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DR. MAHESWARI JAIKUMAR KING AKBAR HISTORICAL RESEARCH • Historical research is undertaken to answer questions concerning causes, effects or trends relating t…

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We'd be forgetting a lot of stuff, that's where.

Almost every productive person uses some sort of daily to-do checklist to prevent them from forgetting something important and to keep them on track. In our personal lives, we're constantly using checklists for things such as grocery shopping, household chores, or preparing for a vacation. In the commercial world, checklists are used in countless ways that range from the highly technical (surgery, pre-flight checks) to the relatively uncomplicated (closing up a business at night, basic inventory).

There are many causes for overlooking things. Time pressures, distractions, apathy, stress, and fatigue can all lead to us to neglect a task we really needed to do. Sometimes, the cause is simply that we don't know what's important to remember.

That's where checklists come in. Checklists can be as simple as a few items on a napkin, or as sophisticated as checklist software programs. They all have the same purpose, though-to counter for the limitations of human memory, focus, and knowledge. The simple concept of checking off items as they're done, in the order they're supposed to be done, keeps us from screwing up.

However, all checklists-from the humblest to the most complex-need to have certain basic features to make them effective.

1. All items that need to be included should be included. (Obviously, the value of any checklist is negated if it doesn't include all the necessary items for the successful accomplishment of a process.)

2. No items should be included if they don't need to be checked. (Unnecessary items create confusion about what needs to be checked and what doesn't.)

3. Items should be listed in a logical order, so they can easily be found. (For example, listing items on a grocery list by store section keeps you from backtracking.)

These are very common-sense features to include in a checklist. Anyone can see their importance. That's why it's difficult to understand why many businesses fail to use checklists with these basic but vital characteristics.
The Checker Solution
In business, where checklists usually involve more complex processes than daily living tasks, it pays to use professionally designed checklists. But if they don't have the basic features we just discussed, they're not going to provide the benefits that checklists should.

If your checklists aren't fundamentally sound, you can remedy that situation with The Checker inspection books or mobile software. The Checker can be used to inspect, audit, or assess almost any type of asset-and it has all the fundamental characteristics of checklists that get the job done.

1. Our checklists are designed for very specific types of assets. For example, unlike many checklists you'll find on the market, we don't just have a "vehicle" inspection. Instead, we have checklists for specific types of vehicles- all the vital items for that particular type of vehicle will be included. It's that way with all of our hundreds of pre-designed checklists, and you can also customize checklists for particularly unique needs.

2. Checklists that are too generic must, by their nature, include items that don't apply in every situation. With our asset-specific checklists, The Checker doesn't have that problem.

3. We don't list items alphabetically, which makes sense in some cases, but not in walk-around or walk-through situations such as commercial equipment inspections or facility safety audits. We certainly don't list items arbitrarily, as some checklists seem to do. We list the items in the logical sequence they will be encountered during the inspecting process.
Takeaway
The Checker can provide numerous benefits, helping you manage, monitor, and plan inspection and auditing processes. But it all starts with a checklist design that has the fundamentals of an effective checklist. Regardless of whether you use The Checker, if you're not using a checklist with these essential features, you will be well-served by remedying that problem.
Learn more about selecting the right inspection checklists by downloading "The Checker Checklist: The Value of Using Checklists," a checklist of what to look for in checklists.

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Inspection checklists can be very useful if they have the checklist basics covered.

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Businesses have an unending stream of tasks they have to prioritize, delegate, and finish if they hope to stay afloat. It never stops.

How do you juggle all of that?

A checklist might be the answer.

Checklists might seem like ultra-simple tools for remembering which groceries to get or gifts to buy for the holidays. But they can also serve as powerful organizational tools for businesses, when done right.

This post will explain the 2 broad types of checklists, some advantages and drawbacks of these tools, and tips to minimize those drawbacks. We'll close with a platform that is excellent for creating and managing checklists that'll actually help boost your productivity.

But first:

What is a checklist, and what kinds are there?

Most people understand the concept of a checklist. But let's define it, just so we're all on the same page.

A checklist is a way of formatting activities you need to do or requirements you need to meet in order to accomplish something.

They have 3 main uses.

To make sure things are done in the right order: for example, if you buy an Ikea table, they come with specific instructions on putting things together. If you try doing Step 10 before Step 4, you'll end up pulling your hair out.

To make sure no activities that need to be done are forgotten: we all know the frustration of forgetting to grab something at the grocery store. A grocery list is just a checklist that makes sure you have everything.

To make sure requirements have been met: banks use this when, say, deciding on whether to give a homebuyer a mortgage. They make sure the applicant provided their personal information, has good credit, stable income, solid employment history, and all that fun stuff.

People use checklists for all sorts of things, but they can generally be divided into 2 types.

Surgeon Atul Gawande defined the 2 broad kinds of checklists in his book, The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right.

They are:

What's the difference?

Do-Confirm checklist

A Do-Confirm checklist user does the activities listed at their own rate and generally in their own order. They can then consult the checklist when they feel it's appropriate to make sure they didn't miss anything.

This is called a pause point.

Do-Confirm checklists work well for lower-risk projects that allow for freedom in choosing the order in which steps are taken.

Back to the grocery shopping example: say you want to make a pasta dish for dinner tonight, but you need to buy all the ingredients.

It's not mandatory to grab them in any specific order, as long as you don't leave the store without something.

If you're like us, you'll probably grab a couple items, then stop to consult your list and see what's still missing. That glance at your list is your pause point.

Read-Do checklist

Read-Do checklists are more regimented. The user carries out tasks one at a time, usually in a specific order, and then checks each task off as they are completed.

As you'd expect, Read-Do checklists are useful for projects with task dependencies and where the consequences of something going wrong are graver.

If we continue with this pasta example, the recipe would be a Read-Do checklist. You read a step, do that step, then move on to the next, in the order provided in your cookbook.

Checklists have their pros and cons

Checklists have several advantages, but there are some downsides as well.

Pro: they're motivating

Checklists let you get the project or task out of your head and onto paper or a computer screen.

Being able to see everything you need to do in front of you can be motivating. It makes the entire affair seem less daunting when you break it into digestible chunks.

But the motivation goes further: as you check off each checklist item, you build momentum that carries you to the end.

Pro: they guide your work

Checklists give you direction. You can choose which tasks are most important to do first, and which ones can wait.

In a way, it serves as a simple method of getting your tasks in front of you. This can increase efficiency and effectiveness when working on your project.

It also leads to a better result in even the most serious of situations.

In the late 2000's, Gawande famously helped the WHO solve the problem of unsafe surgical care by developing a 19-point checklist (which he discussed in his book).

Several hospitals implemented the checklist as part of a study. Each surgical team at these hospitals used the checklist and saw decreases in surgical complications and deaths.

Pro: they improve productivity

Multitasking: it helps us accomplish more in less time, right?

Wrong.

Studies have shown that multitasking can reduce someone's productivity by up to 40%. Switching between tasks stresses the brain and makes us less productive in our work.

Still, it's sometimes hard to listen to hard stats. There's a lot of pressure to do everything now. And you may feel more productive when you're working on several things at once.

That's where checklists come in handy.

They keep you focused on 1 task at a time, especially if it's a Do-Confirm checklist.

Pro: they make for easy delegation

You can't always do everything yourself.

Luckily, checklists make delegation a breeze. If you're swamped and someone wants to take some work off your plate, just point to your list and tell them what they need to do.

Or, you can hand them the list and ask them to take any task they want to take.

Similarly, if you're hiring someone, new checklists break down your processes and procedures into a simple form they can follow.

This gets your new employee up and running much faster, and reduces the amount of time your current employees have to step away from their jobs to help.

Con: they can draw your focus to the wrong things

That satisfaction of checking off each item on the checklist can go too far. You'll start hunting for the "easy wins" - the fast, simple tasks - so you can feel the rush of getting things done.

Meanwhile, you'll procrastinate on longer and possibly more important activities, which require more time and effort before you're rewarded with that satisfying "check".

Con: they can become time-consuming

Some people get too caught up in getting their checklist exactly right - whether that's arranging things in the right order, breaking down tasks properly, or making sure every possible task is on there.

You'll lose out on any time-saving or organizational benefits of using the checklist if you spend hours agonizing over it.

How to make a good checklist

Creating a good checklist can make work easier and mitigate some of the disadvantages discussed earlier. Here's 6 tips for optimizing your list:

Brain dump

First of all, you want to brain dump every possible task in your head. Get it out on paper to reduce the chance of forgetting things.

Then, look for tasks that don't seem necessary and cut them out.

Keep it short and simple

When a checklist is too long, it becomes distracting and unwieldy. You can simplify things by breaking up larger activities into multiple checklists or breaking broad tasks down into smaller sub-items.

Complete each sub-item, then check off the overall task when they're done.

Don't make tasks too long and descriptive, either. Include critical information without fluff to minimize distractions or questions.

Use verbs and be specific

Yes, it seems oddly specific, but omitting verbs can cause confusion.

Think about it: say you had a checklist for cleaning an office. One of the list items is "desks."

What does that mean? Dust the desk? Organize the items on the desks? Tuck the desks away in a corner?

No one can know for sure. But if you make the task "wipe down desks," you convey much more information to the user.

You can make things even clearer with more specificity. You might say, "wipe down desks with disinfecting wipes," in case someone's unsure what cleaning supplies to use.

Test it out

Thanks to the "curse of knowledge," the checklist might make sense to you. But to other people, things may seem out of order or illogical.

