This document describes and compares several common research methods: interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, surveys, internet research, and library research. For each method, it provides information on the type of data collected (qualitative vs. quantitative, primary vs. secondary), as well as advantages and disadvantages. Interviews can provide detailed personal information but are time-consuming, while questionnaires allow collecting data from many people efficiently but lack depth. Focus groups enable group interaction but are difficult to analyze. Surveys provide large representative data sets but have inflexible designs. Internet research facilitates 24/7 access to information but lacks organization and vetting of sources. Library research provides access to curated materials in a focused environment.

1. RESEARCH
METHOD
DESCRIPTION TYPE OF DATA
(qualitative/quantitative
/primary/secondary)
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
INTERVIEW A meeting in which someone
answers questions about
himself or herself for a
newspaper article, television
show, etc./
Quantitative/Primary They are useful to obtain detailed
information about personal feelings,
perceptions and opinions/ they allow
more detailed questions to be asked/
They usually achieve a high response
rate. I found this useful because I out
useful information from the
interviewer.
They can be very time-consuming
setting up, interviewing,
transcribing, analysing, feedback,
reporting/They can be
costly/different interviewers may
understand and transcribe
interviews in different ways. I
could not find this useful because
people rarely come to the
interview.
QUESTIONNAIRE A list of questions that several
people are asked so that
information can be collected
about something.
Quantitative/Primary Practical/Large amounts of information
can be collected from a large number
of people in a short period of time and
in a relatively cost effective way/Can
be carried out by the researcher or by
any number of people with limited
affect to its validity and reliability.. I
found this useful because I out useful
information from the questionnaire
Is argued to be inadequate to
understand some forms of
information - i.e. changes of
emotions, behaviour,
feelings/Phenomenologists state
that quantitative research is
simply an artificial creation by
the researcher, as it is asking only
a limited amount of information
without explanation
/Lacks validity. I didn’t find this
useful because certain people put
unnecessary answers .
FOCUS GROUP A group of people who have
been brought together to
discuss a particular subject in
order to solve a problem or
suggest ideas.
Quantitative/Primary/Secondary It is comparatively easy to conduct/It is
economically efficient/It generates
opportunity to collect data from the
group interaction
It gives speed in the supply of the
results/It allows a relatively large
sample size for a qualitative study
The research is not carried out in
a natural setting and the
researcher has less control over
the data generated
2/The data may be difficult to
analyse/The interviewer must
have good interview
skills/Assembling a group may
require additional resources

2. SURVEY An examination of opinions,
behaviour, etc., made by
asking people questions.
Quantitative/Primary High Representativeness/ Low Costs/
Convenient Data Gathering/ Good
Statistical Significance/ Little or No
Observer Subjectivity/ Little or No
Observer Subjectivity
Inflexible Design/ Not Ideal for
Controversial Issues/ Possible
Inappropriateness of Questions
INTERNET
RESEARCH
The large system of connected
computers around the world
that allows people to share
information and communicate
with each other. / A detailed
study of a subject, especially
in order to discover (new)
information or reach a (new)
understanding.
Qualitative / Secondary The Internet is available 24 hours a
day/Internet pages can be more
quickly updated than paper
sources./Some newspapers magazines
and encyclopaedias are available
online./Some books not available in the
library may be available online./Many
different types of media are available
on the Internet.
Anyone can create a web page.
/Authority of the work may not
be readily apparent.
/What you see today may not be
what you see tomorrow /There is
nothing to prevent the author
from changing tomorrow what
you quoted today.
Internet information is usually
not organized in any way to help
in finding it./Archived materials -
newspapers, magazines, etc. may
not go back very far.
/Media available in different
formats may require software not
available on your computer.
/Most journals and magazines
are not available on the Internet
except through databases which
require a paid subscription.
/Most books are not available
through the Internet.
LIBRARY
RESEARCH
A building, room, or
organization that has a
collection, especially of books,
for people to read or borrow
usually without payment./ A
detailed study of a subject,
especially in order to discover
(new) information or reach a
(new) understanding.
Qualitative/Primary The library is a lot quieter than a
coffee shop/ Nice architecture creates a
pleasant working environment/ It’s
free./ Comfortable desks/ Access to
research material/
No telephone/VoIP calls/ Not very
much social interaction/ You’re
not allowed to plug in your
computer/ No eating/drinking at
your desk (except in the cafe).