The document describes and compares several common research methods: interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, surveys, internet research, and library research. For each method, it outlines the type of data collected (qualitative vs. quantitative, primary vs. secondary), advantages, and disadvantages. Interviews provide in-depth qualitative data through direct conversation but are time-consuming. Questionnaires allow quick collection of answers from many people but responses lack detail. Focus groups generate discussion that yields additional qualitative details, but require compensation for participants. Surveys efficiently gather data from a large number of respondents but responses may not be accurate. Internet research is easy and up-to-date but data quality varies. Library research ensures accurate primary sources but is more time-

1. RESEARCH
METHOD
DESCRIPTION TYPE OF DATA
(qualitative/quantitative
/primary/secondary)
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
INTERVIEW An interview is a
conversation between two
or more people where
questions are asked by the
interviewer to cause facts
or statements from the
interviewee.
Interviews are primarily
qualitative data and are a
source of primary research
because you are gathering it
yourself. However they can be
used to gather quantitative
data.
In an interview you can develop
a relationship with interviewee,
this will cause them to open up
more and there answers will be
better quality and be more
personal which is better for
your research. This is why
interview are particular good
for gathering qualitative data.
In an interview you can get more
detailed and personal answers that
will benefit your research.
Theoretically there isn’t a limit to
how many people you can
interview.
When I conducted my interview it
was extremely beneficial because I
got more unique answers that were
specific to the individual and my
research. Compared to a
questionnaire, in an interview
Interviews are more time
consuming.
People sometimes feel
uncomfortable during
interviews.
Not only is the interview time
consuming, gathering a good
amount of people will take a
lot of time, much quicker than
say a questionnaire.
When leading my interview it
raised a question that I maybe
could have got more
conclusive data if I got triple
the amount of people to fill
out a questionnaire in the
same amount of time.
Furthermore, the majority of
people I asked said they didn’t
have enough time to partake.
QUESTIONNAIRE A questionnaire is a type of
research consisting of a
series of questions and
other prompts for the
purpose of gathering
information from
respondents.
Questionnaires are qualitative
data and quantitative data.
They also are a source of
primary research because you
are gathering it yourself.
Questionnaires are quick and easy
to gather a lot of information.
If you’re looking for short and
snappy answers, for example
closed questions, questionnaires
will be the best way to go.
In addition questionnaires would
be ideal if you wanted to get a vast
The answers you get won’t be
very detailed and they will all
be the same. Furthermore,
questionnaires, like many
evaluation methods occur
after the event, so participants
may forget important issues. If
the questionnaire takes too

2. amount of opinions in a short
amount of time, the more data you
have the more conclusive it will be.
However it won’t be as detailed as
an interview would be.
long, the person might be
superficial with their answers.
When I did my questionnaire, I
asked the people if they took
their time and answered
honestly, a few of them said
they had just ticked the boxes
without giving it any thought.
This problem wouldn’t occur
with a interview.
FOCUS GROUP 1. a group of people
assembled to participate in
a discussion about a
product or subject.
Focus groups are qualitative
data and quantitative data.
They also are a source of
primary research because you
are gathering it yourself from a
group of people
With focus groups you can get a
whole group opinion at one time.
Additionally in a group people tend
to carry on with the convocation,
leading to more detail. You can also
ask a lot of questions because
there in a lot of people, normally
10+. When directing my own focus
group I found people tended to
elaborate on other opinion and
give counter arguments that
helped my research
Compared with surveys and
questionnaires, focus groups
are much more expensive to
execute. Usually, each
participant will have to be
compensated. Compared with
surveys and questionnaires,
focus groups are much more
expensive to execute. Usually,
each participant will have to
be compensated in cash or in
kind. It might be harder for
someone to express their
views in a group dynamic.
Focus groups can be
moderator bias, this means
that when exchanging view,
someone could change them
onion.
SURVEY A survey is a data collection
tool used to gather
information about
individuals.
Surveys are primary research,
you collect both types of
research, Qualitative and
quantitative.
Relatively easy to put together
Compared to other research
methods, it takes up a fairly small
amount of time. Surveys are cost-
The people taking the survey
may not feel encouraged to
provide accurate, honest
answers. Surveys with close

3. effective.Can be administered
remotely via online, mobile
devices, mail, email or telephone.
Loads of question can be asked
about a subject, this can helps with
your analysis. A broad range of
data can be collected (e.g.,
attitudes, opinions, beliefs, values,
behavior, factual). A lot of data can
be collected very quickly for
example in the census.
questions have a lower validity
rate.
INTERNET
RESEARCH
Research that is gathered
from the internet.
Internet research is secondary
data, because you are getting
your information from
somewhere else. The internet is
so big it is simple to get both
quantitative data and
qualitative date.
The internet is so simple to gather
data from. Furthermore it is always
up to date with everything so even
if the topic your researching is
extremely new, you will still be able
to find something on the internet
about it. This is the opposite for
library research, where they might
not have book for your topic. The
internet has different variety’s at
hand. Finally it isn’t hard to use.
Near enough anyone can use it.
When collecting my research I
found internet research to be the
easiest and fastest way to collect
data. It was also accurate and of
good quality.
Data could be false of can be
wrongly modified, for example
anyone with a wiki account
can change Wikipedia’s
information. A lot of
information is recycled, as
opposed to newspapers or
magazines. The internet
requires an internet
connection. Although a lot of
places might have an internet
connection some might not.
Finally, plagiarism is a
disadvantage because you are
copying someone research.
LIBRARY
RESEARCH
Research that is gathered in
libraries.
Library research is more
qualitative because they tend to
be more detailed and almost
always accurate. It is also
secondary research, because
Compared with online research,
libraries have much more primary
research. Libraries often have
experience researchers to help you.
Collecting information at
libraries is much longer that
the quick searches you can do
online. Libraries may have
missing materials from their

4. you are gathering someone
else’s primary research
shelves so you will have to dig
around separate libraries to
find your specific research.