There may also be unnecessary or distracting steps that a real-world test will make apparent.

So, the only way to know for sure that your checklist is good is by trying it out in real situations.

Update regularly

Checklists aren't static - they can change. You may realize you need to add extra tasks. There might be redundant tasks you can cut. Directions might be unclear.

Whenever you come across these, update your checklist accordingly.

Use software with checklist capabilities

Cut the paper waste and declutter your desk by using software like monday.com to maintain checklists.

A checklist software app - preferably a web app - makes it much easier to manage checklist tasks, share checklists with other people, monitor progress on tasks, and so on.

Make checklists for anything you need with monday.com

You've seen the benefits that checklists have on you and your team's productivity. It only makes sense that checklists are the bread and butter of Work OS platforms like monday.com.

That is why monday.com has a feature specifically for creating checklists.

You can create a new checklist in monday.com by clicking the item for which you'd like to make a checklist, selecting "checklist," and entering the checklist items in the text field.

Of course, monday.com also offers some checklist templates you can use for common Workflows, both inside and outside the workplace.

Work checklist

Checklists are a mainstay in the workplace. You use them for many of your processes.

For example, when you onboard employees, you follow the same procedures each time. That's something monday.com's employee onboarding template can come in handy for.

Maybe you don't work in an office. Maybe you run a cleaning company that cleans offices. monday.com has you covered with the daily cleaning checklist template.

Of course, in all of our templates you can categorize the different headings as you see fit.

Personal checklists

Checklists aren't just for the workplace - they're also great tools for keeping your life in order. After all, an organized life is a happier life.

And you can reach that happier life by sorting your week with monday.com's weekly to-do list template.

Or if you like to get granular, you can break your workflows down by the day with this daily task tracker.

Hey, if you're really into organizing, use both of them.

Conclusion

Checklists are for more than just your groceries or holiday shopping lists. Businesses that use them correctly will have an easier time completing projects and delegating work.

Checklists have their pitfalls, but you can avoid most of them by making sure your checklists are simple, short, and understandable.

But of course, always make sure you're improving them.

Oh, and get a Work OS platform that makes checklist management a zillion times easier.

monday.com is perfect for that, so try it out today.

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How to make a checklist that's actually helpful

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Learn whether checklists actually help and how to create a checklist that enhances productivity.

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A questionnaire is a list of numerous questions that are given in hand or mailed to the respondent, who then writes their responses and mails them back to the researcher. In this method, a questionnaire is utilised for gathering primary data from a sizable area for some research.

Since the respondents are dispersed across a large region, it is quite challenging for the researcher to get in touch with each respondent directly and collect data using the interview technique since it requires more time, money, and effort to interview people who live far away. As a result, the questionnaire method provides crucial assistance in gathering primary information at such times. For this reason, a questionnaire is referred to and regarded as an effective alternative to an interview. Next, we'll learn about the definition, traits, categories, preparation method, benefits, and drawbacks of questionnaires.

The questionnaire has the following characteristics:

1. A questionnaire is a collection of questions that the researcher mails to the responder.

2. The questionnaire's questions are typed, cyclostyled, or publicly available.

3. Questionnaires are a main data collecting technique that rely on inadvertent interaction with informants to get information.

4. It comprises straightforward questions that are generally few in number so that the informant doesn't have to spend a lot of time answering them.

5. The investigator provides the informant with some guidance in the questionnaire to make it simpler for him to complete the questions.

6. Only educated people are utilised to collect data via questionnaire.

7. On a logical foundation, the majority of the questionnaire's questions are arranged in some parts in a systematic sequence.

8. The questions are often standardised closed-ended questions. Although every effort is made to standardise the questions as much as possible, there may also be some open-ended questions.

9. A spot is frequently left blank at the conclusion of the questionnaire so that the responder may provide any facts or opinions on his behalf.

10. The questionnaire's questions were developed with the goal and characteristics of the study topic in mind.

11. Questionnaires may be utilised widely and inexpensively.

12. The questionnaire is typically accompanied by a letter in which the researcher asks the respondents to complete and return it.

These are the different sorts of questionnaires:
1. Mixed Questionnaire
A mixed questionnaire combines a variety of questions. Both closed and open-type surveys may be used to describe this one. In social surveys, a similar style of the questionnaire is utilised.
2. Graphics Questionnaire
In a visual questionnaire, images are used to show the questions' replies. The individual marks the area of the image where he knows the solution.
3. Closed Questionnaire
A limited or limitation questionnaire is another name for a closed questionnaire. Each question in this questionnaire has as many relevant answers as possible listed next to it. Through these inquiries, the informant completes his response. According to Sin Pao Young, "Closed surveys often include responses to the questions posed in ranked order.
4. Open-ended Survey
This survey is also known as an unlimited or unconstrained survey. A closed questionnaire is the reverse of this one. There are only questions and no place for replies in an open-ended questionnaire. The individual replying is not under any obligation. He is free to respond as he likes.

The following are some advantages of the questionnaire:

1. Since questionnaires are mailed to informants, information may be gathered from a sizable group of them by mailing them all at once. As a result, questionnaires are helpful in the analysis of big samples.

2. Information from residents of various places can be gathered using questionnaires.

3. A wide range of geographical areas can use the questionnaire. The use of a timetable or other means does not provide access to this benefit.

4. You can collect data from more individuals in less time by employing questionnaires.

5. The use of questionnaires also results in lower expenditure. This helps to reduce the cost of the study's trip.

6. Gathering impartial, trustworthy, and independent data - The questionnaire requires the respondent to fill out the questions on their own. In front of him, the pupil is not present. As a result, he can confidently fill out the questions' responses. He freely shares information since he is not frightened to divulge his name and is not influenced by the researcher's presence. This increases the likelihood of receiving fair, independent information that has been certified.

7. Convenient for both surveyor and responder. The questionnaire approach is practical for both the researcher and the subject. By employing this technique, the researcher can avoid the "problem of touch" with the responder. He doesn't have to ask the respondent where they are or what time it is. There's no use in going around and around if it's not there. As a result, from the researcher's perspective, it is a simple procedure. Similarly, the informant finds it useful as well. The discomfort of hesitating in front of the investigator is spared the informant. He may freely complete the questions by taking as much time as he needs.

8. Convenience of obtaining information frequently - Questionnaire methods are especially helpful in studies where respondents must regularly provide information for testing purposes or because to the subject's ever-changing nature. Instead than seeing the respondent repeatedly, answers can be acquired by mailing periodic questionnaires to the respondent. Repeated printing costs can be saved by having the questionnaires produced all at once. This makes it possible to repeatedly get information with minimal effort, expense, and time.

9. Self-administered: The fact that a questionnaire is self-administered is by far its greatest benefit. It does not call for the hiring of field personnel or the formation of any research groups. This approach does not necessitate the researcher's presence in the region under investigation. This spares the researcher from organising the information gathering procedure.

10. Statistical analysis is possible thanks to the questionnaire's questions' systematic and categorical organization, which makes it possible to conduct a statistical analysis of the responses gleaned from them.

The questionnaire has the following disadvantages :

1. Useful only for educated respondents - The main flaw or restriction of the questionnaire is that it can only collect data from educated people. Uneducated or illiterate people cannot complete a thorough questionnaire.

2. Incomplete or Ambiguous Information- The information gathered from the questionnaire is incomplete and vague, which is another significant downside. Due to time constraints, laziness, or any other cause, the responder fills out and sends the questionnaire. On purpose, respondents occasionally fail to respond to a lot of questions. Sometimes the inquiries are not understood by the respondents. He believes it would be better not to respond to him rather than attempt to comprehend him.
Such inquiries are frequently posed because respondents wish to conceal certain information. In order to avoid obtaining incomplete or ambiguous information, researchers should bear the following in mind while developing their study questions: hesitation, laziness, a lack of time, a wish to conceal certain facts, etc.

3. Questionnaire return issue- In addition to the danger of receiving confusing or partial responses, there is an issue with returning the surveys. It frequently occurs for respondents to withhold returning the completed survey. As soon as they get it, many people throw it in the trash. Although a questionnaire is crucial to the researcher from the perspective of his research, many individuals only see it as waste paper.
Many individuals believe that sending responses is a waste of time. The major issue with the questionnaire approach is retrieval as a result of all these factors.Other than submitting several request letters, the researcher's only option for reselling the questionnaire is to do so. Many responders are annoyed by the researcher's request and return the questionnaire without filling it out.

4. There is a dearth of comprehensive and extensive information. Through direct and in-person interaction, such as during an interview or through scheduling, comprehensive and specific information may be gained. The researcher is not there to encourage the respondent to provide thorough information; instead, everything in the questionnaire rests on the respondent's volition, including the type of replies he should provide.
As a result, the respondent returns the survey with partially completed and ambiguous responses. In this approach, the questionnaire is unable to yield in-depth and thorough information.

5. the possibility of incorrect information - In the questionnaire approach, the researcher is not present, so if a respondent has trouble comprehending a question, no one is available to clarify its purpose or meaning. As a result, in this circumstance, the reply will either not provide an answer at all or will provide an answer that is consistent with the question's intent. As a result, the anxiety of receiving inaccurate information also exists.

6. Variation in replies is a problem. In addition to this, different respondents will provide various answers based on how they interpret the questions. As a result, there is so much range and diversity in the responses that it is challenging to make an accurate and scientific inference from them.

