Mary Davis is a research analyst investigating the deteriorating relationship between a certain manufacturer and its wholesale distributors.A search of pertinent literature has revealed twelve factors thought to contribute to adversarial relationships in general.Which of the following is the best "next step" for Mary's research to follow?
A)Design a series of experiments to test each of the factors in isolation.
B)Design one experiment to test all of the factors simultaneously.
C)Assemble a focus group with participants selected from a random list of wholesale managers to discuss the twelve factors.
D)Administer a written survey covering all twelve factors to the wholesalers in question.
E)Assemble a focus group with participants selected from the wholesalers in question to discuss the twelve factors.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Assembling a focus group with participants selected from the wholesalers in question to discuss the twelve factors would provide Mary with direct insights into the specific issues and challenges that they are facing in their relationship with the manufacturer. This would allow her to gather qualitative data and explore the nuances of the situation, which would be beneficial in developing a deeper understanding of the factors contributing to the adversarial relationship. This can then inform the design of a more comprehensive survey or other research methods to test the findings more broadly. Designing experiments or administering a survey without a clear understanding of the specific issues at hand may not provide useful insights. Testing all factors simultaneously in one experiment may also be overly complicated and difficult to manage. A focus group with random participants may not provide insights specific to the actual situation.

Mary Davis Is a Research Analyst Investigating the Deteriorating Relationship