digital scent technology by different users.
These merits and demerits are not exceptional to XYZ social network users on the same.
According to international journal for advance research in engineering and technology, these
advantages and disadvantages play a major part in determining the effect of different smells on
how users will update their pages based on the scent under consideration (Trainor & Graue
2014). This particular journal conducted a research on how scent relate to human beings. It
asserted that Scent has a peculiar vigor over human beings and their responses to different
aspects. First, it is believed that scent can build a particular mood to a particular user that may be
different from the other user. For some users, these mood would be associated to foreshadowing
as well as ambiance for other users. In addition, this particular scent may intensify emotions to
the user under consideration. These emotions include fear and love. Moreover, this particular
scent can offer sensation of virtual reality along with suspension of disbelief.
Finally, that particular research asserted that the Sense of smell highly possess a perfect
positive correlation to memory as well as emotions. This in return make scent a powerful tool to
initiate ideas (Harland 2014). The research asserted the various streams along which the digital
smell can be applied by different users. This would include the television, theater as well as the
web. For this case, the web is important because the targeted users by XYZ have created a web
page where they are expected to update details on the smell asserted. Therefore, the conclusive
statement is that, this digital scent technology aim at revolutionize the globe. This implies that, at
any particular point in time we will need this device. This areas include scented mail, movies as
well as songs that must require particular digital scent technology. This particular technology
will become our requirement in future.
There are several techniques and tools that have been applied in the previous researches
to determine the importance of digital scent technology and the related effects in the web pages
by different users. The tools and techniques used include the sample survey to determine the
views of different users in the different smells. The techniques also included designing

APPLIED BUSINESS RESEARCH AND ETHICS
8
questionnaire study to collect data on the future application of scent devises as well as various
applications of the asserted scent devices. However, none of the previous researches that were
conducted described the effect of different smells on how the users updated their pages.
Therefore, this remain as our literature gap that need to be filled. This remain unknown in the
field of research which therefore make the research relevant as we focus of developing this
particular research.
From the previous researches, the researchers attempted to relate the application of
digital scent technology with the available devices (Gioia, Corley & Hamilton 2013). They also
asserted the mode of application such as sending digital scented emails, scented songs as well as
scented video. The issue of scented web pages will be discussed in this report to determine how
different smells impact how users updated their pages. Since the previous research attempted to
describe that overall aspect of digital scent technology, the researchers used descriptive research
design. This implies that, explanatory and exploratory research designs were discarded. For this
report, we also use descriptive research design to fully describe the impact of different smells on
how users updated their pages. This will apply ethical considerations and we discard the
exploratory and explanatory research design and recommend descriptive research design.
Research questions and objectives.
This research design assert various research questions and objectives that will help the
report to focus on what we aim to achieve as well as the questions that need to be addressed in
the report and for future recommendations.
Research questions.
The following research questions are very relevant as far as digital scent technology is
concerned. These research questions include:
1. Will the XYZ social network manage to alter the emotional state of their users?
2. How will digital scent technology affect the responses of the users?
3. Will the result on digital scent technology be ethical?
4. What sample size will be required so as to offer conclusive decision?
5. At what extent will online scent marketing result to user page update?

APPLIED BUSINESS RESEARCH AND ETHICS
9
Research objectives.
For any successful research, there are various relevant objectives that need to be
addressed so as to fully focus on the requirements of the project research. The following
objectives are relevant as far as digital scent technology is concerned.
1. To determine how users will update their pages as a result of different smells.
2. To determine the devises that are associated to digital scent technology.
3. To determine whether XYZ social network will be able to alter the emotion state of their
users.
4. To find out the best sample for this research so as to generate distinct and appropriate
results.
5. To investigate the smells that are not pleasant to the users.
6. To determine the advantages associated to digital scent technology.
7. To find out the disadvantages associated to digital scent technology and how that relate to
users update to the page.
Research methodology.
Background
The research methodology in this particular report applies theories relating to business
research literature so as fully address the impact of different smells on how the user in XYZ
social network updated their pages. To start with, it is asserted that Scent is sensed by application
of electronic nose that actually denote a receiver. Similar to color spectrum, a scent spectrum as
well exist to denote the smell and to sense the different types of smell. For this case, any given
smell under consideration will be the indexed. This smell will denote a primary smell that will be
reflected in the scent spectrum. Similarly, a communication model associated to the different
types of smell is also relevant. Typically, this model is associated with of digital scent
technology. It has a wider application of two parameter units. These two parameters are also
related to digital scent technology. They include chemical Makeup along with wider application
and position in the scent spectrum. In addition, it consist of e-nose that has the capacity of
detecting the different types of smells that are reflected in the scent spectrum. Based on this
particular chemical makeup as well as in smell spectrum, the smell in consideration is indexed.
Later on, the individual indexed scent technologically coded which results to digital olfactory