7. The respondents' poor writing - Poor writing is another significant downside of the questionnaire approach. Sometimes it is challenging to grasp the responses given by respondents because of their confusing and poor writing.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Questionnaire - Javatpoint

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Questionnaire with blog, what is quora, what is yandex, contact page, duckduckgo search engine, search engine journal, facebook, google chrome, firefox etc.

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A questionnaire is a research instrument that consists of a set of questions or other types of prompts that aims to collect information from a respondent. A research questionnaire is typically a mix of close-ended questions and open-ended questions .

Open-ended, long-form questions offer the respondent the ability to elaborate on their thoughts. Research questionnaires were developed in 1838 by the Statistical Society of London.

LEARN ABOUT: Candidate Experience Survey

The data collected from a data collection questionnaire can be both qualitative as well as quantitative in nature. A questionnaire may or may not be delivered in the form of a , but a survey always consists of a questionnaire.

LEARN ABOUT: Testimonial Questions

Advantages of a good questionnaire design

With a survey questionnaire, you can gather a lot of data in less time.

There is less chance of any bias(like selection bias) creeping if you have a standard set of questions to be used for your target audience. You can apply logic to questions based on the respondents' answers, but the questionnaire will remain standard for a group of respondents that fall in the same segment.

Surveying online survey software is quick and cost-effective. It offers you a rich set of features to design, distribute, and analyze the response data.

It can be customized to reflect your brand voice. Thus, it can be used to reinforce your brand image.

The responses can be compared with the historical data and understand the shift in respondents' choices and experiences.

Respondents can answer the questionnaire without revealing their identity. Also, many survey software complies with significant data security and privacy regulations.

LEARN ABOUT: Structured Questionnaire
Characteristics of a good questionnaire

Your survey design depends on the type of information you need to collect from respondents. Qualitative questionnaires are used when there is a need to collect exploratory information to help prove or disprove a hypothesis. Quantitative questionnaires are used to validate or test a previously generated hypothesis. However, most questionnaires follow some essential characteristics:

Uniformity: Questionnaires are very useful to collect demographic information, personal opinions, facts, or attitudes from respondents. One of the most significant attributes of a research form is uniform design and standardization. Every respondent sees the same questions. This helps in data collection and statistical analysis of this data. For example, the retail store evaluation questionnaire template contains questions for evaluating retail store experiences. Questions relate to purchase value, range of options for product selections, and quality of merchandise. These questions are uniform for all customers.

Exploratory: It should be exploratory to collect qualitative data. There is no restriction on questions that can be in your questionnaire. For example, you use a data collection questionnaire and send it to the female of the household to understand her spending and saving habits relative to the household income. Open-ended questions give you more insight and allow the respondents to explain their practices. A very structured question list could limit the data collection.
LEARN ABOUT: Best Data Collection Tools

Question Sequence: It typically follows a structured flow of questions to increase the number of responses. This sequence of questions is screening questions, warm-up questions, transition questions, skip questions, challenging questions, and classification questions. For example, our motivation and buying experience questionnaire template covers initial demographic questions and then asks for time spent in sections of the store and the rationale behind purchases.

As we explored before, questionnaires can be either structured or free-flowing. Let's take a closer look at what that entails for your surveys.

Structured Questionnaires: Structured questionnaires collect quantitative data. The questionnaire is planned and designed to gather precise information. It also initiates a formal inquiry, supplements data, checks previously accumulated data, and helps validate any prior hypothesis.

Unstructured Questionnaires: Unstructured questionnaires collect qualitative data. They use a basic structure and some branching questions but nothing that limits the responses of a respondent. The questions are more open-ended to collect specific data from participants.

Types of questions in a questionnaire

You can use multiple question types in a questionnaire. Using various question types can help increase responses to your research questionnaire as they tend to keep participants more engaged. The best customer satisfaction survey templates are the most commonly used for better insights and decision-making.

Some of the widely used types of questions are:

Open-Ended Questions: Open-ended questions help collect qualitative data in a questionnaire where the respondent can answer in a free form with little to no restrictions.

Dichotomous Questions: The dichotomous question is generally a "yes/no" close-ended question. This question is usually used in case of the need for necessary validation. It is the most natural form of a questionnaire.

Multiple-Choice Questions: Multiple-choice questions are a close-ended question type in which a respondent has to select one (single-select multiple-choice question) or many (multi-select multiple choice question) responses from a given list of options. The multiple-choice question consists of an incomplete stem (question), right answer or answers, incorrect answers, close alternatives, and distractors. Of course, not all multiple-choice questions have all of the answer types. For example, you probably won't have the wrong or right answers if you're looking for customer opinion.

Scaling Questions: These questions are based on the principles of the four measurement scales - nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. A few of the question types that utilize these scales' fundamental properties are rank order questions, Likert scale questions, semantic differential scale questions, and Stapel scale questions.

LEARN ABOUT: System Usability Scale

Pictorial Questions: This question type is easy to use and encourages respondents to answer. It works similarly to a multiple-choice question. Respondents are asked a question, and the answer choices are images. This helps respondents choose an answer quickly without over-thinking their answers, giving you more accurate data.

Types of Questionnaires

Questionnaires can be administered or distributed in the following forms:

Online Questionnaire: In this type, respondents are sent the questionnaire via email or other online mediums. This method is generally cost-effective and time-efficient. Respondents can also answer at leisure. Without the pressure to respond immediately, responses may be more accurate. The disadvantage, however, is that respondents can easily ignore these questionnaires. Read more about online surveys.

Telephone Questionnaire: A researcher makes a phone call to a respondent to collect responses directly. Responses are quick once you have a respondent on the phone. However, a lot of times, the respondents hesitate to give out much information over the phone. It is also an expensive way of conducting research. You're usually not able to collect as many responses as other types of questionnaires, so your sample may not represent the broader population.

In-House Questionnaire: This type is used by a researcher who visits the respondent's home or workplace. The advantage of this method is that the respondent is in a comfortable and natural environment, and in-depth data can be collected. The disadvantage, though, is that it is expensive and slow to conduct.

Mail Questionnaire: These are starting to be obsolete but are still being used in some market research studies. This method involves a researcher sending a physical data collection questionnaire request to a respondent that can be filled in and sent back. The advantage of this method is that respondents can complete this on their own time to answer truthfully and entirely. The disadvantage is that this method is expensive and time-consuming. There is also a high risk of not collecting enough responses to make actionable insights from the data.

How to design a Questionnaire

Questionnaire design is a multistep process that requires attention to detail at every step.

Researchers are always hoping that the responses received for a survey questionnaire yield useable data. If the questionnaire is too complicated, there is a fair chance that the respondent might get confused and will drop out or answer inaccurately.

LEARN ABOUT: Easy Test Maker

As a survey creator, you may want to pre-test the survey by administering it to a focus group during development. You can try out a few different questionnaire designs to determine which resonates best with your target audience. Pre-testing is a good practice as the survey creator can comprehend the initial stages if there are any changes required in the survey.

Steps Involved in Questionnaire Design

1. Identify the scope of your research:

Think about what your questionnaire is going to include before you start designing the look of it. The clarity of the topic is of utmost importance as this is the primary step in creating the questionnaire. Once you are clear on the purpose of the questionnaire, you can begin the design process.

The words or phrases you use while writing the questionnaire must be easy to understand. If the questions are unclear, the respondents may simply choose any answer and skew the data you collect.

3. Ask only one question at a time:
LEARN ABOUT: Social Communication Questionnaire
At times, a researcher may be tempted to add two similar questions. This might seem like an excellent way to consolidate answers to related issues, but it can confuse your respondents or lead to inaccurate data. If any of your questions contain the word "and," take another look. This question likely has two parts, which can affect the quality of your data.

4. Be flexible with your options:

While designing, the survey creator needs to be flexible in terms of "option choice" for the respondents. Sometimes the respondents may not necessarily want to choose from the answer options provided by the survey creator. An "other" option often helps keep respondents engaged in the survey.

5. The open-ended or closed-ended question is a tough choice:

The survey creator might end up in a situation where they need to make distinct choices between open or close-ended questions. The question type should be carefully chosen as it defines the tone and importance of asking the question in the first place.

If the questionnaire requires the respondents to elaborate on their thoughts, an open-ended qu estion is the best choice. If the surveyor wants a specific response, then close-ended questions should be their primary choice. The key to asking closed-ended questions is to generate data that is easy to analyze and spot trends.

6. It is essential to know your audience:

A researcher should know their target audience. For example, if the target audience speaks mostly Spanish, sending the questionnaire in any other language would lower the response rate and accuracy of data. Something that may seem clear to you may be confusing to your respondents. Use simple language and terminology that your respondents will understand, and avoid technical jargon and industry-specific language that might confuse your respondents.

For efficient market research, researchers need a representative sample collected using one of the many sampling techniques, such as a sample questionnaire. It is imperative to plan and define these target respondents based on the demographics required.

7. Choosing the right tool is essential:

QuestionPro is a simple yet advanced survey software platform that the surveyors can use to create a questionnaire or choose from the already existing 300+ questionnaire templates.

Always save personal questions for last. Sensitive questions may cause respondents to drop off before completing. If these questions are at the end, the respondent has had time to become more comfortable with the interview and are more likely to answer personal or demographic questions.

Differences between a Questionnaire and a Survey

A questionnaire can is a research instrument that consists of a set of questions to collect information from a respondent.

A survey is a research method used for collecting data from a pre-defined group of respondents to gain information and insights on various topics of interest.

