This document outlines various primary research methods that could be used for a project on non-wovens and composite materials for automotive parts. It discusses questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, surveys, observations, prototypes/experiments, and online research. The author indicates they will use questionnaires, focus groups, and prototypes as their main methods through triangulation. Questionnaires will gather technical data from experts, focus groups will provide different perspectives, and prototypes will allow testing ideas and identifying errors. Personal reflection on methods and a pilot study are also recommended to strengthen the research.

1. PRIMARY RESEARCH
METHODS
PRESENTATION.
SHUBHAM PATIL – P2610915.
MSC – TEXTILE DESIGN, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION.
ADHP5701 RESEARCH METHODS 2020-21.

2. Content
 Introduction, Aim, Objective.
 Project proposal.
 List of primary research methods
 Questionnaire.
 Interview.
 Focus Group.
 Survey.
 Observations.
 Prototype/Experiment.
 Primary research online method.
 Triangulation.
 Personal reflection of these methods & Pilot study.
 Conclusion/Recommendation.
 Bibliography.

3. Introduction, Aim, Objective
 Introduction – It is a methodology used by the researcher to collect data rather than using previous
research. A Primary research method is a process of gendering information on variables of interest
by using different methods of primary research in a systematic manner which enables to answer
and evaluate outcomes of it. It is one of the methods to collect data by using various qualitative
and quantitative tools relevant to research methods.
 Aim – To collect data by using different primary research methods relevant to my research project
topic.
 Objective - The Objective of primary research methods is to collect real-time data which is useful
to do the project.

4. Project proposal
 Project title – Non-Wovens and Composites for Automotive parts.
 Project description – The goal of this project is to reduce the weight of a car by using Non-
Wovens and composite material which is stronger than conventional material. Nonwovens and
composite are best for reducing the weight of the car and for the essential properties like
performance and safety. It also increases aesthetics and comfort. It is specialist in fire retardancy,
water repellency, high temperature and abrasion resistance. They make car attractive, safe as well
as long lasting and of course sustainable. By using natural fibers in non-woven composites, we
can make it stronger and more flexible. Because of their versatility, they are widely used in vehicles
like Airplane, Boats, Trains, satellites etc. The area where non-Wovens and composites used in car
are Interior, Carpet, Backing, Headliner, Car body, Engine compartment, Tyres, Seats, Airbags etc.
Composite materials are 16 times stronger than stainless steel so steel is replaced by carbon
composite.
 Task – Collect data. Develop a prototype and do testing and experiment for result & calculations.
 Requirements – Fibers and Non-Woven material, Matrix, Feelers and binders, Labs for testing.

5. List of Primary Research methods
 Questionnaire.
 Interview.
 Focus group.
 Survey.
 Observation.
 Prototype/Experiment.
 Primary research online method.

6. QUESTIONNAIRE
 TYPES OF QUESTIONS
1. Closed question – yes/no.
2. Attitude question – Agree/Disagree/Strongly
agree.
3. Open question – Brief answers.
 ADVANTAGE
 Cover large no of respondence.
 Cheap & doesn't require arrangement.
 Allow time to respond.
 More scientific answers.
 DISADVANTAGE
 Literacy problem.
 No control on respondence.
 Time delay to respond.
 A Response may not be complete.
 I am using this method because this method is giving
qualitative and accurate information regarding my
project topic. The only drawback is, have to ask a
question to the particular field person.
 I made a questionnaire of mixed questions types of all
three and I got much better answers than my
expectations.
 In brief answers, some expertise gave the technical
answers which are very helpful for my project work.

