AUTHOR
Yash Pagaria
INTRODUCTION
A study of soft drink preferences among students aims to understand the level of liking for different beverage brands and the factors influencing their choices. Soft drinks are widely consumed by students due to taste, brand popularity, easy availability, and affordability. Marketing strategies, peer influence, and brand loyalty further shape consumption behavior. This study examines whether students show significantly different preference levels for selected soft drink brands such as Coke, Pepsi, Fanta, and Monster.
OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of this study is to analyze and compare the preferences of students towards different soft drink brands using rating-based data and to determine whether any statistically significant difference exists among these brands.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Schiffman (2019) explain that consumer preferences for food and beverage products are primarily influenced by taste, brand familiarity, and emotional satisfaction. Among students, beverage choices are often habitual and linked to social identity and peer acceptance rather than health considerations.
Armstrong (2017) highlight that marketing communication, brand positioning, and promotional strategies significantly influence consumer decision-making in the beverage industry. Strong brand recognition and consistent advertising reduce perceived differences between competing beverage brands, leading to similar preference levels among young consumers.
DATA COLLECTION
The data for this study were collected using a structured rating scale ranging from 1 to 10. A total of 40 students participated in the survey. The soft drink brands included in the study were Coke, Pepsi, Fanta, and Monster. The collected responses were analyzed using One-Way ANOVA (Single Factor) to examine whether significant differences exist in student preferences across these brands.
DATA ANALYSIS
|
Source of Variation |
SS |
df |
MS |
F |
P-value |
F crit |
|
Between Groups |
50.65 |
3 |
16.8833 |
2.1750 |
0.0932 |
2.6626 |
|
Within Groups |
1210.95 |
156 |
7.7625 |
|
|
|
|
Total |
1261.60 |
159 |
|
|
|
|
CONCLUSION
The null hypothesis states that all soft drink brands are equally preferred by students, while the alternative hypothesis suggests that at least one brand differs in preference. Since the calculated F value (2.1750) is lower than the critical F value (2.6626) and the P-value (0.0932) is greater than 0.05, the null hypothesis is accepted. This indicates that there is no statistically significant difference in the preference levels of students towards Coke, Pepsi, Fanta, and Monster. Overall, students show a similar level of preference for all selected soft drink brands.
REFERENCES
Schiffman (2019). Consumer Behaviour (12th ed.). Pearson Education.
Armstrong (2017). Marketing: An Introduction (13th ed.). Pearson Education.