Characteristic

Subset of survey

Consists of questionnaire and survey design, logic and data collection

Read more: Difference between a survey and a questionnaire

Questionnaire Examples

The best way to understand how questionnaires work is to see the types of questionnaires available. Some examples of a questionnaire are:

1. Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire: This type of research can be used in any situation where there's an interaction between a customer and an organization. For example, you might send a customer satisfaction survey after someone eats at your restaurant. You can use the study to determine if your staff is offering excellent customer service and a positive overall experience.USE THIS FREE TEMPLATE

2. Product Use Satisfaction: You can use this template to better understand your product's usage trends and similar products. This also allows you to collect customer preferences about the types of products they enjoy or want to see on the market.USE THIS FREE TEMPLATE

3. Company Communications Evaluation: Unlike the other examples, a company communications evaluation looks at external and internal communications. It can be used to check if the policies of the organization are being enforced across the board, both with employees and clients.USE THIS FREE TEMPLATE

The above survey questions are typically easy to use, understand, and execute. Additionally, the standardized answers of a survey questionnaire instead of a person-to-person conversation make it easier to compile useable data.

The most significant limitation of a data collection questionnaire is that respondents need to read all of the questions and respond to them. For example, you send an invitation through email asking respondents to complete the questions on social media. If a target respondent doesn't have the right social media profiles, they can't answer your questions.

Learn More: 350+ Free Survey Examples and Templates

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Questionnaires: Definition, advantages & examples | QuestionPro

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Learn what a questionnaire is and what are the different types, characteristics and features of a good design. Free examples and tips.

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Mixed methods research combines elements of quantitative research and qualitative research in order to answer your research question. Mixed methods can help you gain a more complete picture than a standalone quantitative or qualitative study, as it integrates benefits of both methods.

Mixed methods research is often used in the behavioral, health, and social sciences, especially in multidisciplinary settings and complex situational or societal research.

Mixed methods research question examples

To what extent does the frequency of traffic accidents ((quantitative) reflect cyclist perceptions of road safety qualitative) in Amsterdam?

How do student perceptions of their school environment ((qualitative) relate to differences in test scores quantitative)?

How do interviews about job satisfaction at Company X ((qualitative) help explain year-over-year sales performance and other KPIs quantitative)?

How can voter and non-voter beliefs about democracy ((qualitative) help explain election turnout patterns quantitative) in Town X?

How do average hospital salary measurements over time (quantitative) help to explain nurse testimonials about job satisfaction (qualitative)?

When to use mixed methods research

Mixed methods research may be the right choice if your research process suggests that quantitative or qualitative data alone will not sufficiently answer your research question. There are several common reasons for using mixed methods research:

Generalizability: Qualitative research usually has a smaller sample size, and thus is not generalizable. In mixed methods research, this comparative weakness is mitigated by the comparative strength of "large N," externally valid quantitative research.

Contextualization: Mixing methods allows you to put findings in context and add richer detail to your conclusions. Using qualitative data to illustrate quantitative findings can help "put meat on the bones" of your analysis.

Credibility: Using different methods to collect data on the same subject can make your results more credible. If the qualitative and quantitative data converge, this strengthens the validity of your conclusions. This process is called triangulation.

As you formulate your research question, try to directly address how qualitative and quantitative methods will be combined in your study. If your research question can be sufficiently answered via standalone quantitative or qualitative analysis, a mixed methods approach may not be the right fit.

Research example
You want to research cycling safety in high-traffic areas of Amsterdam. If you're interested in the frequency of accidents and where they occur, this could be a straightforward quantitative analysis. If you're interested in the nature of complaints submitted by cyclists, or their perceptions about cycling in particular areas, then a qualitative approach may fit best.
But mixed methods might be a good choice if you want to meaningfully integrate both of these questions in one research study.

For example, you could use a mixed methods design to investigate whether areas perceived as dangerous have high accident rates, or to explore why specific areas are more dangerous for cyclists than others.

Keep in mind that mixed methods research doesn't just mean collecting both types of data; you need to carefully consider the relationship between the two and how you'll integrate them into coherent conclusions.

Mixed methods can be very challenging to put into practice, and comes with the same risk of research biases as standalone studies, so it's a less common choice than standalone qualitative or qualitative research.

Mixed methods research designs

There are different types of mixed methods research designs. The differences between them relate to the aim of the research, the timing of the data collection, and the importance given to each data type.

As you design your mixed methods study, also keep in mind:

Here are a few of the most common mixed methods designs.

Convergent parallel

In a convergent parallel design, you collect quantitative and qualitative data at the same time and analyze them separately. After both analyses are complete, compare your results to draw overall conclusions.

Example: Convergent parallel design
In your research on cycling safety in Amsterdam, you undertake both sides of your research simultaneously:

On the qualitative side, you analyze cyclist complaints via the city's database and on social media to find out which areas are perceived as dangerous and why.

On the quantitative side, you analyze accident reports in the city's database to find out how frequently accidents occur in different areas of the city.

When you finish your data collection and analysis, you then compare results and tie your findings together.

Embedded

In an embedded design, you collect and analyze both types of data at the same time, but within a larger quantitative or qualitative design. One type of data is secondary to the other.

This is a good approach to take if you have limited time or resources. You can use an embedded design to strengthen or supplement your conclusions from the primary type of research design.

Example: Embedded design
As part of a quantitative study testing whether the number of cyclist complaints about an area correlates with the number of accidents, you could "embed" a series of qualitative interviews with cyclists who submitted complaints to further strengthen your argument. The bulk of your research remains quantitative.

Explanatory sequential

In an explanatory sequential design, your quantitative data collection and analysis occurs first, followed by qualitative data collection and analysis.

You should use this design if you think your qualitative data will explain and contextualize your quantitative findings.

Example: Explanatory sequential
You analyze the accident statistics first and draw preliminary conclusions about which areas are most dangerous. Based on these findings, you conduct interviews with cyclists in high-accident areas and analyze complaints qualitatively.
You can utilize the qualitative data to explain why accidents occur on specific roads, and take a deep dive into particular problem areas.

Exploratory sequential

In an exploratory sequential design, qualitative data collection and analysis occurs first, followed by quantitative data collection and analysis.

You can use this design to first explore initial questions and develop hypotheses. Then you can use the quantitative data to test or confirm your qualitative findings.

Example: Exploratory sequential designYou first interview cyclists to develop an initial understanding of problem areas, and draw preliminary conclusions. Then you analyze accident statistics to test whether cyclist perceptions line up with where accidents occur.

Advantages of mixed methods research

"Best of both worlds" analysis

Combining the two types of data means you benefit from both the detailed, contextualized insights of qualitative data and the generalizable, externally valid insights of quantitative data. The strengths of one type of data often mitigate the weaknesses of the other.

For example, solely quantitative studies often struggle to incorporate the lived experiences of your participants, so adding qualitative data deepens and enriches your quantitative results.

Solely qualitative studies are often not very generalizable, only reflecting the experiences of your participants, so adding quantitative data can validate your qualitative findings.

Method flexibility

Mixed methods are less tied to disciplines and established research paradigms. They offer more flexibility in designing your research, allowing you to combine aspects of different types of studies to distill the most informative results.

Mixed methods research can also combine theory generation and hypothesis testing within a single study, which is unusual for standalone qualitative or quantitative studies.

Disadvantages of mixed methods research

Workload

Mixed methods research is very labor-intensive. Collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing two types of data into one research product takes a lot of time and effort, and often involves interdisciplinary teams of researchers rather than individuals. For this reason, mixed methods research has the potential to cost much more than standalone studies.

Differing or conflicting results

If your analysis yields conflicting results, it can be very challenging to know how to interpret them in a mixed methods study. If the quantitative and qualitative results do not agree or you are concerned you may have confounding variables, it can be unclear how to proceed.

Due to the fact that quantitative and qualitative data take two vastly different forms, it can also be difficult to find ways to systematically compare the results, putting your data at risk for bias in the interpretation stage.

Other interesting articles

If you want to know more about statistics, methodology, or research bias, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Frequently asked questions

What is data collection?

Data collection is the systematic process by which observations or measurements are gathered in research. It is used in many different contexts by academics, governments, businesses, and other organizations.

What are the main types of mixed methods research designs?

These are four of the most common mixed methods designs:

Convergent parallel: Quantitative and qualitative data are collected at the same time and analyzed separately. After both analyses are complete, compare your results to draw overall conclusions.

Embedded: Quantitative and qualitative data are collected at the same time, but within a larger quantitative or qualitative design. One type of data is secondary to the other.

Explanatory sequential: Quantitative data is collected and analyzed first, followed by qualitative data. You can use this design if you think your qualitative data will explain and contextualize your quantitative findings.

Exploratory sequential: Qualitative data is collected and analyzed first, followed by quantitative data. You can use this design if you think the quantitative data will confirm or validate your qualitative findings.

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Mixed Methods Research | Definition, Guide & Examples

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Mixed methods research combines elements of quantitative research and qualitative research in order to answer your research question. Mixed methods can

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This paper describes in detail the mixed methods research- an emerging method that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches to research.

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Qualitative & Quantitative Research Methods - GWI

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The big debate: quantitative Vs qualitative. Our Chief Research Officer Jason is here to give you the scoop on how to get the best insights from your research.

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Quantitative research involves analyzing and gathering numerical data to uncover trends, calculate averages, evaluate relationships, and derive overarching insights. It's used in various fields, including the natural and social sciences. Quantitative data analysis employs statistical techniques for processing and interpreting numeric data.