APPLIED BUSINESS RESEARCH AND ETHICS
10
signal processing files in the scent spectrum. Finally, this file is enclosed digitally in the web
page to the computer user. At the final stage, the devise user will ask the file by clicking a mouse
or by updating the page under consideration. The individual smell synthesizer will rebuild the
diminished quantity of aroma as well as the air cannon which is designed to refocus the scent to
user’s nose (Fisher, Bishop, Fawcett & Magassa 2014). It is important to note that the
information as well as the relevant data concerning a particular smell is provided via the digitally
encoded file that is reflected in the scent spectrum during transmission process to the designed
user. The scent produced is likely to be vapor form.
Theory application.
This is based on business research literature. For the purpose of this report and
development of research, there are various ethical considerations that need to be taken into
account. This data require high integrity and other ethical factual relationships in the research
design. The theory applicable in this case is privatization theory in digital scent technology
relating to how the research data can be treated to maintain the integrity and confidentiality of
the users. In that connection, the theory will tend to protect the motive of all the users based on
their decision on the different smells and the corresponding impact to how the users update their
pages.
It is very crucial in the process of choosing the most accurate as well as appropriate
method and theories for this particular research methodology and other research overview
worldwide. Typically, there are about three concrete types of research philosophies and theories
in business research literature that are generally applied in the research methodology. They
include positivism, realism as well as interpretivism theories and philosophies (Yeoman &
McMahon-Beattie 2005). In that connection, a quantifiable observation is highly regarded in
positivism philosophy and theory. In this case, this theory is also applicable in the present
research design since it involves the observation of users’ actions on the different types of smells
as well as the impacts associated to how they update their page. Therefore, XYZ social network
will observe that particular aspect so as to fully determine their capability of adjusting the users’
emotional status without violating all ethical considerations. In addition, it is also important to
note that statistical analysis occurs under positivism theory. Hence, positivism theory is
associated with scientific tests (Vejlgaard 2008). Since this report involves the sampling units,

APPLIED BUSINESS RESEARCH AND ETHICS
11
this theory become very relevant. In the research design, positivism theory has been pointed out
in the research design for using factual skills and knowledge along with research objectives as
well as questions of the research. Therefore, it is very significant to realize how ethical
considerations are quantifiable in this research design. Positivism theory has been pointed out as
the appropriate theory for the research and relate very well to business research literature. This
implies that other theories such as interpretivism and realism theories are discarded due to
negative correlation to business research literature.
Evidence to address research questions.
There is a perfect positive correlation between the motive of research questions and
research objectives. For this case, there was the main research question that laid down the
foundation of this particular research design (Rose 2008). This research question asserts that,
what is the effect of the different types of smells on how users updated their own page in XYZ
social network? This particular research question is quantitative in nature. There is need of data
collection and analysis. This implies that, the research theory selected need to accommodate the
aspect of research question (Reynolds, Creemers, Nesselrodt, Shaffer, Stringfield & Teddlie
2014). Positivism theory fully justify the process of addressing this particular research question
since the same theory is applied in justifying the research objectives whose motive are perfectly
positively correlated.
Solution to company XYZ.
There underlying solution of this company is based on the nature of the research
questions and the objectives of the research. Drawing ideas from the previous research, it is
important to put several facts into consideration. First, XYZ social network need to consider all
ethical issues to this particular subject matter. This is because, from the previous case of
Facebook, the issue of ethical considerations affected the results attributed to negative and
positive comments (Mackey & Gass 2015). Another solution for this particular company, it is
important to collect data that need to be analyzed statistically for the purpose of reaching to
proper and accurate decision on whether the company will be in a position to adjust the users’
emotional status on the ground of different types of smells on how the users updated their pages.

APPLIED BUSINESS RESEARCH AND ETHICS
12
Data approach.
This particular research design applies quantitative approach rather than qualitative
approach. This is because, the research involves both primary as well as secondary sources of
data. As a positivist researcher, I prefer the quantitative approach due to various reasons
(Waterman 2017). First, this research design involves collection of data that need to be collected,
analyzed, interpreted and presented so as to reach a desirable decision. In that case, a quantitative
data is important due to hypothesis testing and statistical analysis. Again, the research question is
subjective in nature. Subjective research question require the quantitative approach so as to get
the specific response which is rational to the research under consideration. For this research to be
effective, a positivist researcher is preferred rather than interepretivist researcher (Peacock
2011). A positivist research basically applies mixed data approach but more ideally applies
quantities data approach. The present research is based on how many people support the fact
that, XYZ social network will be in a position to adjust the emotional status of the users based on
the different types of smells on how they affect how the users update their page. It is not based
on the few people who support the fact that, XYZ social network will be in a position to adjust
the emotional status of the users based on the different types of smells on how they affect how
the users update their page. This in conclusive assert that a positivist researcher is preferred to
interepretivist researcher hence we chose quantitative approach by default.
Recommended methods.
The recommended methods applicable in this research design are placed under
quantitative data approach. These methods would include the sample survey methods,
questionnaire study, observations as well as structured interviews (Cerjan 2013). These methods
are the most appropriate approaches for data collection. First, the data obtained is the primary
data that has not been manipulated. This implies that, the results obtained from the analysis is
accurate in relation to the topic of research parse. Again, this methods of approaches are
appropriate since an individual is in a position to adjust the ethical considerations required in the
process of gathering and presenting that data to the users. Unlike qualitative data approach
methods that are difficult to adjust, these quantitate approaches of data collection provide a
structured response based on what the questionnaire design question require from the sample
(Zarrella 2009). Therefore, these methods are the recommended for this case. From the three