7. Screenshots of Questionnaire.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSclcjiKeJ1r6ez5YGyYWfL2Vp4jX3BzEYT5RFG
c3ScF-4rX_A/viewform?usp=sf_link
Questionnaire link-

8. INTERVIE
W
 TYPES OF INTERVIEW
1. Structured interview.
2. Semi-Structured interview.
3. Unstructured interview.
 ADVANTAGES
 Serious approach to collect data.
 Accurate information.
 More detailing.
 Technical answers with examples.
 Possible to requestion on answer.
 DISADVANTAGES
 Need to be set up
 Set up as per respondent time.
 Respondent may be embarrass.
 Expensive.
• METHODS OF
INTERVIEW
1. Postal,
2. Telephonic,
3. Face to face
 This tool is very important when you are doing research on
technical field or product.
 The person from that particular field will give all the qualitative
data, Knowledge in interview.
 I conducted interview of one person who is working in
Technical textile field.
 It was a telephonic interview and structure of interview is
Unstructured interview. I choose this because responder can
talk deeply on topic and can explain technical things.
 Interviewer gave a very technical answers with examples which
are very helpful to build my product and he also gave some
tips which should be considered while working.

9. Interview Screenshots & Call duration
• Interview type – Unstructured
• Time – 15.07 min
• Deep talk and question answers
on how composite material is
best option to replace
conventional material.

10. FOCUS GROUP
 TYPES OF FOCUS GROUPS
1. Formal focus groups.
2. Informal focus groups.
 ADVANTAGE
 Qualitative data.
 Different views on one point.
 Both pros and cons of the product.
 Different thinking.
 Easy for hypothesis further project.
 DISADVANTAGE
 Discussion may divert.
 Group leader needs to have control.
 Debt can start.
 Arguments will covert to harsh talk.
 Focus group is one part of my triangulation.
 When we are talking about a particular product or future
product then focus group tools plays an important role to
gather information.
 So for my product it’s very helpful like, when I put my
product with details then each member from the group will
give their thoughts and facts about it with their perspective.
 Some will say advantages and some will oppose this and will
give disadvantages then someone will give a solution like
that we can mix up all the data of different minds and can
work on our project proposal.
 This method is always better than the interview because in
interview we have only one person to give an answer but
here we have group of people.
 A Formal group is a good option for me.

11. SURVEY
 TYPES OF SURVEYS
1. In person.
2. Online.
3. Interview based
4. Probability sampling.
5. Non probability sampling.
6. Convenience sampling.
 ADVANTAGE
 Good statistical significance.
 Precise results.
 DISADVANTAGE
 Inflexible design
 Not ideal for a controversial issue.
 I will not use this tool for my project to collect information.
 Survey is not a good option for research technical product because in a survey all the crowd can not give
answers to our questions.
 Our chosen crowd having no idea about the technology on which we are working.
 Survey will give us statistical facts but we need technical information rather than statistics.

12. OBSERVATION
 OBSERVATION FORMS
1. Structured/Unstructured.
2. Natural/Contrived.
3. Personal/Mechanical.
4. Participant/Nonparticipant.
5. Researcher.
 ADVANTAGE
 Exact findings of product.
 Simple method.
 Provide structure for research.
 Accuracy.
 DISADVANTAGE
 Some occurrences may not be open.
 Lack of reliability
 Faulty perceptions.
 Slow investigation.
 I will use observation tool to observe the products which
already exist related to my topic.
 This will help for exact findings & proper structure.
 By observation of product in detail, We can start our work
or we can choose a correct direction for our project.
 If observation is done in perfect perception then this tool is
better to know the product with each and every detail.

13. PROTOTYPE/EXPERIMENT
 TYPES OF PROTOTYPE
1. Low fidelity.
2. Medium fidelity.
3. High Fidelity.
 ADVANTAGE
 To find problems.
 Increase efficiency of designing.
 Error detector.
 Trail and errors.
 DISADVANTGE
 Time consuming.
 Expensive.
 Tools required.
 Prototype is one of the tools from my triangulation.
 Its very necessary to do experiments on your research
product for confirming is it working properly or not.
 For my project topic I will produce a High fidelity Prototype
in a smaller size.
 By using prototype we will get to know exact errors in
product and we can redesign or reconstruct product with
considering all the errors. This is the biggest advantage of
prototype and experiment over all the tools.
 While producing prototype we also get to know that which
difficulties will come while manufacturing the main product
and how will reduce this.

