(Translated from Japanese)
During my fourth undergraduate year, I did not have a clear goal for the future. Many people in China were attending graduate school, so I thought about doing the same. My major was Japanese and I was unsure about what direction to take this in future. In an internship during my third year, I encountered data science. At the time Professor Yada gave a lecture at my university - Zhejiang Industrial and Commerce College. I was especially interested in the industry-university collaboration aspect of his DS program and I felt that it was an important opportunity. In the lecture, Professor Yada stated that "we teach the foundations of data processing at the graduate school, and work with enterprises in the course of studying, focusing on both aspects together". So rather than simply learning from textbooks, you have to apply your knowledge as you learn. I thought this was a challenge for myself. I decided to go on to graduate school so that I can explore unknown fields and further my education.
I became interested in Kansai University because I knew a senior student who attended the Graduate School of Letters. Also Professor Yada's lecture was how I became aware of data science.
After studying some materials online, I learned that Professor Yada's research is drawing attention at the forefront of data science. As one of the first data science programs in Japan, Professor Yada's laboratory has had the opportunity to accumulate much knowledge, skills and expertise. They also have an internship program where students can learn from data scientists. I thought this was a really good opportunity so I chose Kansai University’s graduate school.
We are currently studying the influence of customer self-control and product price promotion on the purchase behavior of vice products. A vice product is a product with strong tastes like sweets and coffee. The ability of customers to control their actions is known to be weakened as they continue to engage in self-control or get tired. If this control power weakens it will cause self-control failure. In terms of shopping, the ability to self-control becomes weaker as the shopping time becomes longer, and it is thought that impulse buying becomes easier. In one study, it was indicated that the elapsed time since entering stores represents a decrease in self-control power. However when price promotion, such as discounts, is available as an additional factor, nobody has studied how the reduction in customer control power will affect purchasing behavior. Therefore, I am researching these relationships.
I think that the most enjoyable aspect is to solve research problems.
While working on research with a clear purpose set, I have repeatedly studied prior research and have considered ways to solve problems. The research process was very painful, but it was the most enjoyable and fulfilling feeling when we were able to solve the problem. At the same time, using the data to prove the theory and discovering phenomena that actually exist in the data also gave us much pleasure in the research process.
After graduation I will return to China and get a job. I feel that I need to learn more about data analysis, but I was able to expand my knowledge by touching on many front line data analysis methods and theories during my studies.
After I return home, I would like to convey these new methods and theories. From my studies at graduate school, I realized that fostering consciousness and understanding is more important than rote learning. Also through Professor Yada’s teaching, I also learned many wonderful habits, such as a strict attitude towards the task and the spirit of studying hard, which will be a great help for my future work.
I will continue to work hard and I will do my best to work steadily.