a research project report - techshristi
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1
A
RESEARCH PROJECT REPORT
ON
“USAGE & SATISFACTION LEVEL OF
WATER FILTERRING MACHINE IN
HOUSEHOLD”
SUBMITTED TO:
MR. KAUSHIK TRIVEDI
2
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that we the students of M.B.A. programme of
K.S. School of Business Management have satisfactorily completed the
project work of research methodology for the first semester.
Date of submission: Project Co-coordinator:
19th
November, 2010 Mr. Kaushik Trivedi
GROUP MEMBERS
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ROLL NO NAME
4127 VENU S. PATEL
4130 NIRALI C. PRAJAPATI
4143 VIRAL H. SHAH
4153 HIMADRI J. BHATT
4170 JIGISHA A. IYAVA
4192 HARDI R.PATEL
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INDEX
No. Particulars Page no.
1. Preface
5
2. Acknowledgement
6
3. Executive summery
7
4. Synopsis
8
5. What is research?
10
6. Introduction
11
7. History
16
8. Research process
21
9. Questionnaire
24
10. Analysis of data
28
11. Testing of hypothesis
37
12. Findings & conclusion
41
13. Limitations
43
14. Learning
44
15. Bibliography 45
PREFACE
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As a person who has his strong past and present in the world of
commerce and management education and looking for good future in the
world of practical commerce and administration, we are glad to
undertake a market research on usage of water filtering machine in
household & satisfaction level.
We have persistently kept in our mind the need to focus on what is
useful and practical instead of being theoretical. We are presenting what
we believe to be necessary for project report. We had the opportunity of
interacting with wide range of households who use water purifier.
Here we are presenting project report on usage & satisfaction level
of water filtering machine and we sincerely hope that the project will
serve the purpose for which it has been written.
The opportunity of working on this project was not only a platform
to develop and enhance our learning but also served as a blend of the
theoretical concepts and practical applications of the act, which will help
us, solve the commonly faced problems.
As a concluding remark we hope that this project will prove to be a
reliable source of information and would inculcate interest in whosoever
makes a study of it.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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It has been rightly said, “Whenever people were willing but unable
to perform task, they need cooperation and guidance of experienced
people which is quite imperative in achieving the desired goals.”
The project is dedicated to all the people whom are met, and who
guided us. At this occasion, we went to grab this opportunity to
acknowledgement our sincere thank to all of them while submitting this
report.
We have furthermore to thanks the institute “K.S. School of
Business Management” and we are bound to our honorable Director Dr.
Sarala Achutan for giving us the opportunity of conducting this research.
We are deeply indebted to our prof. Kaushik Trivedi whose help,
stimulating suggessions and encouragement helped us in all the time of
research for and writting of this report. We extend our heart felt
gratitude to all those who extended their tremendous support and
cooperation.
EXECUTIVE SUMMERY
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The whole journey from beginning to completion of our research
on people‟s preference on use of water filtering machine in households
was really full of experience and full of learning. And the journey has
taught us how to apply the principles of research methodology in the
practical situation. This project is the result of what we have digested out
of the whole journey. To know what this project brings to you keep
reading.
In our project, we have tried to know that how many people are
using water filtering machine in households & satisfaction level of those
people who are already using it. All these aspects have been neatly and
logically woven in our questionnaire.
In this research we interviewed 100 respondents which include all
major areas and all classes of people of Ahmedabad. Having completed
this procedure, we arrived at a juncture where we needed to give a right
direction to our research by forming research hypothesis very carefully.
With completion of the research we find ourselves standing on a
very exciting but a very crucial stage of our research and that is testing
of hypothesis done through analyzing the data presenting outcomes. We
have presented the result of our survey in tabulated from accompanied
by graphical analysis.
Lastly, we have concluded on the basis of above evaluated
provided some recommendations and also some limitation of our
project.
SYNOPSIS
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RESEARCH PROBLEM: -
Research on the subject of “USAGE AND SATISFACTION
LEVEL OF WATER FILTERING MACHINE IN
HOUSEHOLDS” involves the problem of satisfaction level. The
problem is to find out how many people in Ahmedabad are
satisfied with the usage of water filtering machine.
