In Researching Emerging Markets, Anthropology often Trumps Statistics

Abstract

For reasons primarily associated with the reliability of the data it generates, the timeliness with which it can be produced (and hence its relevance) and its limitations in handling context-sensitive issues, market research in emerging markets that relies too heavily on quantitative methodologies has considerable limitations. For this reason, there has been an increasing realisation that qualitative methods, emphasising data richness and a deep understanding of consumers – 'why' as well as 'what' and 'how much' – are a critical component of research in emerging markets. This paper proposes an approach that integrates quantitative and qualitative methods. It argues that a thorough understanding of emerging markets requires a mind-set and set of skills akin to those of an anthropologist, and sets out how these can be acquired.