Research designs in the quantitative realm outline how data will be collected and analyzed with methods like experiments and surveys. Qualitative methods complement quantitative research by focusing on non-numerical data, adding depth to understanding. Data collection methods can be qualitative or quantitative, depending on research goals. Researchers often use a combination of both approaches to gain a comprehensive understanding of phenomena.

What is Quantitative Research?

Quantitative research is a systematic investigation of phenomena by gathering quantifiable data and performing statistical, mathematical, or computational techniques. Quantitative research collects statistically significant information from existing and potential customers using sampling methods and sending out online surveys, online polls, and questionnaires, for example.

One of the main characteristics of this type of research is that the results can be depicted in numerical form. After carefully collecting structured observations and understanding these numbers, it's possible to predict the future of a product or service, establish causal relationships or Causal Research, and make changes accordingly. Quantitative research primarily centers on the analysis of numerical data and utilizes inferential statistics to derive conclusions that can be extrapolated to the broader population.

An example of a quantitative research study is the survey conducted to understand how long a doctor takes to tend to a patient when the patient walks into the hospital. A patient satisfaction survey can be administered to ask questions like how long a doctor takes to see a patient, how often a patient walks into a hospital, and other such questions, which are dependent variables in the research. This kind of research method is often employed in the social sciences, and it involves using mathematical frameworks and theories to effectively present data, ensuring that the results are logical, statistically sound, and unbiased.

Data collection in quantitative research uses a structured method and is typically conducted on larger samples representing the entire population. Researchers use quantitative methods to collect numerical data, which is then subjected to statistical analysis to determine statistically significant findings. This approach is valuable in both experimental research and social research, as it helps in making informed decisions and drawing reliable conclusions based on quantitative data.

Quantitative Research Characteristics

Quantitative research has several unique characteristics that make it well-suited for specific projects. Let's explore the most crucial of these characteristics so that you can consider them when planning your next research project:

Structured tools: Quantitative research relies on structured tools such as surveys, polls, or questionnaires to gather quantitative data. Using such structured methods helps collect in-depth and actionable numerical data from the survey respondents, making it easier to perform data analysis.

Sample size: Quantitative research is conducted on a significant sample size representing the target market. Appropriate Survey Sampling methods, a fundamental aspect of quantitative research methods, must be employed when deriving the sample to fortify the research objective and ensure the reliability of the results.

Close-ended questions: Closed-ended questions, specifically designed to align with the research objectives, are a cornerstone of quantitative research. These questions facilitate the collection of quantitative data and are extensively used in data collection processes.

Prior studies: Before collecting feedback from respondents, researchers often delve into previous studies related to the research topic. This preliminary research helps frame the study effectively and ensures the data collection process is well-informed.

Quantitative data: Typically, quantitative data is represented using tables, charts, graphs, or other numerical forms. This visual representation aids in understanding the collected data and is essential for rigorous data analysis, a key component of quantitative research methods.

Generalization of results: One of the strengths of quantitative research is its ability to generalize results to the entire population. It means that the findings derived from a sample can be extrapolated to make informed decisions and take appropriate actions for improvement based on numerical data analysis.

Quantitative Research Methods

Quantitative research methods are systematic approaches used to gather and analyze numerical data to understand and draw conclusions about a phenomenon or population. Here are the quantitative research methods:

Primary quantitative research methods

Secondary quantitative research methods

Primary Quantitative Research Methods

Primary quantitative research is the most widely used method of conducting market research. The distinct feature of primary research is that the researcher focuses on collecting data directly rather than depending on data collected from previously done research. Primary quantitative research design can be broken down into three further distinctive tracks and the process flow. They are:

A. Techniques and Types of Studies

There are multiple types of primary quantitative research. They can be distinguished into the four following distinctive methods, which are:

01. Survey Research

Survey Research is fundamental for all quantitative outcome research methodologies and studies. Surveys are used to ask questions to a sample of respondents, using various types such as online polls, online surveys, paper questionnaires, web-intercept surveys, etc. Every small and big organization intends to understand what their customers think about their products and services, how well new features are faring in the market, and other such details.

By conducting survey research, an organization can ask multiple survey questions, collect data from a pool of customers, and analyze this collected data to produce numerical results. It is the first step towards collecting data for any research. You can use single ease questions. A single-ease question is a straightforward query that elicits a concise and uncomplicated response.

This type of research can be conducted with a specific target audience group and also can be conducted across multiple groups along with comparative analysis. A prerequisite for this type of research is that the sample of respondents must have randomly selected members. This way, a researcher can easily maintain the accuracy of the obtained results as a huge variety of respondents will be addressed using random selection.

Traditionally, survey research was conducted face-to-face or via phone calls. Still, with the progress made by online mediums such as email or social media, survey research has also spread to online mediums.There are two types of surveys, either of which can be chosen based on the time in hand and the kind of data required:

Cross-sectional surveys: Cross-sectional surveys are observational surveys conducted in situations where the researcher intends to collect data from a sample of the target population at a given point in time. Researchers can evaluate various variables at a particular time. Data gathered using this type of survey is from people who depict similarity in all variables except the variables which are considered for research. Throughout the survey, this one variable will stay constant.

Cross-sectional surveys are popular with retail, SMEs, and healthcare industries. Information is garnered without modifying any parameters in the variable ecosystem.

Multiple samples can be analyzed and compared using a cross-sectional survey research method.

Multiple variables can be evaluated using this type of survey research.

The only disadvantage of cross-sectional surveys is that the cause-effect relationship of variables cannot be established as it usually evaluates variables at a particular time and not across a continuous time frame.

Longitudinal surveys: Longitudinal surveys are also observational surveys, but unlike cross-sectional surveys, longitudinal surveys are conducted across various time durations to observe a change in respondent behavior and thought processes. This time can be days, months, years, or even decades. For instance, a researcher planning to analyze the change in buying habits of teenagers over 5 years will conduct longitudinal surveys.

In cross-sectional surveys, the same variables were evaluated at a given time, and in longitudinal surveys, different variables can be analyzed at different intervals.

Longitudinal surveys are extensively used in the field of medicine and applied sciences. Apart from these two fields, they are also used to observe a change in the market trend analysis, analyze customer satisfaction, or gain feedback on products/services.

In situations where the sequence of events is highly essential, longitudinal surveys are used.

Researchers say that when research subjects need to be thoroughly inspected before concluding, they rely on longitudinal surveys.

02. Correlational Research

A comparison between two entities is invariable. Correlation research is conducted to establish a relationship between two closely-knit entities and how one impacts the other, and what changes are eventually observed. This research method is carried out to give value to naturally occurring relationships, and a minimum of two different groups are required to conduct this quantitative research method successfully. Without assuming various aspects, a relationship between two groups or entities must be established.

Researchers use this quantitative research design to correlate two or more variables using mathematical analysis methods. Patterns, relationships, and trends between variables are concluded as they exist in their original setup. The impact of one of these variables on the other is observed, along with how it changes the relationship between the two variables. Researchers tend to manipulate one of the variables to attain the desired results.

Ideally, it is advised not to make conclusions merely based on correlational research. This is because it is not mandatory that if two variables are in sync that they are interrelated.

Example of Correlational Research Questions:

The relationship between stress and depression.

The equation between fame and money.

The relation between activities in a third-grade class and its students.

03. Causal-comparative Research

This research method mainly depends on the factor of comparison. Also called quasi-experimental research, this quantitative research method is used by researchers to conclude the cause-effect equation between two or more variables, where one variable is dependent on the other independent variable. The independent variable is established but not manipulated, and its impact on the dependent variable is observed. These variables or groups must be formed as they exist in the natural setup. As the dependent and independent variables will always exist in a group, it is advised that the conclusions are carefully established by keeping all the factors in mind.

Causal-comparative research is not restricted to the statistical analysis of two variables but extends to analyzing how various variables or groups change under the influence of the same changes. This research is conducted irrespective of the type of relationship that exists between two or more variables. Statistical analysis plan is used to present the outcome using this quantitative research method.

Example of Causal-Comparative Research Questions:

The impact of drugs on a teenager.
The effect of good education on a freshman.
The effect of substantial food provision in the villages of Africa.

04. Experimental Research

Also known as true experimentation, this research method relies on a theory. As the name suggests, experimental research is usually based on one or more theories. This theory has yet to be proven before and is merely a supposition. In experimental research, an analysis is done around proving or disproving the statement. This research method is used in natural sciences. Traditional research methods are more effective than modern techniques.

There can be multiple theories in experimental research. A theory is a statement that can be verified or refuted.

After establishing the statement, efforts are made to understand whether it is valid or invalid. This quantitative research method is mainly used in natural or social sciences as various statements must be proved right or wrong.

Traditional research methods are more effective than modern techniques.

Systematic teaching schedules help children who struggle to cope with the course.

It is a boon to have responsible nursing staff for ailing parents.

B. Data Collection Methodologies

The second major step in primary quantitative research is data collection. Data collection can be divided into sampling methods and data collection using surveys and polls.

01. Data Collection Methodologies: Sampling Methods

There are two main sampling methods for quantitative research: Probability and Non-probability sampling.

Probability sampling: A theory of probability is used to filter individuals from a population and create samples in probability sampling. Participants of a sample are chosen by random selection processes. Each target audience member has an equal opportunity to be selected in the sample.

