Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Business Studies
Lesson Topic: primary research methods, e.g. questionnaires or surveys, interviews, focus groups, observation
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the four primary research methods and their key characteristics.
  • Compare the advantages and disadvantages of each method.
  • Select the most appropriate primary research method for a given business scenario.
  • Design a simple questionnaire or interview guide.
  • Analyse sample data to draw basic conclusions about market insights.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector and laptop
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Printed handouts summarising each method
  • Sample questionnaire template
  • Flip chart for focus‑group simulation
  • Observation checklist
  • Internet access for an online‑survey demo
 Introduction:
Imagine launching a new product and needing to know exactly what customers want. Students already understand secondary data sources, so we’ll build on that knowledge. By the end of the lesson they will be able to identify and justify the best primary research method for a specific business problem.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Starter – Think‑pair‑share on a product idea and the information needed (5').
  2. Mini‑lecture – Overview of questionnaires/surveys, interviews, focus groups, and observation with examples (10').
  3. Group activity – Analyse a case study, choose the most suitable method and justify the choice (15').
  4. Skill practice – In pairs design a 5‑question questionnaire or interview guide; share with the class (10').
  5. Observation demo – Watch a short video of in‑store observation and discuss its strengths (5').
  6. Consolidation – Whole‑class Kahoot quiz on advantages/disadvantages of each method (5').
  7. Exit ticket – Write one business scenario and the primary research method you would use (5').
Conclusion:
We recap the four primary research methods, their key pros and cons, and how to match them to business needs. Students submit their exit tickets, providing a quick retrieval check. For homework, each student completes a full questionnaire on a topic of their choice to bring to the next lesson.