Guide To:

Research
Methods
Research Guide - Primary and Seconary Research

Primary Research
Primary research that is carried out by yourelf and, all the research wduld be with your
own tools and methods. Examples of primary reasearch methods would include: Sureys,
Questionnaires, interviews etc.

.Advantages:
The WRiter can make
choices on how the
their own
Disadvantages:
. Carrying out your own
uming.

. controlled.
The outcome of the
research is

research is
. research can be time cons
results of the research ca
always be trustworthy.
n’t

. more realiable, as
based on what you
The data is more re
it will all be
ve written
cent and
uptodate

secondary Research
secondary research is information that is taken from another source. This sorce would
have already carried out their own research and you would use thier research for your
own use or purpose. Secondary research can be found in books, the Internet etc.
Advantages:
.Its more time efficient, takes
less time to find than primary
.
Disadvantages:
the quality of the research may
be poor and not realiable or

.information.
They are more easier to access .
trustworthy.
The research that is found may

. e.g. computers, CDs/DVDS etc.

It allows users to find answers
more easily, without the need to
be out of date and will result in
unreliable informataion.

go out to look for answers.

Research Guide - Qualitative and Quantitive Research

Qualitative + quantative
research

Qualitative
Qualitative Research is basically exploratory research. It is used to
find out reasons, opinions or inspirations. It helps to provide insights
to develop ideas or a hypothesis. common methods of qualitative re-
search include focus groups or group discussions, interviews, and
participation/observations. The size of this type of research is
typically small.

Quantative
Quantitative Research is used to quantify the problem in numerical
form. It is used to quantify attitudes, opinions, behaviors, and other
defined variables. This type of research, include various forms of sur-
veys (online surveys, paper surveys, mobile surveys and kiosk surveys),
face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews etc.
Research Guide - Research Methods

Methods
sTRUCTURED INTERVIEWS
tHIS METHOD INVOLVES AT LEAST 2 PEOPLE AND CAN INVOLVE
A SURvey where a host has a person or thing they want
to examine and so this can be done in the form of a face
to face interview where questions are asked.

.
Advantages:
All the answer that the
researcher is looking for can
.
Disadvantages:
The interviewee could give
inefficient answers resulting in

. be answered in a specific way

it can be less than time consum-
ing than a secondary interview
as you can ask your own ques-
tions based on your topic.
.untrustwothy information
The interviewee could rush the
interview and would have the
sme result in untrustworthy
information

Observations
tHIS METHOD doesn’t include any participants and it is where
you - the researcher - would observe a group or situation
(without taking part or having any involvment), and you should
be able to come up with a conclusion from your observation.

.
Advantages:
The research that is carried out
and the results that come out
Disadvantages:
.You may not have full under-
standing of what is happeneing
of the observation are more with the subject(s), and no
reliable as you wouldn’t hav questions can be asked to avoid
interfered with the subjects of affecting the research.
the observation.
Research Guide - Research Methods

Questionnaire
a QUESTIONNAIRE I A SERIES OF DIFFERENT QUETIONS BASED
ARIUND THE TOPIC THAT YOU ARE RESEARCHING ABOUT. tHESE
CAN BE IN WRITTEN OR PRINTED FORM.
tHEY CAN BE USED IN A SURVEY OR STUDY.

.Advantages:
yOU CAN INTERVIEW AND ASK A
MANY SUBJECTS AS YOUWANT THERE
.
Disadvantages:
If it is an unattended, question-
naire the subject may not know

. IS NO LIMIT.
tHE RESULTS FROM THE QUESTION-
.what a question may maen
which would result in unrelia-
ble answers.
NAIRES MAY HAVE A MOJOIRTY AND
Some subjects may not be seri-
SO THE STATISTICS MAY HAVE A
ous about the topic and give
TREND .
unrelated answers.

fOCUS GROUP
A FOCUS GROUP IS A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT CAN BRAIN-
STORM AND DISCUSS A SPECIFIC TOPIC THAT YOU ARE RESEARCHING.
tHEY ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW AND AGENDA.
ALL THAT IS DISCUSSED IN A FOCUS GROUP CAN BE RECORDED, AND
CAN HAVE AN OBSERVER PRESENT FOR YOUR OR THEIR OWN USE.

.
Advantages:
iT IS AN EASIER METHOD
MORE IDEAS FOR YOUR OW
IN GAINING
DisadvantagesCO: N-
.ALL PARTICIPANTS MAY NOT
TRIBUTE TO THE FOCUS GROUP,
N REA-
. SEARCH.
THE PARTICIPANTS CAN BU
EACH OTHERS COMMENTS
ILD UP ON
LETTING OTHERS BE MORE DOMI

.NANT.
SOME GROUPS MAY GO OFF TO
-

PIC
AND
WOULD GRADUALLY BUIL
D, MAKING AND SO IT’ A DUTY TO THE
THINGS MORE ELABORAT
E. RESEARCHER/HOST TO STAY ON
TOPIC.
THAT’S ALL
FOLKS!

Guide By:
Hammad Mirza