When formulating any kind of market research, many phases need to be programmed. First of all one must set the objectives of the research and from these will immediately spring the problem of selecting the sample. This will be followed by the interview, the evaluation and interpretation of the data in accordance with: A. a statistical criterion (evaluating the reliability of the results); B. a marketing outlook (drawing operative conclusions from verified data). We shall be dealing here with the problem of sample selection only.
The two aspects of measurement of industrial markets considered in this paper are the choice of estimating methods and the use of sampling techniques. There are of course other measurement problems; particularly concerned with the reliability of replies given by respondents and the accuracy of published statistical data, but these are outside the scope of this paper.