Client Research Case Study: The Daily Grind Cafe
A self-paced 10th-grade case study packet in which students take on a fictional cafe owner's customer retention problem, then move through framing a research question, identifying needed information, choosing data sources, and predicting useful evidence, with a built-in look at qualitative versus quantitative data. Designed to be completed independently in a 45-minute class period, with the emphasis on student application at each decision point.
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use as an independent 45-minute block, with students reading the client profile first (about 5 minutes) and then working through the research steps; circulate to check the research question before they move on to data sources.
- Discussion question: Why might a cafe with high foot traffic still have declining retention, and what would you need to know to tell whether the problem is the product, the experience, or the rewards program?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Provide a short list of example research questions (one strong, one too broad, one too narrow) and have them sort the examples before writing their own, and pre-highlight the key business terms like churn rate and foot traffic.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to design a mixed-methods plan that pairs at least one quantitative measure (such as repeat visit rates from loyalty app data) with one qualitative source (such as customer interviews), and explain how each would change their conclusion.
- Estimated time: About 45 minutes total, with roughly 5 minutes for reading the profile, 30 minutes for the research steps, and 10 minutes for the qualitative versus quantitative reflection.
Client Research Case Study: The Daily Grind Cafe
A self-paced 10th-grade case study packet in which students take on a fictional cafe owner's customer retention problem, then move through framing a research question, identifying needed information, choosing data sources, and predicting useful evidence, with a built-in look at qualitative versus quantitative data. Designed to be completed independently in a 45-minute class period, with the emphasis on student application at each decision point.
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use as an independent 45-minute block, with students reading the client profile first (about 5 minutes) and then working through the research steps; circulate to check the research question before they move on to data sources.
- Discussion question: Why might a cafe with high foot traffic still have declining retention, and what would you need to know to tell whether the problem is the product, the experience, or the rewards program?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Provide a short list of example research questions (one strong, one too broad, one too narrow) and have them sort the examples before writing their own, and pre-highlight the key business terms like churn rate and foot traffic.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to design a mixed-methods plan that pairs at least one quantitative measure (such as repeat visit rates from loyalty app data) with one qualitative source (such as customer interviews), and explain how each would change their conclusion.
- Estimated time: About 45 minutes total, with roughly 5 minutes for reading the profile, 30 minutes for the research steps, and 10 minutes for the qualitative versus quantitative reflection.