There are four main types of probability sampling:

1. Simple random sampling: As the name indicates, simple random sampling is nothing but a random selection of elements for a sample. This sampling technique is implemented where the target population is considerably large.

2. Stratified random sampling: In the stratified random sampling method, a large population is divided into groups (strata), and members of a sample are chosen randomly from these strata. The various segregated strata should ideally not overlap one another.

3. Cluster sampling: Cluster sampling is a probability sampling method using which the main segment is divided into clusters, usually using geographic segmentation and demographic segmentation parameters.

4. Systematic sampling: Systematic sampling is a technique where the starting point of the sample is chosen randomly, and all the other elements are chosen using a fixed interval. This interval is calculated by dividing the population size by the target sample size.

Non-probability sampling: Non-probability sampling is where the researcher's knowledge and experience are used to create samples. Because of the researcher's involvement, not all the target population members have an equal probability of being selected to be a part of a sample.

There are five non-probability sampling models:

1. Convenience sampling: In convenience sampling, elements of a sample are chosen only due to one prime reason: their proximity to the researcher. These samples are quick and easy to implement as there is no other parameter of selection involved.

2. Consecutive sampling: Consecutive sampling is quite similar to convenience sampling, except for the fact that researchers can choose a single element or a group of samples and conduct research consecutively over a significant period and then perform the same process with other samples.

3. Quota sampling: Using quota sampling, researchers can select elements using their knowledge of target traits and personalities to form strata. Members of various strata can then be chosen to be a part of the sample as per the researcher's understanding.

4. Snowball sampling: Snowball sampling is conducted with target audiences who are difficult to contact and get information. It is popular in cases where the target audience for analysis research is rare to put together.

5. Judgmental sampling: Judgmental sampling is a non-probability sampling method where samples are created only based on the researcher's experience and research skill.

02. Data collection methodologies: Using surveys & polls

Once the sample is determined, then either surveys or polls can be distributed to collect the data for quantitative research.
Using surveys for primary quantitative research
A survey is defined as a research method used for collecting data from a pre-defined group of respondents to gain information and insights on various topics of interest. The ease of survey distribution and the wide number of people it can reach depending on the research time and objective makes it one of the most important aspects of conducting quantitative research.
Fundamental levels of measurement - nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales
Four measurement scales are fundamental to creating a multiple-choice question in a survey. They are nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio measurement scales without the fundamentals of which no multiple-choice questions can be created. Hence, it is crucial to understand these measurement levels to develop a robust survey.
Use of different question types
To conduct quantitative research, close-ended questions must be used in a survey. They can be a mix of multiple question types, including multiple-choice questions like semantic differential scale questions, rating scale questions, etc.
Survey Distribution and Survey Data Collection
In the above, we have seen the process of building a survey along with the research design to conduct primary quantitative research. Survey distribution to collect data is the other important aspect of the survey process. There are different ways of survey distribution. Some of the most commonly used methods are:

Email: Sending a survey via email is the most widely used and effective survey distribution method. This method's response rate is high because the respondents know your brand. You can use the QuestionPro email management feature to send out and collect survey responses.

Buy respondents: Another effective way to distribute a survey and conduct primary quantitative research is to use a sample. Since the respondents are knowledgeable and are on the panel by their own will, responses are much higher.

Embed survey on a website: Embedding a survey on a website increases a high number of responses as the respondent is already in close proximity to the brand when the survey pops up.

Social distribution: Using social media to distribute the survey aids in collecting a higher number of responses from the people that are aware of the brand.

QR code: QuestionPro QR codes store the URL for the survey. You can print/publish this code in magazines, signs, business cards, or on just about any object/medium.

SMS survey: The SMS survey is a quick and time-effective way to collect a high number of responses.

Offline Survey App: The QuestionPro App allows users to circulate surveys quickly, and the responses can be collected both online and offline.

Survey example
An example of a survey is a short customer satisfaction (CSAT) survey that can quickly be built and deployed to collect feedback about what the customer thinks about a brand and how satisfied and referenceable the brand is.
Using polls for primary quantitative research
Polls are a method to collect feedback using close-ended questions from a sample. The most commonly used types of polls are election polls and exit polls. Both of these are used to collect data from a large sample size but using basic question types like multiple-choice questions.

C. Data Analysis Techniques

The third aspect of primary quantitative research design is data analysis. After collecting raw data, there must be an analysis of this data to derive statistical inferences from this research. It is important to relate the results to the research objective and establish the statistical relevance of the results.

Remember to consider aspects of research that were not considered for the data collection process and report the difference between what was planned vs. what was actually executed.

It is then required to select precise Statistical Analysis Methods, such as SWOT, Conjoint, Cross-tabulation, etc., to analyze the quantitative data.

SWOT analysis: SWOT Analysis stands for the acronym of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threat analysis. Organizations use this statistical analysis technique to evaluate their performance internally and externally to develop effective strategies for improvement.

Conjoint Analysis: Conjoint Analysis is a market analysis method to learn how individuals make complicated purchasing decisions. Trade-offs are involved in an individual's daily activities, and these reflect their ability to decide from a complex list of product/service options.

Cross-tabulation: Cross-tabulation is one of the preliminary statistical market analysis methods which establishes relationships, patterns, and trends within the various parameters of the research study.

TURF Analysis: TURF Analysis, an acronym for Totally Unduplicated Reach and Frequency Analysis, is executed in situations where the reach of a favorable communication source is to be analyzed along with the frequency of this communication. It is used for understanding the potential of a target market.

Inferential statistics methods such as confidence interval, the margin of error, etc., can then be used to provide results.

Secondary Quantitative Research Methods

Secondary quantitative research or desk research is a research method that involves using already existing data or secondary data. Existing data is summarized and collated to increase the overall effectiveness of the research.

This research method involves collecting quantitative data from existing data sources like the internet, government resources, libraries, research reports, etc. Secondary quantitative research helps to validate the data collected from primary quantitative research and aid in strengthening or proving, or disproving previously collected data.

The following are five popularly used secondary quantitative research methods:

1. Data available on the internet: With the high penetration of the internet and mobile devices, it has become increasingly easy to conduct quantitative research using the internet. Information about most research topics is available online, and this aids in boosting the validity of primary quantitative data.

2. Government and non-government sources: Secondary quantitative research can also be conducted with the help of government and non-government sources that deal with market research reports. This data is highly reliable and in-depth and hence, can be used to increase the validity of quantitative research design.

3. Public libraries: Now a sparingly used method of conducting quantitative research, it is still a reliable source of information, though. Public libraries have copies of important research that was conducted earlier. They are a storehouse of valuable information and documents from which information can be extracted.

4. Educational institutions: Educational institutions conduct in-depth research on multiple topics, and hence, the reports that they publish are an important source of validation in quantitative research.

5. Commercial information sources: Local newspapers, journals, magazines, radio, and TV stations are great sources to obtain data for secondary quantitative research. These commercial information sources have in-depth, first-hand information on market research, demographic segmentation, and similar subjects.

Quantitative Research Examples

Some examples of quantitative research are:

1. A customer satisfaction template can be used if any organization would like to conduct a customer satisfaction (CSAT) survey. Through this kind of survey, an organization can collect quantitative data and metrics on the goodwill of the brand or organization in the customer's mind based on multiple parameters such as product quality, pricing, customer experience, etc. This data can be collected by asking a net promoter score (NPS) question, matrix table questions, etc. that provide data in the form of numbers that can be analyzed and worked upon.

2. Another example of quantitative research is an organization that conducts an event, collecting feedback from attendees about the value they see from the event. By using an event survey, the organization can collect actionable feedback about the satisfaction levels of customers during various phases of the event such as the sales, pre and post-event, the likelihood of recommending the organization to their friends and colleagues, hotel preferences for the future events and other such questions.

What are the Advantages of Quantitative Research?

There are many advantages to quantitative research. Some of the major advantages of why researchers use this method in market research are:

Collect Reliable and Accurate Data:

Quantitative research is a powerful method for collecting reliable and accurate quantitative data. Since data is collected, analyzed, and presented in numbers, the results obtained are incredibly reliable and objective. Numbers do not lie and offer an honest and precise picture of the conducted research without discrepancies. In situations where a researcher aims to eliminate bias and predict potential conflicts, quantitative research is the method of choice.

Quick Data Collection:

Quantitative research involves studying a group of people representing a larger population. Researchers use a survey or another quantitative research method to efficiently gather information from these participants, making the process of analyzing the data and identifying patterns faster and more manageable through the use of statistical analysis. This advantage makes quantitative research an attractive option for projects with time constraints.

Wider Scope of Data Analysis:

Quantitative research, thanks to its utilization of statistical methods, offers an extensive range of data collection and analysis. Researchers can delve into a broader spectrum of variables and relationships within the data, enabling a more thorough comprehension of the subject under investigation. This expanded scope is precious when dealing with complex research questions that require in-depth numerical analysis.

Eliminate Bias:

One of the significant advantages of quantitative research is its ability to eliminate bias. This research method leaves no room for personal comments or the biasing of results, as the findings are presented in numerical form. This objectivity makes the results fair and reliable in most cases, reducing the potential for researcher bias or subjectivity.

In summary, quantitative research involves collecting, analyzing, and presenting quantitative data using statistical analysis. It offers numerous advantages, including the collection of reliable and accurate data, quick data collection, a broader scope of data analysis, and the elimination of bias, making it a valuable approach in the field of research. When considering the benefits of quantitative research, it's essential to recognize its strengths in contrast to qualitative methods and its role in collecting and analyzing numerical data for a more comprehensive understanding of research topics.