HYPOTHESIS: -
The research aims at checking the satisfaction level
regarding the usage of water filtering machine.
SAMPLE SIZE: -
The sample size will be 100 randomly selected persons.
SAMPLING METHOD: -
This research involves „Simple random sampling method‟.
METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION: -
The research involves „Questionnaire method of data
collection, where the questionnaire would be in the structured or
general form.
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DATA ANALYSIS:-
Firstly the raw data collected through questionnaires would be
edited using „Field editing‟ and „Central editing‟ methods, after that
proper coding and classification of data would be done according to
the attributes and class- intervals. Finally data interpretation would be
done through tables and graphs.
TIME TAKEN: -
The time taken to complete this research will be 1 month.
APPROXIMATE COST: -
The approximate cost for the project is estimated around Rs.
1200/-
LIMITATIONS: -
Limitations of simple random sampling method and
Questionnaire method will be applicable.
WHAT IS RESEARCH ?
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Research refers to a search for knowledge. It is a careful
investigation especially through search for new facts in any branch of
knowledge. So, it is an art of scientific investigation.
Thus, research means the systematic method of enunciating the
problem, formulating the hypothesis, collecting the data, analyzing the
data and reaching certain conclusion either in the form of the solution
towards the concerned problem or in certain generalization for some
theoretical formulation.
Objectives:
To gain familiarity with a phenomenon.
To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual,
situation or a group.
To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with
which it is associated with something else.
To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables.
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INTRODUCTION
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The history of water filters is indelibly tied to the history of water,
itself. As human industry has grown and water has become more
contaminated, water filters have emerged over the centuries in response
to the growing recognition of the need for pure, clean water to drink and
the realization that such water does not occur naturally.
Water has greatly affected humanity and civilization for millennia.
Because water is so absolutely vital to our body systems, we, as living
beings, are entirely dependent upon water. In fact, this simple substance,
more than any other factor, guided the formation of civilization. Early
civilizations were clustered around water sources, and it was water that
initiated the first substantial agriculture in the Fertile Crescent, leading
to more complex and sedentary civilizations. For centuries, water
availability guided the type of foodstuff that could be grown in an area.
Water was also the impetus and guiding force behind the first cross-
cultural interactions. Early trade was completely dependent upon water,
for transportation of goods and sustenance of people and animals.
Throughout the centuries, as technology developed, people have
gradually gained more control of water. They have been able to transport
water to arid lands, stop and redirect rivers, and even determine when,
where, and how much rain will fall. Even with increased control of
water resources, water still continues to dominate the political,
economic, and social structure of all nations. This statement can be
verified by looking at political struggles within the United States over
water resources or throughout the Middle East over access to limited
water. Concerning conflict in the Middle East, former World Bank Vice
President Ismail Serageldin stated in 2000, "Many of the wars of this
[20th] century were about oil, but the wars of the next century will be
about water" (Smith, 2000).
In modern times, concerns over water quality remain supreme.
Over the years, scientists have discovered more and more contaminants
in fresh water sources, and these same scientists have noted a strong
correlation between drinking water contamination and many significant
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health problems. Due to the rampant impurity of water and the crucial,
physiological need for clean, fresh drinking water, several treatment
alternatives have emerged throughout the history of water treatment.
Water filtration, one of the more viable and prominent of these treatment
alternatives, has something of a remarkable past. Historians believe that
the use of water filters began more than 4000 years ago!
How did our water get so dirty?
In 1972, the United States legislature passed the Clean Water Act
due to a crisis in the nation‟s water purity. The purpose of the act was to
restore the chemical, biological, and physical nature of our nation‟s
waterways that had been so damaged by pollution. The goal of the act
was that, by 1985, no more pollutants would be discharged into the
water supply and all of our nation‟s rivers, streams, and lakes would be
fishable and swimmable once more. Every city was required to install a
water treatment plant, and every industry was required to use the best
available technology to limit the amount of pollutants that entered water
sources (Outwater, 1996). Under these stringent demands, water quality
began to improve slightly. Still, almost two decades after the year of
supposed goal fulfillment, about a third of the nation‟s waterways
continue to be polluted.
