The Science of Giftcards Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

The Science of Giftcards - Research Paper Example Cards issued by banks are also usually accepted at any vendor. Just as with anything else there are laws governing gift cards, though they vary quite a lot by different States. Provisions are in place regarding fees that may be assessed on them, rules concerning expiration dates, and still more rules governing escheat provisions, which are to describe when property considered abandoned or unclaimed can be reclaimed by the government. According to the Federal Reserve’s website as of July 2010, new laws will take effect governing gift cards, also another 20 iStates have legislation pending regarding gift certificates and gift cards. We will not look more closely at these laws in recognition of the fact that this report is being prepared for a National Company. 2011 saw over 25 billion dollars spent on cards of all kinds, from the traditional store valued, rebates, promotional and loyalty cards, electronic and e cards. Holiday gift cards have been the most requested gift the previous four years with no competition even close. National Retail Fashion estimated that more than 75% of shoppers purchased at least one this Christmas Season. In the past few years gift cards sales have increased exponentially. Bankers, merchants, retailers, credit card companies, and makers of consumer goods haven’t failed to take notice of this. A secondary market has even formed as backlash from the high success of the gift card market, where customers can sell, swap, and buy one another’s cards. Third party processors are now needed to manage the cards legal, regulatory and accounting issues. The last fact of these gift cards is quickly becoming a concern for some. Liabilities are complex when a gift card expires before the consumer has been able to redeem the card. Some States feel that unused breakage or balances are unclaimed property due them under State escheatment laws.

Questionnaire Survey Method for Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Questionnaire Survey Method for Research - Essay Example There are various methods of research available including statistical analysis, simulations, observations, interviews, action oriented research, case study based research etc. Depending upon the field of research, the major approaches to research methodology differs and research in social science fields rely mainly on qualitative and quantitative research. In conducting qualitative or quantitative research, various research tools are utilised and questionnaires remain a key component in survey based research activities. Motives behind initiating a qualitative research is mainly to uncover or establish a basic understanding, knowledge or a hypothesis pertaining to a certain issue. Such research often lays the foundation for further research of quantitative nature, which can establish the validity of new knowledge generated through the qualitative research. Qualitative research differs from quantitative research on grounds of what is being researched of. â€Å"Qualitative research involves the collection of data about attitudes, beliefs and intensions† (Hall et al 2004). The objective of qualitative research is to unearth in-depth knowledge of reasons, which drives the human behavior while quantitative research on the other hand is concerned of data that can be measured. While there are numerous means of conducting qualitative research, methods such as focus groups, surveys through application of unstructured or semi structured questionnaires as well as participant observations (Wolcott 1995). Surveys remain one of the major forms of research and the most widely used where quantitative research is concerned. â€Å"Survey research is the method of gathering data from respondents thought to be representative of some population, using an instrument composed of closed structure or open-ended questions† (Survey Research 2006). Nature of survey research allows effective and efficient data gathering from a large population and thus