Best Practices to Conduct Quantitative Research

Here are some best practices for conducting quantitative research:

Differentiate between quantitative and qualitative: Understand the difference between the two methodologies and apply the one that suits your needs best.

Choose a suitable sample size: Ensure that you have a sample representative of your population and large enough to be statistically weighty.

Keep your research goals clear and concise: Know your research goals before you begin data collection to ensure you collect the right amount and the right quantity of data.

Keep the questions simple: Remember that you will be reaching out to a demographically wide audience. Pose simple questions for your respondents to understand easily.

Quantitative Research vs Qualitative Research

Quantitative research and qualitative research are two distinct approaches to conducting research, each with its own set of methods and objectives. Here's a comparison of the two:

Quantitative Research

Objective: The primary goal of quantitative research is to quantify and measure phenomena by collecting numerical data. It aims to test hypotheses, establish patterns, and generalize findings to a larger population.

Data Collection: Quantitative research employs systematic and standardized approaches for data collection, including techniques like surveys, experiments, and observations that involve predefined variables. It is often collected from a large and representative sample.

Data Analysis: Data is analyzed using statistical techniques, such as descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and mathematical modeling. Researchers use statistical tests to draw conclusions and make generalizations based on numerical data.

Sample Size: Quantitative research often involves larger sample sizes to ensure statistical significance and generalizability.

Results: The results are typically presented in tables, charts, and statistical summaries, making them highly structured and objective.

Generalizability: Researchers intentionally structure quantitative research to generate outcomes that can be helpful to a larger population, and they frequently seek to establish causative connections.

Emphasis on Objectivity: Researchers aim to minimize bias and subjectivity, focusing on replicable and objective findings.

Qualitative Research

Objective: Qualitative research seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying motivations, behaviors, and experiences of individuals or groups. It explores the context and meaning of phenomena.

Data Collection: Qualitative research employs adaptable and open-ended techniques for data collection, including methods like interviews, focus groups, observations, and content analysis. It allows participants to express their perspectives in their own words.

Data Analysis: Data is analyzed through thematic analysis, content analysis, or grounded theory. Researchers focus on identifying patterns, themes, and insights in the data.

Sample Size: Qualitative research typically involves smaller sample sizes due to the in-depth nature of data collection and analysis.

Results: Findings are presented in narrative form, often in the participants' own words. Results are subjective, context-dependent, and provide rich, detailed descriptions.

Generalizability: Qualitative research does not aim for broad generalizability but focuses on in-depth exploration within a specific context. It provides a detailed understanding of a particular group or situation.

Emphasis on Subjectivity: Researchers acknowledge the role of subjectivity and the researcher's influence on the Research Process. Participant perspectives and experiences are central to the findings.

Researchers choose between quantitative and qualitative research methods based on their research objectives and the nature of the research question. Each approach has its advantages and drawbacks, and the decision between them hinges on the particular research objectives and the data needed to address research inquiries effectively.

Conclusion

Quantitative research is a structured way of collecting and analyzing data from various sources. Its purpose is to quantify the problem and understand its extent, seeking results that someone can project to a larger population.

Companies that use quantitative rather than qualitative research typically aim to measure magnitudes and seek objectively interpreted statistical results. So if you want to obtain quantitative data that helps you define the structured cause-and-effect relationship between the research problem and the factors, you should opt for this type of research.

At QuestionPro, we have various Best Data Collection Tools and features to conduct investigations of this type. You can create questionnaires and distribute them through our various methods. We also have sample services or various questions to guarantee the success of your study and the quality of the collected data.

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Quantitative Research: What It Is, Practices & Methods

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Use qualitative research to gather quantifiable data and systematically investigate phenomena. Learn more about quantitative research.

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Sociology Group: Welcome to Social Sciences Blog

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Projective techniques are a commonly used but highly controversial method of conducting qualitative research. Projective testing techniques were originally developed in the 1960s for use in the field of clinical psychology. In the domain of psychology, they refer to a type of personality test that exposes participants to a series of ambiguous stimuli such as images or words. The purpose of projective tests is to evoke emotional responses from the participant in order to study their attitudes, traits, and behaviour. These tests are expected to reveal an individual's unconscious desires and apprehensions. Psychologist Daniel Kahneman opined that the human brain makes thousands of decisions every single day. These include small decisions such as what to wear, what to eat, which route to take to work, etc., and more complex decisions such as purchasing a new car or moving to a new city or ending a relationship. If our brain were to process all of these decisions consciously it would become easily overburdened with information. Therefore, several decisions and the motivations that inspire them, are processed in our unconscious mind. People may not always be consciously aware of the unconscious motivations behind their actions. The information gathered from projective testing is used by psychotherapists to gauge the causes of an individual's mental turmoil and consequently design appropriate interventions. Projective techniques are also popular in conducting market research aimed at understanding consumer behaviour.

How do Projective Tests Work?

Projective testing involves exposing an examinee to a series of ambiguous stimuli (e.g. an image) and asking them to provide their unique individual responses upon perceiving the stimuli. This is done in order to prevent biases on the part of the examinee. The ambiguity of the stimuli does not give the person any hints as to what an acceptable answer to the question is, which is the case with other structured forms of psychological testing. For example, in interviews or self-reports, individuals tend to provide answers that may be more socially acceptable and may even alter their responses based on how they react to their answers. On the other hand, ambiguous stimuli cause people to reveal their true feelings, which are considered a more reliable measure of their unconscious thoughts and behaviour.

Types of Projective Techniques

Projective techniques can be divided into five broad categories -

Association techniques are when a participant is required to give instant responses to the stimuli presented to them. There is great emphasis on the immediacy of responses in association techniques. The Rorschach Test is an example of an association technique wherein the subjects respond to a series of inkblot images. These images contain determinants such as colour, shade, form, movement and reflection which help examiners determine the reasons behind individual responses. Their answers are then interpreted and analysed psychologically. The word association technique (WAT) is another kind of association exercise during which the subject is presented with a series of unrelated words. They have to respond to each word with their first thoughts upon hearing them. Cognitive psychologists also use WAT to study how semantic information is stored and retrieved by the mind.

Construction techniques go beyond just reacting to stimuli and instead require participants to create something out of them. These creations could be stories or images. The Thematic Appreciation Test (TAT), perhaps one of the most popular projective techniques in use, is a type of construction technique. The test participants are shown cards that contain black-and-white images, and the subjects are required to construct a story based on what they perceive/infer from the image. The storyline and plot are used to make inferences about the deep-seated desires and needs of the examinee.

Completion techniques present their subjects with any form of incomplete product and ask that their subjects fill in the blanks in whichever way they please so long as their responses meet certain standards of rationality. The sentence completion test is the most popularly used completion technique that asks its examinees to complete incomplete sentences using the first words that come to mind. Examiners then conduct a subjective analysis to determine conflicts, attitudes and motivations of the examinees.

Choice/Ordering Techniques (Arrangement & Selection Tests) -

In this technique, the respondents are asked to choose from a set of alternatives belonging to the same group (images, words, etc.) OR to put a group into order. For example, the Picture Arrangement Test presents examinees with a series of images that show a figure involved in different activities. The examinee's task is to arrange these images in order of how they believe the sequence of events occurred.

Expressive techniques require their subjects to use a stimulus as a prompt for self-expression - role-playing, theatrics, dance, etc. For example, drawing and painting are expressive techniques that are studied qualitatively as indicators of personality traits. Those evaluating the tests pay attention to the figures used in the drawings, their sizes, their positions, etc.

The findings of projective techniques are interpreted and evaluated subjectively rather than objectively. Most individual tests also tend to have interpretation manuals.

Advantages of Projective Tests

Projective tests allow people to express their thoughts and ideas without the fear of judgement or social constraints, as is the case with structured testing methods such as questionnaires or formal interviews.

When people are able to express themselves more freely by giving responses to ambiguous stimuli, psychologists can study subconscious and unconscious mechanisms which can help them understand problems of a more personal or sensitive nature.

Disadvantages of Projective Tests

Due to the ambiguity of the stimuli and the unstructured nature of this technique, highly qualified professionals and experts are required to administer and determine the results of projective tests.

Rigorous interviewing and analysis is required to draw conclusions from projective techniques. This, coupled with the need for trained professionals, makes it an extremely expensive process.

Projective techniques also come with the risk of interpretation bias. This means that the people interpreting and analysing the responses of the examinees could misinterpret the results and perhaps assume that a benign response is seemingly hostile.

Drawing inaccurate inferences from projective tests could seriously harm the examinee because it could point towards personality flaws or shortcomings.

Given their complex and unstructured nature, projective testing techniques should be used carefully. They could prove to be especially useful in conducting exploratory research in order to gain initial insights. They are also important in cases where the use of structured methods will not provide professionals with the required information.
References
Reddy, C. (2020, October 13). Projective Tests: Theory, Types, Advantages & Disadvantages. WiseStep. https://content.wisestep.com/projective-tests-theory-types-advantages-disadvantages/.

Projective Techniques - IResearchNet. Psychology. (2016, February 11). http://psychology.iresearchnet.com/counseling-psychology/counseling-therapy/projective-techniques/.

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Inkblot test. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/inkblot-test.

Cherry, K. (2020). How Projective Tests Are Used to Measure Personality. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-projective-test-2795586.