There is no doubt that industrial sites have cleaned up their act.
They would no longer be in business today if they had not. So, why is
our nation‟s water still so dirty? The answer is very simple. Water
follows a natural cycle. It moves from the rain to the mountaintops,
through streams and rivers to the sea, and then to the clouds once more.
In the United States, the natural water cycle has been changed in a
number of ways. Through dredging, damming, and tampering with or
eliminating the ecological niches where water is able to clean itself,
there has been changes in the pathways that water takes through the
American landscape, greatly benefiting agriculture and the American
economy. Water treatment remains as the best available technology that
is used to rectify this problem.
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HISTORY
Early Water Treatment
Early Sanskrit writings outlined methods for purifying water. These
methods ranged from boiling or placing hot metal instruments in water
before drinking it to filtering that water through crude sand or charcoal
filters (Baker & Taras, 1981). These writings suggest that the major
motive in purifying water was to provide better tasting drinking water. It
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was assumed that good tasting water was also clean. People did not yet
connect impure water with disease nor did they have the technology
necessary to recognize tasteless yet harmful organisms and sentiments in
water.
Centuries later, Hippocrates, the famed father of medicine, began to
conduct his own experiments in water purification. He created the theory
of the “four humors,” or essential fluids, of the body that related directly
to the four temperatures of the seasons. According to Hippocrates, in
order to maintain good health, these four humors should be kept in
balance. As a part of his theory of the four humors, Hippocrates
recognized the healing power of water. For feverish patients, he often
recommended a bath in cool water. Such a bath would realign the
temperature and harmony of the four humors. Hippocrates
acknowledged that the water available in Greek aqueducts was far from
pure in its quality. Like the ancients before him, Hippocrates also
believed good taste in water meant cleanliness and purity of that water.
Hippocrates designed his own crude water filter to “purify” the water he
used for his patients. Later known as the “Hippocratic sleeve,” this filter
was a cloth bag through which water could be poured after being boiled
(Baker & Taras, 1981). The cloth would trap any sentiments in the water
that were causing bad taste or smell.
Water Filtration in the Present - Whole House Water
Filter Systems
Despite government regulations and incredible advancements in water
technology, the water issuing from home taps is still quite contaminated.
Although municipal water treatment plants are intended to provide
clean, healthy water to all city residents, such plants must work with
heavily contaminated water. The water contains disease-bearing
pathogens, pesticide chemicals, and industrial sludge, to name only a
few of modern water contaminants.
City officials must provide the healthiest water to municipal residents
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which modern technology affords. Considering the dirty water with
which they have to work, this task can be quite daunting. Disinfection
and disease control remain the main goals of such water treatment
plants. Consequently, city residents receive chlorinated, and often
fluoridated, water. Chlorine has been linked to asthma and other
respiratory diseases, and excessive fluoride intake can lead to yellowed
teeth, dental problems, and other serious health problems for young
children.
City water treatment plants are simply unable to provide pure, chemical-
free water to city residents. Even when water is purified at a municipal
water treatment plant, it often picks up lead and other chemicals when
traveling through a home‟s plumbing system. While shower filters are a
viable solution for the removal of chlorine from showering water, the
best, and most modern, available water filtration technology lies in
whole house filtration systems. These water filtration systems are
installed in individual homes. They filter water as it reaches a home‟s
plumbing system, removing chlorine byproducts, tiny organic materials,
and any other unwanted chemicals. They provide the purest form of
water available.
THE JAPANESE FIELD FILTER (Eshitzi filter).
