Research Methodology

The present study is empirical in nature. Hence, it is based purely on primary data. The primary data has been collected with the help of a structured interview schedule. Although, sizable secondary data had also been used to meet the requirements of the study. The households of the three, out of eleven, major districts of Nagaland viz., Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung do constitute the population or universe from where primary data have been collected. In this study, the middle class households purchasing the durable goods are the sampling units for the survey. The study uses a sample size of 300 respondents, by drawing 100 units (respondents) from each district. The respondents were selected on the basis of simple random sampling without replacement from selected blocks/wards of the districts. The elements in the sampling unit include only married women, above the age of 15 and below the age of 60, who are living with their husbands with or without children. The researcher had interviewed the respondents directly to collect the data. Besides, due care had also been taken to include the women with various socio-economic backgrounds to make the sample representative. The selected durables for the study include Television, Refrigerator, Washing Machine, Four Wheeler and Furniture. The cost of the four wheeler ranging from Rs.1 lakh to Rs.3 lakh only had been taken for the purpose of the study as it is affordable for middle class families. The data so collected had been classified, coded and tabulated as per the requirements of the study. Then, the data had been analyzed with the help of appropriate statistical tools such as percentage, mean, average, etc.