RESEARCH METHOD

DESCRIPTION TYPE OF DATA (qualitative/quantitative /primary/secondary)

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

INTERVIEW A meeting in which someone answers questions about himself or herself for a newspaper article, television show, etc./

Quantitative/Primary They are useful to obtain detailed information about personal feelings, perceptions and opinions/ they allow more detailed questions to be asked/ They usually achieve a high response rate. I found this useful because I out useful information from the interviewer.

They can be very time-consuming setting up, interviewing, transcribing, analysing, feedback, reporting/They can be costly/different interviewers may understand and transcribe interviews in different ways. I could not find this useful because people rarely come to the interview.

QUESTIONNAIRE A list of questions that several people are asked so that information can be collected about something.

Quantitative/Primary Practical/Large amounts of information can be collected from a large number of people in a short period of time and in a relatively cost effective way/Can be carried out by the researcher or by any number of people with limited affect to its validity and reliability.. I found this useful because I out useful information from the questionnaire

Is argued to be inadequate to understand some forms of information - i.e. changes of emotions, behaviour, feelings/Phenomenologists state that quantitative research is simply an artificial creation by the researcher, as it is asking only a limited amount of information without explanation /Lacks validity. I didn’t find this useful because certain people put unnecessary answers .

FOCUS GROUP A group of people who have been brought together to discuss a particular subject in order to solve a problem or suggest ideas.

Quantitative/Primary/Secondary It is comparatively easy to conduct/It is economically efficient/It generates opportunity to collect data from the group interaction It gives speed in the supply of the results/It allows a relatively large sample size for a qualitative study

The research is not carried out in a natural setting and the researcher has less control over the data generated 2/The data may be difficult to analyse/The interviewer must have good interview skills/Assembling a group may require additional resources

SURVEY An examination of opinions, behaviour, etc., made by asking people questions.

Quantitative/Primary High Representativeness/ Low Costs/ Convenient Data Gathering/ Good Statistical Significance/ Little or No Observer Subjectivity/ Little or No Observer Subjectivity

Inflexible Design/ Not Ideal for Controversial Issues/ Possible Inappropriateness of Questions

INTERNET RESEARCH

The large system of connected computers around the world that allows people to share information and communicate with each other. / A detailed study of a subject, especially in order to discover (new) information or reach a (new) understanding.

Qualitative / Secondary The Internet is available 24 hours a day/Internet pages can be more quickly updated than paper sources./Some newspapers magazines and encyclopaedias are available online./Some books not available in the library may be available online./Many different types of media are available on the Internet.

Anyone can create a web page. /Authority of the work may not be readily apparent. /What you see today may not be what you see tomorrow /There is nothing to prevent the author from changing tomorrow what you quoted today. Internet information is usually not organized in any way to help in finding it./Archived materials - newspapers, magazines, etc. may not go back very far. /Media available in different formats may require software not available on your computer. /Most journals and magazines are not available on the Internet except through databases which require a paid subscription. /Most books are not available through the Internet.

LIBRARY RESEARCH

A building, room, or organization that has a collection, especially of books, for people to read or borrow usually without payment./ A detailed study of a subject, especially in order to discover (new) information or reach a (new) understanding.

Qualitative/Primary The library is a lot quieter than a coffee shop/ Nice architecture creates a pleasant working environment/ It’s free./ Comfortable desks/ Access to research material/

No telephone/VoIP calls/ Not very much social interaction/ You’re not allowed to plug in your computer/ No eating/drinking at your desk (except in the cafe).