During the Russo-Japanese War, the Japanese used another simple and
practical adaptation of the principle of the mechanical filter. It consists
essentially of a conical canvas bag of a capacity of 24 gallons, with two
spouts or filters near the point; these spouts are filled with chemical and
sponge disks and constitute the filters proper; the point, or apex, receives
the sediment. The whole apparatus is suspended between the branches of
a tripod.
Two powders are used. The first (A) consists of potassium permanganate
and (to give bulk) aluminum silicate; the second (B) chiefly of
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aluminum silicate and of small amounts of tannic acid and hydrochloric
acid. The filter having been filled, a suitable quantity of powder A,
enough to plainly discolor the water, is added and stirred up; after a few
minutes, about half as much of powder B is stirred in until the
discoloration caused by the first has been removed. Then the water is
allowed to stand 15 or 20 minutes for the bactericidal action and
subsidence of the precipitate, after which the lateral spouts are untied
and the water allowed to pass through. The hydrochloric acid in powder
B facilitates the decomposition of the permanganate, while the tannic
acid removes the odor imparted to the water.
The result is quite satisfactory with comparatively clear water, but much
less so with turbid water. The output is small and the disinfection of the
apparatus difficult.
Might this name “Eshitzi” be incorrect in romaji? There is no original
Japanese writing of it to compare here.
Havard described various patent water filters. But he does not compare
the Japanese one to those used by contemporary armies of the time.
Turbid water is natural surface water which has become brown with
microscopic silt particles. Ordinary mechanical filters did not remove
silt, which was instead trapped with a chemical coagulant to settle it out
en masse. Then it would be sent through the filtration devices.
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REASERCH METHODOLOGY
Step 1. Research problem:
To study the usage & satisfaction level of the water filtering machine in
households.
Step 2.Rationale for the study:
The research topic is rationalized in the sense that it will be resourceful
and encouraging to all the households in using the „WATER
FILTERING MACHINE‟.
Step 3. Research objectives:
o To check the usage & satisfaction level of the water filtering
machine.
o The procedures involved in the same.
o Departments accountable to provide information.
Step 4. Scope of the project:
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Our study is limited to the state of Gujarat and the survey is conducted
in Ahmedabad city only. The study includes the views of households.
Step 5. Research Design:
The project is exploratory in nature because it is done with an objective
to gain familiarity with the water filtering machine. It is an attempt to
achieve new insight into a subject which is not known to everyone and
thus here the hypothesis is being developed.
Step 6. Sources and collection of data
Primary Data:
1. Sampling units: Households
2. Sampling methods: Simple random sampling
All the households have been surveyed using the questionnaire
method. The questionnaire includes both closed- ended and open-
ended questions. The questions have been designed so as respondents
understand them very easily.
Step.7.
100 citizens have been surveyed.
Secondary Data:
The
secondary data is being collected from the magazines, Articles of Times
of India and various websites.
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QUETIONNAIRE
Questionnaire
For
Market research
On
Water filtering Machine
Note:
(1) Please tick your answer with “√” sign and leave another option
blank.
(2) The information given by you will be kept confidential and used
only for the study purpose.
______________________________________________________
(1) Name : _____________________________
(2) Address : ______________________________
______________________________
(3) Family Members : _____________
Adults: -----
Minors: -----
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(4) Occupation:
Government Job
Private Job
Business
Others ____________
(5) Income:
Below 10,000
10,001 to 15,000
15,001 to 20,000
Above 20,000
(6) Education Qualification:
Illiterate
SSC
HSC
Graduate
Others _____________
(7) Do you use any water filtering machine?
Yes
No
If yes then go to Section: A, Otherwise go to Section : B.
Section: A
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(1) How do you come to know about the water filtering
Machine?
Magazines
Newspaper
Television advertisement
Friends
Salesman
(2) Which type of water filtering machine do you use?
Aqua guard
Ro Plant
Pure it
Kent
Ultra violet
Others ____________
(3) Do you receive any guarantee or warranty?
Yes
No
(4) Which factors had you considered when you had purchased
the water filtering machine?
Cheaper Cost
Quality
After sales service
Durability
Low Maintenance
Other _______________
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(5) What is the price of the machine that you are using currently?
