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Market
Research
A data handling mini-project
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This is an activity that
I did with my class of Year 4/5s during our focus on data handling. They were
fairly familiar with producing and interpreting graphs at the time. This activity
provides a chance to use those skills in a 'real-life' situation. The activity
took two lessons and lesson notes (in shortened form!) and worksheets are provided
below (click on the links for additional resources). Basically the activity
involves the children taking on the role of a market research team!
Main Teaching Activity - Lesson Notes - Day 1
Pretend children have been asked to carry out some market research.
Whole class board work Our company sells different foods. Show
graph (pictogram) of sales figures -> What type of graph is this?
How many choc bars sold in February? What other information do we need?
(key) -> put up key -> Ask basic questions
about graph that involve reading off information, finding differences
between sales in different months. What does this graph tell us? The
story of the graph? When is most choc sold? Why? Any other period lot
of choc sold? Why then? Why low in Jan? etc.
Explain about breakfast cereal. Say company was unhappy with
sales and decided to change its name. Asked market research team to
find out which of list of given names was the most popular with consumers.
Show graph (bar chart) showing answer
to "Which name do you like the best?" question -> Ask basic questions
about graph. Changed name in line with findings. Something was wrong,
though. Show graph (line graph) of sales figures.
Ask children to explain what the graph shows. Explain dates on graph.
Jan-May when product was original name. Changed name in Jun. What happened?
(sales fell dramatically then recovered slightly) Why? (people getting
used to change etc). Sales after less than before. Why could this be?
Show second bar chart. Question asked
"Which of these names don't you like?" Compare this to first bar chart.
Can the children give a reason why sales lower?
Group work Children will split up into groups of three (mixed
ability). Each group (pairs of 3s) given different product ( crisps,
biscuits, sweets,
ice lolly, breakfast
cereal, cola). Want to know what is
best name and best slogan to use. Brainstorm names and slogans quickly.
(Set time limit?) Decide which questions are to be asked? Draw up a
tally chart to go with questions. More able may well decide to ask more
than one question about name & slogan. Further details on first activity
sheet. Send children out at break to collect information
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Market Research
You are helping Kay Log's foods to launch a new
product.
Day 1
In your group you need to plan your survey.
Come up with four possible names
for the new product.
Come up with four possible advertising
slogans to advertise the new product (your Literacy work will help here).
You need to carry out a survey to find out
the best name and slogan for the product.
Think what questions you are going to ask the
people you survey. Think how many people you are going to try and ask (be realistic).
Draw up any tables and create any diagrams etc.
that you will need to carry out the survey. How are you going to organise who
does what in the survey?
In your books answer these questions
(Answer in full sentences)
- What are the four product names that you've come up with?
- What are the four slogans that you've come up with?
- What are you trying to find out in your survey?
- What questions are you going to ask the people you interview?
- Is there anything that you're going to try and make sure
that you do when you carry out the survey?
- Make a copy (in your book) of the table(s) that you're
using in the survey.
- Extension: What other information might the food company
want to find out from the people that you're interviewing? What other information
might the food company need to research before it releases its product? Think
carefully about what makes you buy certain products and not other ones.
Can you come up with some questions to research this information?
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Main Teaching Activity - Lesson Notes - Day 2
Go through earlier work fairly rapidly. Children split off into
groups to collate results and prepare presentation for end of session.
(large versions of graphs, tally charts etc. required to be produced
for presentation). If possible use your class computer for the children
to produce graphs on. Optional extra - Use blank outlines of
the product packages to produce a final design of the product box with
the chosen name and slogan displayed on it.
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Market Research
You are helping Kay Log's foods to launch a new
product.
Day 2
You've now carried out your survey and you
need to report back to the food company with your results.
You need to collect your results together and
produce some graphs to show the information you've collected. Choose which type
of graph you want to use and think carefully about titles on the graph and how
you label the axes.
Make sure that you produce graphs that people
can see easily and that people, most importantly, can understand easily.
You need to present your results to the food
company.
Which name and slogan are you going to recommend
to the company?
You will need to show the company the evidence
to support your opinion.
Work out who is going to say what in your presentation.
Remember you need to tell the company what you were trying to find out and how
you carried out the survey as well as the final results from the survey. (Use
your answers to yesterday's questions to help you.)
Try and fit in a practise run through of your
presentation.
Extension
If you think that you've prepared enough then
make sure you all have a copy of the graphs and final results in your books.
Can you think of further surveys that you could
carry out for the company regarding their new product? Remember that you want
them to continue to employ you!
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