The document defines various types of research methods and terminology used in research. It discusses the differences between primary and secondary research, quantitative and qualitative research, as well as audience, market and production research. Advantages and disadvantages of each method are provided along with examples. Common research terminology like objective, subjective, valid and reliable are also defined. The document concludes with an example of the Harvard referencing style.

1. Research
Aaron Acaster

2. Terminology
• Circulation
– How many copies of something has been produced
• Hits
– How many times a webpage has been visited
• Box Office Figures
– How much money a certain film has made at the cinima
• Ratings
– The score something has been rated
• Sales
– How many things have been sold

3. Primary Research
• Definition
– Research You do yourself
– When the audience and researcher are directly in contact
• Advantages
– Allows you to collect the information for your self
• Disadvantages
– Sometimes you might not know exactly what your looking for
• Example
– An Interview
– Focus Groups
– Questionnaires/Surveys

4. Secondary Research
• Definition
– A study already taken
– Using existing research in your own work
• Advantages
– The main research has been done for you
– There are a lot of resources available
• Disadvantages
– The research may be different to what you were looking for
– It may be hard to find
– You have to rely on other peoples work
• Example
– Internet research
– Archive research

5. Quantitative Research
• Definition
– Research you can measure in and put into percentages
• Advantages
– You can clearly see your results
– You can put the results in a format people understand
• Disadvantages
– There's a lot of work involved into putting your results into
numbers
• Example
– TV ratings
– Website hits
– Box Office figures

6. Qualitative Research
• Definition
In depth research that finds out peoples believes/ opinions
• Advantages
Since its an open question, the person answering isn’t
restricted on what they can say
• Disadvantages
It may be difficult to think of some questions to ask
• Example
– Forums
– Reviews
– Discussions

7. Audience Research
• Definition
Any research conducted on an audience
• Advantages
You know exactly what people want
• Disadvantages
You need to research a lot of people to make it fair and
get a clear picture as to what people want.
• Example
– Online questionnaire
–

8. Market Research
• Definition
Gaining information about the customers needs
• Advantages
You have a good idea as to what exactly the customer wants
and you know how to advertise to that specific group.
• Disadvantages
It may be hard to get information if you don’t know where
to look
• Example
– Online
– Questionnaires

9. Production Research
• Definition
The collection and analysis of information for the production of a
product
• Advantages
You'll have a good idea o who you are advertising to and who
exactly the product is for
• Disadvantages
It may be difficult to gain information if you don’t know ware to
look.
• Example
– Reviews
– Forums
– Online

10. Terminology
• Objective
– Research that is not influenced by personal opinions/
believes
• Subjective
– Research that has been influenced by personal
opinions/ believes
• Valid
– Weather the research is able to appropriately answer
the question
• Reliable
– Research that consistently produces good results

11. Harvard Referencing
Name of the film being researched; Superbad
Film; Greg Mottola(September 14, 2007) Superbad
Book; David Goldberg (March 2008) SUPERBAD: SETH'S DRAWINGS
Website; Greg Mottola(September 14, 2007) sonypictures.com/movies/superbad/
(http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/superbad/)
Magazine Article: Richard Corliss(Friday Aug 17 2007) Superbad: A Fine Bromance
(http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1653918,00.html)