Research Methods

Research Methods

1. Experiments

   • Lab conditions
     • Not real life

2. Observation

   • Covert
     • The group do not know you are researching
     • Deceit
     • Get in as smoothly as possible
       • Get out as easily as possible
     • Recording can be difficult
     • Can be tricky if caught
     • Can get involved in illegal activity
     • Quantitative
       • Favoured by positivists
     • Lack of validity
   • Overt
     • The group know you are researching
     • The group may change their behaviour
     • Cheaper than covert
     • Qualitative
       • Favoured by interpretivists
     • Consent easily given or declined
     • Confidentiality easy to maintain

3. Interviews

   • Structured
     • May not get enough depth
     • Interviewer does not need to be trained
     • Easy to record
     • More suited to those who cannot write/read
     • Quantitative
       • Positivists
     • Cheaper and faster
     • Easy access
     • Useful for people with reading probs
   • Unstructured
     • Interviewer could probe to deeply
       • Harming the interviewee
     • Get greater depth
     • Takes longer
     • Increased cost
       • Interviewer must be trained
     • Interviewer Bias / Social desirability
     • Slower
     • Easy access
     • High response rate

4. Questionnaires

   • Easy access
     • Electoral role etc
   • Can simply not reply
     • Low responce
   • Anonymous
   • Not always enough room to write
   • Questions can be bias