How is this different from a traditional market research course?

<text variant="body1">This specialization teaches market research using AI-powered workflows in Perplexity, accelerating how you gather, validate, and synthesize secondary sources. You will learn the same analytical frameworks used in professional research, applied through modern AI tools that reflect how research is increasingly conducted today.

What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Research & Intelligence Strategies

This course is part of Secondary Market Research and Analysis with Perplexity Specialization

Instructor: Perplexity Coursera

Included with Learn more

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Define research objectives and structure Perplexity queries for bounded industry questions.
Gather company profiles, competitor data, and market evidence from secondary sources.
Analyse competitor positioning, offerings, and strengths using cited secondary evidence.
Apply benchmarking frameworks to organise and compare competitive market intelligence.

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Secondary Market Research and Analysis with Perplexity Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 5 modules in this course

Build your foundation in secondary market research using Perplexity. In this course, you will learn to define research objectives, craft structured query sequences, and gather company, competitor, and market intelligence from public secondary sources. You will practice organizing findings into actionable research briefs, applying benchmarking frameworks, and populating structured evidence templates, the core skills for entry-level market research and business analysis roles.

Learners define secondary market research objectives for a bounded industry question and translate them into structured Perplexity queries using a six-component framework.

What's included

4 videos9 readings6 assignments

4 videosTotal 20 minutes

Why Research Objectives Matter - Developed in Partnership with Coursera3 minutes
Components of a Research Objective6 minutes
Query Sequences and Keyword Strategies6 minutes
Anatomy of a Research Brief6 minutes

9 readingsTotal 47 minutes

From Business Questions to Research Queries4 minutes
Working Inside a Perplexity Project3 minutes
Write a Research Objective in Perplexity5 minutes
The Power of Structured Query Sequences2 minutes
Execute a Market Research Query Sequence5 minutes
Hands-on Activity: Gather Evidence on the Home Fitness Equipment Market15 minutes
Source Prioritization and Gap Identification4 minutes
Introducing Perplexity Computer4 minutes
Build a Research Brief from Perplexity Outputs5 minutes

6 assignmentsTotal 80 minutes

Graded Quiz: Conduct Market Research Analysis10 minutes
Hands-on Activity: Define Research Objectives for a Market Question15 minutes
Knowledge Check: Define Research Objectives15 minutes
Knowledge Check: Gather Market Evidence15 minutes
Hands-on Activity: Create a Market Research Brief20 minutes
Knowledge Check: Organize Research Findings5 minutes

Learners identify the business information required to answer a scoped company or industry question using Perplexity and public secondary sources.

What's included

3 videos5 readings4 assignments

3 videosTotal 13 minutes

Why Knowing What You Need Comes First2 minutes
Categories of Business Intelligence4 minutes
Source-Led Research Workflows in Perplexity7 minutes

5 readingsTotal 18 minutes

Scoping Fact Requirements for Your Business Question3 minutes
Create a Fact Requirements Checklist4 minutes
Source-Led vs. Topic-Led Research2 minutes
The Evidence Template Structure4 minutes
Execute a Source-Led Workflow and Populate an Evidence Template5 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 40 minutes

Graded Quiz: Perform Business Research Tasks10 minutes
Knowledge Check: Identify Required Business Facts5 minutes
Hands-on Activity: Research and Organize Company Intelligence20 minutes
Knowledge Check: Collect and Organize Evidence5 minutes

Learners construct competitive profiling templates and execute Perplexity research workflows to analyze rival offerings, pricing models, and market positioning across key dimensions, synthesizing competitive intelligence into structured comparison tables for entry-level reports.

What's included

4 videos7 readings6 assignments

4 videosTotal 22 minutes

Why Structured Competitor Profiling Matters2 minutes
The Competitor Profiling Template7 minutes
Common Dimensions of Competitor Analysis7 minutes
Comparison Tables and Positioning Summaries6 minutes

7 readingsTotal 38 minutes

Build Competitor Profiles in Perplexity5 minutes
Hands-on Activity: Profile Three Competitors in EdTech15 minutes
From Profiles to Patterns2 minutes
Conduct a Comparative Analysis Using Perplexity Evidence5 minutes
Writing Gap and Opportunity Statements3 minutes
From One-Time Analysis to Ongoing Awareness3 minutes
Build a Comparison Table and Intelligence Summary5 minutes

6 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Graded Quiz: Analyze Competitor Insights10 minutes
Knowledge Check: Profile Competitors5 minutes
Hands-on Activity: Analyze Competitive Differences in Project Management Tools15 minutes
Knowledge Check: Analyze Differences5 minutes
Hands-on Activity: Create a Competitive Intelligence Summary20 minutes
Knowledge Check: Summarize Competitive Intelligence5 minutes

Learners establish benchmark criteria and select comparison metrics for a competitor or market practice review using a standard benchmarking framework.

What's included

3 videos5 readings4 assignments

3 videosTotal 14 minutes

Why Benchmarking Drives Better Decisions3 minutes
Benchmarking Frameworks and KPI Selection4 minutes
Populating a Benchmark Matrix7 minutes

5 readingsTotal 17 minutes

Comparability Limits and Metric Definitions3 minutes
Define Benchmark Criteria for an Industry Review4 minutes
From Framework to Evidence2 minutes
Aligning to Industry Standards3 minutes
Populate a Benchmark Matrix and Write Alignment Notes5 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 40 minutes

Graded Quiz: Execute Benchmarking Strategies10 minutes
Knowledge Check: Define Criteria and Metrics5 minutes
Hands-on Activity: Complete a Benchmark Matrix for Customer Support20 minutes
Knowledge Check: Populate and Align the Matrix5 minutes

Learners produce a complete secondary research brief on the plant-based snack market, integrating market research, business research, competitor analysis, and benchmarking skills from LC 1.

What's included

2 readings1 assignment

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Instructor

Perplexity Coursera

Perplexity

7 Courses2 learners

Offered by

Perplexity

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Frequently asked questions

No prior market research, business analysis, or data experience is required. Basic computer literacy and the ability to read business content in English are the only prerequisites.

You will primarily use Perplexity (free tier is sufficient for most exercises), Google Sheets, and Google Slides or equivalent spreadsheet and presentation tools. All tools are free and browser-based. No software installation is needed.

This specialization is designed for aspiring business analysts, market researchers, and professionals who are new to secondary research. It is ideal for career changers, recent graduates, or anyone preparing for entry-level roles in market research or business analysis.

You will build foundational skills for entry-level roles, such as Market Research Analyst, Business Analyst, and Competitive Intelligence Analyst. You will graduate with a portfolio of three research deliverables, a research brief, an analysis report, and a stakeholder insights package that demonstrate your readiness for professional research roles.

To access course materials, assignments, and earn a Certificate, you'll need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. Eligible learners may also have the option to start with a Free Trial. Some courses may also offer a Full Course, No Certificate option. This lets you access course materials, submit required assessments, and receive a final grade, but you won't be able to earn or purchase a Certificate.