Below 3000
3001 to 6000
6001 to 9000
Above 9000
(6) Are you satisfied with the performance of the particular type
of water filtering machine that you are using?
Highly satisfied
Satisfied
Neutral
Dissatisfied
Highly dissatisfied
(7) Are you thinking about changing your current water filtering
machine?
Yes
No
Section: B
(1) Why are you not using water filtering machine?
Lack of awareness
Higher cost
No need
Other _____________
(2) Do you think of purchasing it in the near future?
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Yes
No
ANALYSIS OF DATA
(1) No. of users according to occupational level:
OCCUPATION YES NO
Government job 10 9
Private job 9 28
business 13 16
other 2 13
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Here, from our survey we found that 34% people are using the
Water Filtering Machine and 66% are not.
(2) No. of users according to income level :
INCOME YES NO
Below 10,000 2 15
10,001 to 15,000 8 22
15,001 to 20,000 15 23
Above 20,000 9 6
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According to the income level, middle income people
(15,001-20,000) i.e. 44% of users are using water
Filtering machine.
(3) Usage of water filtering machines according to income level
Income level Aqua guard
Ro Plant
Pure it Kent Ultra
violet
others
Below 10,000
0 0 2 0 0 0
10,001 to 15,000
2 0 4 0 0 2
15,001 to 20,000
3 4 1 3 1 3
Above 20,000
1 4 0 2 2 0
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From the survey, we find that people who have income below 15,000
prefer pure it and other brand of water purifier and 24% people who
have income 15,001 and more prefer RO plant.
(4) Purchase of water filtering machine according to factors
Factors
Aqua
guard
Ro Plant
Pure it Kent Ultra
violet
others
Cheaper cost
0 0 3 0 0 1
Quality
1 1 1 1 1 0
After Sales
Service
1 2 2 2 1 2
Durability
3 2 0 1 1 0
Low 1 2 1 1 0 1
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We find that 29% respondents consider after sale service more
important, 21% respondent consider durability and 6% respondents
consider other factors more important while purchasing water purifier.
(5) Usage of water filtering machine according to price
Maintenance
Others
0 1 0 0 0 1
Price Aqua
guard
Ro Plant
Pure it Kent Ultra
violet
others
Below 3000
0 0 4 0 0 2
3001 to 6000
2 1 3 1 0 3
6001 to 9000
3 5 0 2 0 0
Above 9000
1 2 0 2 3 0
30
59% respondents prefer to buy water purifier when its price ranges from
Rs. 3000 to 9000.
(6) Satisfaction level according to type of water filtering
machine
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35% users are satisfied and 29% users are highly satisfied with the
service of water purifier.
(7) Reasons for not using water purifier
Satisfaction level Aqua
guard
Ro Plant
Pure it Kent Ultra
violet
others
Highly satisfied
2 3 1 2 2 0
Satisfied
3 3 2 2 1 1
Neutral
1 2 3 1 0 2
Dissatisfied
0 0 1 0 0 2
Highly dissatisfied
0 0 0 0 0 0
Causes
Non-Users
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32% of Non users do not prefer to buy it because of higher cost and 26%
do not prefer because of lack of awareness.
(8) Expectation regarding purchase of water filtering machine
Yes
No
Lack of Availability
17
Higher cost
21
No need
18
Others
10
33
45
21
68% respondents are willing to purchase water purifier.
TESTING OF HYPOTHESIS
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1) Null hypothesis:
There is no significant difference between observed and expected
values of occupation and usage level.
Alternative hypothesis:
There is significant difference between observed and expected
values.
User Non user Total
Government
Job 10 32 42
private job 18 17 35
business 20 3 23
48 52 100
Observed Expected (Oi-Ei)2/Ei
10 20 5
18 17 0
20 11 7
32 22 5
17 18 0
3 12 7
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2 cal = Σ (Oi – Ei)
Ei = 24
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2 tab = d.f.(r-1) (c-1)
2 cal > 2 tab
Here , there is significant difference between occupation and usage
level because the chi-square calculated value is greater than tabulated
value. So, the null hypothesis is rejected.