14. PRIMARY RESEARCH ONLINE METHOD
 TYPES OF PRIMARY DATA
1. Social media, Chat room, Skype, zoom.
 ADVANTAGES
 Data collection from trustworthy sources.
 Help to practical improvement.
 Citation and references.
 Can participate in questionnaire, discussion etc.
 DISADVANTAGES
 Lot of unimportant information
 Difficult to replicate.
 Not related to exact topic
 I will use primary research online method because it will give qualitative data directly from researchers,
Experts with references and citations
 We can contact or get a trustworthy source on researcher specific networking service.
 Information from these sources is fully experimented and highly evaluated. So we can use the
information without cross-checking.

15. TRIANGULATION
 Focus group, Questionnaire and prototype these three methods
are more relevant to my project proposal.
 Focus group is helping to gather more information in different
perspectives of different people and it is time saver than an
interview so I choose focus group over an interview. In focus group
its possible to get an critical analysis of the product.
 My project proposal is Non-Wovens and Composites for
automotive, It is a part of technical textile. For such type of
research, project prototype is must. A Prototype can give exact
results of product so we can update and make changes in design
or construction as per errors. Observation is also a good option
but some occurrences may not be open and in same time we can
built a prototype.
 Questionnaire is very helpful to find out answers with your
particular field. Make a questionnaire and send it to people with
particular field and we get technical answers very easily but for
survey we will get only quantitative information which is not useful
for my research.
FOCUS
GROUP
QUESTIONNAIRE
PROTOTYPE

16. PERSONAL REFLECTION OF THESE
METHODS
 Experiences to interact with expertise.
 Potential contribution while researching data to the professional development.
 Develop a critical mindset.
 Gain extra knowledge in technical textiles with examples.
 Develop skills like arrange interviews, Group discussions, How to talk with professionals and
expertise
 It help to develop data analysis and hypothesis.
 It will develop link between Experience, Practice and existing knowledge.
 Understanding of different perspectives.
PILOT STUDY
 It permits primary investigation of main research and help to develop better content.
 It provide idea, Approach and clues which we don’t know before. It helps in clear findings.
 It will undertake throughout planned analysis evaluation of data.

17. CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION
 For my project topic I am using Questionnaire, Interview, Focus group, Observation, Primary
research online method and Prototype/Experiment.
 Questionnaire, Focus group and Prototype these three are my triangulation tools. I am broadly
focusing on these three methods to collect data.
 Survey is the only not appropriate methods to collect information for my project.
 I always recommend to use primary research tools for gendering information with triangulation
system.

18. BIBLIOGRAPHY
 NEIL LEONARD, GAVIN AMBROSE (2012), Design Research, First Edition, AVA publishing SA, Lausanne.
 Using social media for social research : An introduction (2016), Social media research group.
 CANN et al (2011), Social media : a guide for researcher, Research information network.
 HILARY COLLINS (2018), Creative research: The theory and practice of research for the creative industries,
Second edition, Bloomsbury visual arts, London.
 JUDITH BELL, STEPHEN WATERS (2014), Doing your research project : A guide for first time researcher, 6th
edition, Open university press/Mc Graw-Hill education, Maidenhead.
 SARAH MAE SINCERO (2012), Advantage and disadvantage of survey, Explorable.
 ADAM RAMSHAW, Pros and cons of survey that are critical to success, Genroe, Available from :
https://www.genroe.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-surveys/11471
 AKASH CHOUDHARY, Advantages and limitations observation for data collection, Your article library,
Available from : https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/social-research/data-collection/advantages-and-
limitations-observation-method-for-data-collection/64507
 SUMMER YE (2017), What are advantage and disadvantage of prototyping, Mock plus.