2. Primary research methods: Surveys, Questionnaires, Interviews

Question 1

What are surveys

Answer 1

Surveys are a large scale quantitative study.

Data is usually collected by questionnaires or structured interviews. EG: The crime survey for england and wales: 50000 people in england and wales are questioned about their experiences of crime in the previous 12 months

Question 2

What are Questionnaires

Answer 2

Questionnaires are a list of questions that can be distributed in person or through post.

The respondent answers the question on their own without the need of the researcher to be present saving time and cost.

As all the questions are the same, it is reliable data

Question 3

Advantages of questionnaires

Answer 3

1. With short answers, the data is easy to quantify and its easy to identify trends.
2. its useful for positivists to collect and can be used to test their hypothesis
3. As theyre usually anonymous respondents can be more honest
4. They arent limited to small geographic areas
5. Revisiting the same sample allows for identification of change overtime

Question 4

Disadvantages of Questionnaires

Answer 4

1. Most questionnaires rely on closed questionnaires in which the choice of answer is limited to those selected by the researcher: This could mean the respondent might have to choose an answer that doesnt reflect their thoughts.
2. They arent answering in their own words
3. They dont allow respondents to explain their answers
4. People might interpret the questions differently
5. postal questionnaires have a poor response rate

Question 5

What are interviews

Answer 5

There are three types of interviews: Structured, unstructured, semi-structured

A structure interview is basically a questionnaire that is read out with the answers recorded by the interviewer

Unstructured interviews are more like conversations with the questions and answers not having a pre-determined path.

Semi-structured interviews are somewhat between the questionnaire and conversation extremes.

Interviews are flexible and are easy to include a mixture of closed and open-ended questions allowing both quantitative and qualitative data to be collected.

Question 6

Advantages of structured interviews

Answer 6

1. If the respondent doesnt understand the question the interviewer can explain.
2. The standardised approach makes data more reliable
3. Data can be collected quickly than other interview methods
4. The presence of the researcher can improve response rates

Question 7

Disadvantages of structured interviews

Answer 7

1. Its more time consuming than questionnaires
2. The presence of an interviewer can cause interviewer bias and respondents might give socially acceptable answers instead of actual responses
3. An interview schedule can limit the opportunity for the respondent to explain or discuss answers.

Question 8

Advantages of Unstructured interviews

Answer 8

1. The absence of a tight schedule allows discussion to develop greater insight
2. The more natural setting can making respondent more honest resulting in valid data
3. Respondents can answer in their own words
4. Interviewer may be able to tell if respondent is telling the truth with body observation being able to be observed
5. Open ended questions allow respondents to elaborate on their views

Question 9

Disadvantages of unstructured interviews

Answer 9

1. Theyre time consuming
2. Interviewer has to be highly skilled
3. Analysing the information can be complicated and subjective
4. Data can be less reliable
5. Interview and respondent bias
6. Age, sex, ethnicity of interviewer can affect relationship and answer given to interviewer

Question 10

Advantages of semi-structured interviews

Answer 10

1. Open ended questions gives interviewer and respondent opportunity to discuss topics in detail with qualitative data being obtained.
2. The researcher is able to prompt or encourage the respondent to give fuller answers
3. the interviewer can follow up on issues that the respondent mentions

Question 11

Disadvantages of semi-structured interviews

Answer 11

1. The interviews arent standardised so data is less reliable
2. Interviewer bias
3. Can be expensive and time consuming

Question 12

Advantages of focus groups

Answer 12

1. Views and opinions of group members can be explored in detail
2. Group discussions can be more informative and revealing
3. A focus group is useful when its a group and their views that are being studied
4. It collects several respondents information more quickly than interviews
5. The group members can influence discussions and introduce possible ideas that the researcher hadnt considered

Question 13

Disadvantages of focus groups

Answer 13

1. Group moderator needs to be highly skilled to keep discussion focussed and to prevent it from being dominated by forceful participants
2. Some participants might not want to share views in group setting
3. The result is unlikely to be representative
4. The result is unlikely to be reliable
5. The qualitative data can be hard to analyse