Report on Survey Assessment and Stock Market Investment

Report on Survey Assessment and Stock Market Investment

7th April 2016

150759

Word Count: 2,200

Contents Page

Terms of Reference             Page 3

Introduction              Page 3

Findings (Part A)        Pages 3 - 5

Findings (Part B)        Pages 6 - 13

Conclusion        Page 14

Bibliography        Page 15

Terms of Reference

This report is for Andrew Carney of the School of Management and Social Sciences, and was submitted on the 7th April 2016. The report is in two parts. The first part is a survey assessment; the second part outlines certain aspects of the workings of the stock market.

Introduction

The first part of the author’s finings is a survey evaluation; Jessica Utts’s ‘Seven Critical Components’ were used to evaluate the information given in the news report, focused specifically on the flaws in the survey.

The second part of the authors report is a look into how the stock market works, four companies were chosen from the FTSE 100, and were tracked over a six-week period. The author collected, presented and analysed the relevant data. Using the information collected to give some in sight to the risks that are involved in investing into the equity market.

Findings (Part A) – Seven Critical Components

Jessica Utts’s seven critical components are used to evaluate the strengths and flaws of a statistical study, it can help the reader determine the authenticity of an article, and rarely articles present actual authentic data, therefore helping to determine a good news report. ResourceCrossroad (2016)

The first component is the source of the research and the source of funding for the research. From the article itself the author allows us to understand that the survey was ‘commissioned by STV News’ suggesting they authorised the production and potentially funded the research. Although the commissioner was stated, there is no clear indication to who actually funded the study, or the allocation of amount supplied to carry out the research. Daisley used a leading market research company; Ipsos MORI Scotland to source his results through telephone interviews to 1000 people, but the funding was not mentioned. Susan E. Wyse. (November 16, 2012).

The second component looks at whether the researchers who had contact with the participants, if the researcher had contact with the participants it could affect the answers or behavior. This is not relevant to Daisley’s study because he carried out his survey through an independent research company IPSOS Mori, which suggests there was no direct contact with the participants and the researcher, making his results more reliable.

The third component is ‘the individuals or objects studied and how they were selected’ In the case of Daisley’s research he used IPSOS Mori Scotland, which meant through telephone interview 1000 Scottish participants took part. However without knowing the age range of participants the results could be deemed very biased and only people between a certain age answering, with similar set opinions, making the study inconclusive and not effective for the readers sourcing information. Daisley Stephen (2016)