Practice IB Design Technology (DT) Topic 9.4 Market Research with authentic exam-style questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank focuses on the exact syllabus content for 9.4 Market Research and mirrors Paper 1, 2, 3 style where relevant.
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A manufacturer of high-end induction cooktops for professional kitchens has developed a new prototype featuring a haptic-feedback control system. Before the final design is approved for production, the company invites a group of senior executive chefs and industrial safety consultants to evaluate the prototype. The table below displays the mean scores collected during these evaluation sessions.
A start-up, PulsePod, is developing a refillable insulated bottle that tracks hydration and sends reminders through an app. The team is unsure which customer segment to prioritise and which features justify a higher price.
Before committing to tooling, PulsePod ran a two‑stage market research plan:
The survey results are summarised below.
| Design Criterion | Mean Rating: Senior Chefs () | Mean Rating: Safety Consultants () |
|---|
| Heat Regulation Accuracy | ||
| Surface Material Durability | ||
| Emergency Shutdown Speed | ||
| Interface Accessibility |
Which market research method is primarily being used by the manufacturer to refine this product design?
| Finding | Result |
|---|
| Would consider buying a bottle in the next 3 months | 58% |
| Most important purchase driver | Leak-proof lid (34%), keeps drinks cold (29%), price (21%), app reminders (16%) |
| Most important purchase driver by segment | Runners: keeps drinks cold (38%), leak-proof lid (33%), price (17%), app reminders (12%); Office workers: leak-proof lid (39%), price (24%), keeps drinks cold (22%), app reminders (15%); Students: price (36%), leak-proof lid (28%), app reminders (20%), keeps drinks cold (16%) |
| Preferred buying channel | Online marketplace (44%), brand website (31%), sports store (25%) |
| Acceptable price range (most common) | – |
PulsePod’s draft concept sheet (used in interviews and the survey) included:
PulsePod’s investor asks for evidence that the product will meet real customer needs and that the marketing plan is based on reliable research.
Figure 1: PulsePod draft concept sheet
Figure 2: Summary of PulsePod survey results
(a) two purposes of market research for a company at PulsePod’s stage of product development.
(b) how PulsePod could use the Stage 2 survey findings to guide two design decisions for the product or service.
A toy manufacturer employs a certified safety consultant to evaluate the structural integrity and material toxicity of a new prototype. Which research method is being used?
A design team is gathering information by analysing existing ergonomic standards, government census data, and technical reports from similar product launches in the previous decade. Which research method is being used?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a well-defined marketing specification?
User trial
Expert appraisal
Trend analysis
Literature search
(c) two pieces of design guidance (requirements) PulsePod should when creating the questionnaire for Stage 2 to improve the quality of the data.
(d) how PulsePod could two different market research strategies to reduce uncertainty before investing in tooling and launch.
(e) how PulsePod should and use its market research to decide (i) a primary target segment and (ii) an initial marketing mix (product, price, place, promotion).
