1. RESEARCH
METHOD
DESCRIPTION TYPE OF DATA
(qualitative/quantitative
/primary/secondary)
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
INTERVIEW A conversation, like one
conducted bya reporter, in
whichfactsor statements
are obtainedfromanother.
Qualitative
Primary
Quantitative
In depthanswerswhichare specific
to yourquestion.
The interviewercanaffectthe
data if he/she isnot
consistent.
It isverytime consuming.
It is notusedfor a large
numberof people
QUESTIONNAIRE A setof printedorwritten
questionswithachoice of
answers,devisedforthe
purposesof a surveyor
statistical study.
Qualitative
Quantitative
Primary
Practical
Large amountsof informationcan
be collectedfromalarge number
of people inashortperiodof time
and ina relativelycosteffective
way
Is arguedto be inadequate to
understandsome formsof
information- i.e.changesof
emotions,behaviour,feelings
etc.
Lacks validity
FOCUS GROUP A groupof people
assembledtoparticipate in
a discussionabouta
productbefore itis
launched,orto provide
feedbackona political
campaignor a specific
campaign.
Quantitative
Primary
Qualitative
Focusgroup usuallyrefers toa
groupof usually10 or fewer
individuals.The groupusually
consistsof volunteersgatheredto
discussa particularproductor idea.
Theyare askeda seriesof
questionsorare givenstatements
to whichtheyfreelyshare their
opinions,ideasandreactions
Comparedwithsurveysand
questionnaires,focusgroups
are muchmore expensiveto
carry out.
Theymay not wantto express
theirthoughts,especially
whentheirthoughtsoppose
the viewsof another
participant.
SURVEY to ask a group of people a
questionora seriesof
questionsinordertogather
informationaboutwhat
mostpeople door think
aboutsomething
Quantitative
Primary
Cost-effective,butcostdependson
surveymode
From surveysyoucangain a lot of
informationaboutthe questionyou
wantanswered.
Respondentsmaynotfeel
comfortable providinganswers
that put themselvesintoa
minorityof people whogave
that answer.
Respondentsmaynotfeel
encouragedtoprovide

2. accurate,honestanswers
INTERNET
RESEARCH
Internetresearch isthe
practice of usingInternet
information,especiallyfree
informationonthe World
Wide Web,inresearch.It is
focusedandpurposeful
Secondary
Quantitative
Qualitative
It isquickerto doresearchon the
weband youcan alsocompare to
otherwebsitestoensure the
informationisreliable.
Some material onthe internet
have not beenevaluated or
proof read byexpertsor
thoroughlyscreened.Anyone
withwebknowledgeanda
servercan publishedanything
on the internet
LIBRARY
RESEARCH
Libraryresearchis
conductedina libraryina
university,college,
municipal,orprivate library
where people cansearch
catalogues,computers,
stacks,bookor magazines
for theirdesired
information.
Secondary
Qualitative
Quantitative
Booksthat make it to the library
are peerreadbefore the booksare
published.
Some resourcesmaynotbe
available totake out,which
meansthe studentmuststay
inthe librarytouse them.
Studentsmustgetto the
libraryduringlibraryhours,
whichmay notbe convenient