Hello,

I'm currently looking at starting a research project and ultimately a PhD. on the topic of CUSTOMER RETENTION, CUSTOMER LOYALTY, AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION in the mobile phone communication industry.

I have been researching this topic extensively over the past 18 months and have recently found a published dissertation that covers the EXACT topic and hypothesis is wish to test. The only difference is that the dissertation tests the hypothesis as it applies to the INTERNET PROVIDERS and not the MOBILE PHONE PROVIDER. The dissertation also tests a different market (country) to which I wish to study.

My question is two fold. Can I use the exact same theoretical framework and adapt it for the MOBILE PHONE PROVIDER context? And can I reuse the already proven survey tool (questionnaire) and adapt it to the context of the MOBILE PHONE PROVIDER context?

Obviously I would seek permission from the original author and cite the original work.

Thanks in advance.

Regards
M.

You can't use the EXACT same methods and questionnaire. Your research has to be completely your own work. Copying a questionnaire exactly is bordering on plagiarism.

However no research is completely unique. The different market segments and different country focus will make your research novel, so that is good. If you cite the other researcher appropriately as well as justify the individual parts of your methodology, it won't be plagiarism. So if you organically create your own methodology that is similar but not EXACTLY the same as the other researcher's methodology, you should be fine. It is good to have some small differences in methodology so you can avoid plagiarism accusations.

PS: Engineering field so my advice may not be applicable.