2) Null hypothesis:
There is no significant difference between income of the
households and the usage level.
Alternative hypothesis:
There is significant difference between them.
= d.f. (3-1) (2-1)
= d.f. 2 @ 5% significance level = 5.991
User Non user Total
below 5000 3 16 19
5000-10000 13 26 39
10000-20000 18 7 25
Above 20000 14 3 17
48 52 100
Observed Expected (Oi-Ei)2/Ei
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25
2 tab = d.f.(r-1) (c-1)
2 cal > 2 tab
Here , there is significant difference between income of the
households and their usage level because the chi-square calculated value
is greater than tabulated value. So, the null hypothesis is rejected.
3) Null hypothesis:
3 9 4
13 19 2
18 12 3
14 8 4
16 10 4
26 20 2
7 13 3
3 9 4
2 cal = Σ (Oi – Ei)
Ei = 25
= d.f. (4-1) (2-1)
= d.f. 3 @ 5% significance level = 7.815
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There is no significant difference between educational
qualification and the usage level.
Alternative hypothesis;
There is significant difference between them.
Observed Expected (Oi-Ei)2/Ei
0 0
1 3 2
7 11 1
32 25 2
8 9 0
0 0
6 4 2
16 12 1
20 27 2
10 9 0
10
User Non user Total
Illiterate 0 0
SSC 1 6 7
HSC 7 16 23
Graduate 32 20 52
Others 8 10 18
48 52 100
2 cal = Σ (Oi – Ei)
Ei = 10
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2 tab = d.f.(r-1) (c-1)
2 cal < 2 tab
Here , there is no significant difference between income of
the households and their usage level because the chi-square calculated
value is less than tabulated value. So, the null hypothesis is accepted.
CONCLUSION & FINDINGS
= d.f. (5-1) (2-1)
= d.f. 4 @ 1% significance level = 13.28
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This study reveals that out of 100 respondents surveyed, the
occupation of the respondents and their attitude towards the usage
of the water filtering machine are significantly associated.
Moreover, 10% of the respondents of „government job‟ group,
18% of „private job‟ group and 20% of „business‟ group are the
users of the water filtering machine.
The income of the respondents and their attitude towards the usage
of the water filtering machine are significantly associated.
Moreover, 3% of „below 5000‟ income group, 13%of „5000-
10000‟, 18% of „10000-20000‟and 14% of „above 20000‟ income
group are the users of the water filtering machine.
The education of the respondents and their attitude towards the
usage of the water filtering machine are independent of each other
that is they are not significantly associated.
Moreover, 1%of SSC educational qualification, 7%of HSC, 32%
of graduate and 8% of other are the users of the water filtering
machine.
Conclusion
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The study reveals that half of the households i.e. majority of the
households have still not used any water filtering machines. There are
several reasons behind this such as lack of awareness, higher cost, no
need, etc.
Moreover, as far as the demographic variables are concerned such
as occupation, income has been found influencing the attitude towards
the usage of the water filtering machine significantly. Whereas, the other
variable like education has not been found influencing the attitude
towards the usage significantly.
LIMITATIONS
Though we have tried to do our best for preparing this project, the
following can be considered as the limitations of this project.
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We have included only households in our survey.
Our survey is limited to Ahmedabad city only.
LEARNINGS
This study gave us a systematic way of going through a survey.
We put to use the theoretical concepts in practical scenario. And
studied the relevance of the same.
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We had to meet people with different attitudes ,thus we learnt the
skill of dealing with them and getting our work done.
At times we were strangled in the situation as to what next phase.
This led us to many heated discussion which helped us all to adjust
to the situation and find an appropriate solution through mutual
understanding.
During the training session we have focused on the targeted
segment so that we also came to know how to explore target
segment and work efficiency.
We also learn how to work in team and co-ordinate each other.
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Bibliography
Research Methodology by C.R.Kothari
Newspapers
Magazines
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