5 RESEARCHMETHODOLOGY

5.1 Research Methodology: The research was conducted from 6th June, to 25th August 2012. The research includes meetings with the retailers, consumers and dealers. It included preparation of the questionnaire to be answered by above people for knowing the competitive position of NHC SAAZ Masala in Masala market. The views of the above parties were recorded in the research as per the questionnaire set by us. 5.1.1 Research Approach: The objective was to know the competitive position of NHC SAAZ Masala in Masala market thus in order to successfully conduct the research the unbiased opinion of the above parties was desirable. Thus we conducted the research as the representative of NHC Company and sometimes the representatives of the other company like Pravin Masale or Everest in order to have an unbiased opinion of the concerned persons and it worked to achieve our goal. 5.1.2 Research Instrument: The research instrument was the structured questionnaire formulated for the respondents. The questionnaire was different for the retailers and for the consumers there was a different set of questionnaire. There were also the area maps. 5.1.3 Types of Question: The second important aspect in the designing a question is to decide which types of questionnaire to be used. Question can be classified in various ways. Questionnaire contains following type information1. Open-ended question

2. Dichotomous question 3. Multiple-choice Question Both the questionnaire consists of all three types of question. Mostly all questions are multiple type questions. Dichotomous question are few in number. There is only one open-ended type question. 5.1.4 Phrasing of Question: In questionnaire, I try to phrase the question in logical way. For example I arrange question in sequence as personal information, awareness data, usage data, and finally related to reason and satisfaction. 5.1.5 Sampling Plan: Sample Size: The sample size was as follows: SR. NO. RESPONDENT TOTAL NUMBER 1. Retailers 169. 2. Consumers 95. 3. Distributors 4 Sampling Technique: A stratified sampling technique was used. A different Stratum for different type of respondent within every stratum the respondents was selected as per convenience basis. 5.1.6 Method of Survey: Personal Interview: It is direct form of investigation, involving face-to-face communication with free feedback information. It offers a sense of participation. It is more flexible form of data collection. Use of unstructured, open-end questions is possible. Rate of refusal is low. Depth interview is possible. Complex questions can be asked. The interview can have questions to secure more information. Observation approach can be combined to

verify age, income, status, standard information. Visual aids in the form of catalogues samples etc. can be used to get views, opinions, and attitudes of responder.