1. Method Definition Advantage Disadvantage
Primary
Gathering data and researching
for a specific purpose or audience
it is commonly found via
questionnaires, focus groups and
surveys
It contains reliable up to date answers for
the exact purpose you needed it for. it
also enables the researcher to have a
higher control over how the information
is collected.
Primary data may be very expensive in
preparing.
It is very time consuming so by the time the
research is complete it may be out of date.
Low response rate has to be expected.
Secondary
Using data that somebody else
has found out this type of data
is most commonly found in
books, internet sites,
secondary is usually cheaper as you
are not having to pay any one to find
the research out.
It is also less time consuming as the
work has already been done.
Secondary is going to be less specific
because some of the content asked will be
irrelevant to the information you need.
Also the information could be biased for
example if you were to go to a local
swimming pool and asked members of the
public what their favourite sport is, the
majority of people would say swimming.
Quantitative
Quantitative research uses a
scientific approach. Normally a
hypothesis will be stated and
the researcher attempts to
prove or disprove that
hypothesis. In this context
quantitative means something
that can be counted
As results are numbers is it easy to plot
data in a graph or chart.
Also data can be recorded in mass
quantities to find averages quickly.
It can only be used in limited situations
as it is very mathematical. And the
handler of the information is not very
good at maths they will need to pay
someone to sort the data for them.
Qualitative
Is exploratory research. It is
used to gain an understanding
of underlying reasons,
opinions, and motivations.
You will get a better understanding of
the target market because the types
of questions that are asked begin with
the word ‘why ‘ this is going to make
them give their reasons and opinions
of the questions asked.
You can not assume that people outside
the sample taken will feel the same, this
makes it quite inaccurate.

2. What research methods did I use when completing the assignments in
year 10 for Unit 9 (e.g. primary, secondary, qualitative, quantitative)
• The most useful method to use when researching in my context was
‘secondary research’, this is because it is free and easily accessible online,
these days you can type in literally any question into google and get an
immediate answer.
• When I was researching photography techniques I read information from
websites to learn what each technique was, and how it was used, I then
changed it into my own words so I could understand it.

3. What research techniques did I use when completing the assignments in year
10 for Unit 9 (e.g. using the library, the internet, watching videos, reading
info, recces, practises, plans etc)
• The technique I used from this category was the internet. When I
was creating my photography techniques page I used this
technique to find relevant pictures that helped explain each
angle/type so I knew what it looked like.
• I used the internet when doing the magazine unit to research
existent magazines to make comparisons and to find the magazine I
wanted to recreate.
• I also used it to research tutorials on Photoshop incase there was
something I didn’t know how to edit.

4. How did you collate, store and use the information trail for Unit 9 ?
(e.g. did you book mark key websites? Keep a list of websites
used? Print off or save any info for your folders?)
• I stored all my collected coursework/research in my unit 9 folder, each
piece of work had a very specific name so it was easy to find, this made
me very organised and allowed me to store everything I needed.
• I also took screen grabs as I went along so I could use them in my final
piece of work (evaluation) to show a piece of work before and after of
improvement this was to make my evaluation very detailed to try and
boost my grade.

5. How and why might you use the four research methods in a real life
situation? For example if you worked for the BBC and were tasked
with creating a new reality TV show how might you use the four
research methods to help?
• If I worked for the BBC I would first go out into the public and
would use primary research to find out what type of show the
public would want. I would first come up with some new ideas
for a show and find out what the majority want. However this
is very time consuming and wont get through many people in
a long time as the public can be very dismissive. Then I would
try and use some quantitative research to expand my search
for what people want and what they will enjoy. Then to finish
off my research I would do some Qualitative research so we
could get a greater understanding on what our target is and
who we should go and aim our show at.