Graduate School

[Rickyvm89]

Hello,

My name is Ricky and I will be getting an undergraduate degree this spring in History/Education with a minor in anthropology. However, I've decided that I would like to pursue a career in market research.

I plan on applying for market research jobs after graduation but I also might choose to attend graduate school

If I do decided to attend graduate school, I would either get an MA in Anthropology or and MBA

If anyone could offer me some advice concerning to pros and cons of each of these degrees it would be greatly appreciated

Thank You,

Ricky Mosera

[Ian Straus]

.....If I do decided to attend graduate school, I would either get an MA in Anthropology or and MBA

....

Ricky,
it depends on what you like and intend to do.

IMHO if you want to do ethnography the anthropology degree would be a step up. I suspect that and psychology are the points of entry. However they don't teach marketing, and believe it or not there is a lot of conceptual common ground between marketing and marketing research.
If you want to do quantitative market research functions you will probably find more applicable courses in an MBA program.

The MBA has the added advantage that it should involve a more general view of business and business strategy. Across the industries I have worked in, a typical problem dealing with any researcher or research company is "they don't understand our business", and it takes time to get them up to speed. [This problem is at least doubled when you deal with consultants.]

Caution in both cases: Be sure about what your particular school is good at teaching. Read their catalog, don't be afraid to ask questions.

[Rickyvm89]

Thanks for the insight Ian, greatly appreciated!

I would like to do ethnographic research, but I'm not sure if the job prospects would be as promising, is this a valid concern?

[Rickyvm89]

also, an MBA would typically require work experience, and I would like to go to graduate school right after my undergraduate. In addition, with a history education degree, relevant work experience might be hard to find

[Ian Straus]

Thanks for the insight Ian, greatly appreciated!

I would like to do ethnographic research, but I'm not sure if the job prospects would be as promising, is this a valid concern?

It is a valid concern. Despite publicity given to ethnography in the past couple of years, I don't know of a count of people actually supporting themselves by doing it for marketing purposes. Perhaps others on the forum would comment.

[Ian Straus]

Rickyvm,

So comment on what aspect(s)of marketing research attract you. In my opinion that should be the core of our decision making. And it's likely that the best help we can give you is to clarify what you can expect and the best path to get there if you still want it.

[Rickyvm89]

I am attracted to conducting research. I look forward to being able to think outside the box about research strategies and learning about different people and industries. I'm also attracted to being able to help different types of businesses, and having a finished product I can be proud of. (A research report) I would eventually like to do qualitative research, but for now I am mainly focusing on getting my foot in the door.

However, I am also attracted to somewhat favorable job prospects and compensation. It is important to me to make myself as marketable as possible.

[Ian Straus]

[QUOTE=Rickyvm89;18898] ....I would eventually like to do qualitative research, but for now I am mainly focusing on getting my foot in the door.
.....QUOTE]

So would you rather do qualitative research? As opposed to quantitative?
It's good to be able to do both, and very important to understand both, but people tend to specialiaze.

Take a look at this, from the QRCA's web site:
http://www.qrca.org/displaycommon.cf...barticlenbr=10

http://www.qrca.org/associations/637...s/ProfComp.pdf

[Rickyvm89]

great info, thanks!

[onstandby]

However they don't teach marketing, and believe it or not there is a lot of conceptual common ground between marketing and marketing research.

This is a really good point. Although there may be overlap in theories used in anthropology and marketing research, the connection between the two disciplines in the labor market isn't really that strong. Every time you interview for a marketing research position you'll have to convince the interviewer that an anthropology degree prepared you well for marketing research. You'll be fighting the Indiana Jones stereotype. If you want to do ethnographic research, you might consider qualitative sociology or social psychology. You'll get much of the same information, but sociology's connection to marketing is, in my experience, better established. Sociology is also a more general degree that will leave you with some other options if you find marketing research isn't want you want.

Disclaimer: I have a doctorate in Sociology and it has served me well; I am probably biased.

Bryan

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[ruthevans41]

If you choose an MBA over anthropology, the most important thing you should do is research. I looked at schools all over the country before deciding on a Boston business school. My decision was based on cost, reputation, and location.