The #1 foundation for a successful marketing strategy is how well the marketing team understands its audience. Sometimes, we intuitively understand our customers, but often, we need research to build on this understanding.
So, what are the most effective tools for conducting market research?
One is quantitative research, a question designed to collect numerical data for statistical analysis. However, for you to be able to get the most benefit from it, you must craft practical quantitative research questions that will yield actionable insights.
Today, we’ll explore the most essential quantitative research questions for market insights, learn how to craft effective questions, and explore examples of data-driven decisions.
What is a quantitative research question?
Quantitative research questions collect numerical data for statistical analysis. This differs from qualitative research, which asks for descriptions and opinions (non-numerical data) on the qualities of research topics.
For example, a quantitative research questions could be:
- How much do you spend each week on makeup?
- When did you last buy makeup?
Qualitative research questions may be:
- Why do you use makeup?
- What kind of makeup do you use?
We use quantitative data to test and validate theories and assumptions about our audience, product, and market. We use it to discover patterns or trends that extend beyond our research group and ‘describe variables, ‘ which means explaining characteristics of our customers like income, age, and height.
If you’re worried about asking the right questions for quantitative research, then using OnePulse’s AI-powered survey builder makes it easy to design surveys with relevant and unbiased questions in just a few minutes. Why Quantitative Research is Essential for Market Research
Quantitative data are valuable because they can be easily collected on a large scale. This numerical data can then be quickly and effectively analysed using standard analysis methods to produce verifiable and accurate insights.
This differs from qualitative research, which relies on slower analysis and is more prone to human error, although AI tools are improving this process.
The results of this analysis are used to spot market trends, segment our audiences for better targeting, and predict their future behaviours. You use this insight to guide strategic marketing decisions and enhance campaign performance.
Ultimately, the high quality of the analysis quickly and efficiently gives brands conclusions they can be certain about and helps companies deepen their understanding of consumer preferences, behaviour and patterns.
For businesses looking to easily benefit from quantitative research, an all-in-one platform like OnePulse lets you collect, analyse and present quantitative data in less time than it takes for your coffee to cool.
Key types of quantitative research questions to ask for market research
There are a few key types of quantitative data that marketers research in order to yield valuable insights to deepen their understanding of their audience.
Demographic data
- Age, gender, education level, occupation and income
- Geographic location
- Marital status, family size
Customer behaviors & preferences:
- Purchase frequency
- Average spend per purchase
- Brand loyalty (measuring repeat customers)
- How customers research and purchase products
Market size and demand:
- Total market size
- The rate at which the market is growing
- Volume of demand
- Purchase frequency
Product/service performance:
- Revenue generated and volume of each product
- Customer satisfaction
- Product return rate
Competitor analysis:
- Competitor market share
- Price comparison
- Competitor’s product offerings and features
Trends and forecasting data:
- Project industry growth
- Understanding seasonal demand
- Changes in consumer behavior
- New & emerging needs
Pricing sensitivity:
- Willingness to pay at specific price points
- Price elasticity
Examples of quantitative research questions
Here are some examples of quantitative research questions to get your creative juices flowing. This should help you understand how these questions are used in a market research environment.
How often do you typically buy [product/service]?
- Options: Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Annually, Never
How would you rate your satisfaction with [product/service] on a scale of 1 to 10?
- Scale: 1 (Very Dissatisfied) to 10 (Very Satisfied)
How likely are you to recommend [product/service] to someone else?
- Scale: 1 (Not Likely at All) to 10 (Extremely Likely)
What price range do you prefer for [product/service]?
- Options: Under $20, $20-$50, $50-$100, Over $100
How significant are the following factors when selecting [product/service]—Quality, Price, Brand Reputation, Customer Service, and Convenience?
- Scale: 1 (Not Important) to 5 (Very Important) for each factor
How to Write Effective Research Questions for Quantitative Research
To get the best results from your surveys, it’s essential when writing questions that you stick to certain guidelines to avoid influencing their answers, confusing them and leading to drop-offs or making it hard for you to analyse their answers.
- Start by defining the purpose of the question by being clear in what you’re trying to learn. List exactly what data you need and ensure this comes across clearly in the question. Ensure the data collected will be actionable and align with your business goals.
- Use clear and concise language, avoiding jargon or complex phrasing. You don’t want your questions to be ambiguous; instead, focus on being highly specific. Also, avoid leading questions that push respondents to a particular answer. Your questions should be neutral in their tone about your product or service.
- Lastly, standardise your question’s formatting to get reliable responses. For example, always use the same scale size for rating questions, organise questions in a logical order, and ask closed-ended questions (multiple-choice, rating scales, yes/no) that are easier to analyse.
Using OnePulse for quantitative market research
To get incredible results from your marketing, you need a deep understanding of your audience. Quantitative market research is an effective tool for gaining insights that build this understanding. However, many marketers are intimidated by the prospect of producing surveys that meet the best practice criteria for asking meaningful quantitative questions.
A simple and easy way to craft surveys is OnePulse. Our AI-driven survey builder allows you to build surveys in minutes. Enter a prompt about your research topic and the insights you’re after, and OnePulse will turn it into an 3-question study (or what we call a Pulse) with a mix of question types.
Our intuitive platform simplifies the entire process of quantitative market research with our AI survey builder and a community of real, everyday people from which you can select highly specific targeting criteria (like age, income, hobbies & location) and get 100’s answers in less than 10 minutes.
Try One Pulse today for free. Publish a survey and get answers in minutes from 50 respondents anywhere in the world.
For a seamless way to conduct quantitative market research, try OnePulse. Its easy-to-use platform lets you quickly gather valuable insights from your target audience. Sign up for a free OnePulse account today and start gathering insights to make data-driven marketing decisions today!