Projective Techniques. Test, Tests, Subjects, and Rorschach - JRank Articles. (n.d.). https://psychology.jrank.org/pages/506/Projective-Techniques.html.

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Projective techniques. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/personality-assessment/Projective-techniques.

Rogers, P. (2014, January 13). Projective Techniques. BetterEvaluation. https://www.betterevaluation.org/en/evaluation-options/projective_techniques.

Encyclopedia.com. (2021). " International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. . Encyclopedia.com. 16 Jun. 2021. Encyclopedia.com. https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences/applied-and-social-sciences-magazines/projective-methods.

Braune, J. (2020, May 20). Using projective techniques in qualitative research. Brandspeak. https://www.brandspeak.co.uk/blog/articles/using-projective-techniques-in-qualitative-research/.

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Projective Techniques/Tests: Types, Pros, Cons & Examples

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Projective techniques are a commonly used but highly controversial method of conducting qualitative research. Projective testing techniques were originally developed in the 1960s for use in the field of clinical psychology.

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In the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), the respondents are shown one or more pictures and asked to describe what is happening, what dialogue might be carried on between characters and/or how the "story" might continue. For this reason, TAT is also known as the picture interpretation technique. ( click to view an example)

Although the picture, illustration, drawing or cartoon that is used must be interesting enough to encourage discussion, it should be vague enough not to immediately give away what the project is about.

TAT can be used in a variety of ways, from eliciting qualities associated with different products to perceptions about the kind of people that might use certain products or services.

For instance, respondents were shown a schematic logo ( click here) and asked what type of destination would have such a logo, and what a visitor might expect to find. Some of the comments were:

That makes me think of the garden.

It is the city in the country, very much so.

It looks like New York, with the Empire State Building right there.

Calming, relaxing. There's a tree there so you can see the country-side and you've got the background with the city and the buildings, so it's a regional focus.

Related Readings (Kumar, V., Aaker, D.A. & Day, G.S. (1999). Essentials of Marketing Research. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; Zikmund, W.G. (1997). Exploring Marketing Research, 6th edition. Orlando: The Dryden Press)

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In the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), the respondents are shown one or more pictures and asked to describe what is happening, what dialogue might be carried on between characters and/or how the "story" might continue. For this reason, TAT is also known as the picture interpretation technique.

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Action research is a research method that aims to simultaneously investigate and solve an issue. In other words, as its name suggests, action research conducts research and takes action at the same time. It was first coined as a term in 1944 by MIT professor Kurt Lewin.

A highly interactive method, action research is often used in the social sciences, particularly in educational settings. Particularly popular with educators as a form of systematic inquiry, it prioritizes reflection and bridges the gap between theory and practice. Due to the nature of the research, it is also sometimes called a cycle of action or a cycle of inquiry.

Types of action research

There are 2 common types of action research: participatory action research and practical action research.

Participatory action research emphasizes that participants should be members of the community being studied, empowering those directly affected by outcomes of said research. In this method, participants are effectively co-researchers, with their lived experiences considered formative to the research process.

Practical action research focuses more on how research is conducted and is designed to address and solve specific issues.

Both types of action research are more focused on increasing the capacity and ability of future practitioners than contributing to a theoretical body of knowledge.

Action research models

Action research is often reflected in 3 action research models: operational (sometimes called technical), collaboration, and critical reflection.

Operational (or technical) action research is usually visualized like a spiral following a series of steps, such as "planning → acting → observing → reflecting."

Collaboration action research is more community-based, focused on building a network of similar individuals (e.g., college professors in a given geographic area) and compiling learnings from iterated feedback cycles.

Critical reflection action research serves to contextualize systemic processes that are already ongoing (e.g., working retroactively to analyze existing school systems by questioning why certain practices were put into place and developed the way they did).

Examples of action research

Action research is often used in fields like education because of its iterative and flexible style.

Example: Participatory action research
As part of an ongoing commitment to improve school facilities for students with disabilities, an action research plan asked students using wheelchairs to time how long it took them to get to and from various points on school grounds.
After the information was collected, the students were asked where they thought ramps or other accessibility measures would be best utilized, and the suggestions were sent to school administrators.

Example: Practical action research
Science teachers at your city's high school have been witnessing a year-over-year decline in standardized test scores in chemistry. In seeking the source of this issue, they studied how concepts are taught in depth, focusing on the methods, tools, and approaches used by each teacher.
They found that there had been no change in how chemistry was taught in the last decade-with no incorporation of more modernized teaching approaches or useful online tools. Teachers resolved to implement more modern techniques in their teaching to see if that could improve scores.

Action research vs. traditional research

Action research differs sharply from other types of research in that it seeks to produce actionable processes over the course of the research rather than contributing to existing knowledge or drawing conclusions from datasets. In this way, action research is formative, not summative, and is conducted in an ongoing, iterative way.

As such, action research is different in purpose, context, and significance and is a good fit for those seeking to implement systemic change.

Advantages and disadvantages of action research

Action research comes with advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

Action research is highly adaptable, allowing researchers to mold their analysis to their individual needs and implement practical individual-level changes.

Action research provides an immediate and actionable path forward for solving entrenched issues, rather than suggesting complicated, longer-term solutions rooted in complex data.

Done correctly, action research can be very empowering, informing social change and allowing participants to effect that change in ways meaningful to their communities.

Disadvantages

Due to their flexibility, action research studies are plagued by very limited generalizability and are very difficult to replicate. They are often not considered theoretically rigorous due to the power the researcher holds in drawing conclusions.

Action research can be complicated to structure in an ethical manner. Participants may feel pressured to participate or to participate in a certain way.

Action research is at high risk for research biases such as selection bias, social desirability bias, or other types of cognitive biases.

Frequently asked questions about action research

What is the main purpose of action research?

Action research is focused on solving a problem or informing individual and community-based knowledge in a way that impacts teaching, learning, and other related processes. It is less focused on contributing theoretical input, instead producing actionable input.

How is action research used in education?

Action research is particularly popular with educators as a form of systematic inquiry because it prioritizes reflection and bridges the gap between theory and practice. Educators are able to simultaneously investigate an issue as they solve it, and the method is very iterative and flexible.

Sources in this article

We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.

This Scribbr article

George, T. (2023, April 21). What Is Action Research? | Definition & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved June 20, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/action-research/

Sources

Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2017). Research methods in education (8th edition). Routledge.

Naughton, G. M. (2001). Action research (1st edition). Routledge.

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What Is Action Research? | Definition & Examples

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Action research is a research method that aims to simultaneously investigate and solve an issue. In other words, as its name suggests, action research

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What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Surveys?

Surveys are easy to develop, especially when using the advanced survey software solutions available today. Many researchers are tempted to do much of their data collection online; however, it is not always the preferred mode of data collection, especially if respondents are in hard-to-reach areas. Whether a researcher uses an online survey, mobile survey, paper survey, or a combination of all modes, the mode should depend on the type of study and the demographics of respondents.

Online surveys and mobile surveys tend to be the most cost-effective modes of survey research, yet they may not reach those respondents that can only respond using alternate modes. Results of online surveys and mobile surveys may suffer and differ greatly if important respondents are left out of the research. Hard-to-reach respondents may be easier to reach using more traditional methods such as paper surveys or face-to-face interviews.

Advanced survey software platforms have multi-mode capabilities for online surveys, mobile surveys, email surveys, paper surveys, kiosk surveys, and more, giving researchers the ability to survey even the hardest-to reach consumers, and analyze data from all survey modes collectively.

The ability to reach respondents is one challenge of surveys. However, surveys have several advantages and disadvantages. They are as follows:

Advantages

Relatively easy to administer

Can be developed in less time (compared to other data-collection methods)

Cost-effective, but cost depends on survey mode

Can be administered remotely via online, mobile devices, mail, email, kiosk, or telephone.

Conducted remotely can reduce or prevent geographical dependence

Capable of collecting data from a large number of respondents

Numerous questions can be asked about a subject, giving extensive flexibility in data analysis

With survey software, advanced statistical techniques can be utilized to analyze survey data to determine validity, reliability, and statistical significance, including the ability to analyze multiple variables

A broad range of data can be collected (e.g., attitudes, opinions, beliefs, values, behavior, factual).

Standardized surveys are relatively free from several types of errors

Disadvantages

The reliability of survey data may depend on the following factors:

Respondents may not feel encouraged to provide accurate, honest answers

Respondents may not feel comfortable providing answers that present themselves in a unfavorable manner.

Respondents may not be fully aware of their reasons for any given answer because of lack of memory on the subject, or even boredom.

Surveys with closed-ended questions may have a lower validity rate than other question types.

Data errors due to question non-responses may exist. The number of respondents who choose to respond to a survey question may be different from those who chose not to respond, thus creating bias.

Survey question answer options could lead to unclear data because certain answer options may be interpreted differently by respondents. For example, the answer option "somewhat agree" may represent different things to different subjects, and have its own meaning to each individual respondent. 'Yes' or 'no' answer options can also be problematic. Respondents may answer "no" if the option "only once" is not available.

Customized surveys can run the risk of containing certain types of errors

Snap Survey Software

If you're looking to create a survey, Snap Survey Software is a flexible and secure platform for data collection and analysis. You can create advanced surveys that collect reliable data, and use advanced data analysis and reporting features to obtain the insights you need.

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The ability to reach respondents is one challenge of surveys. However, surveys have several advantages and disadvantages.

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What is a survey

A survey is a research method used for collecting data from a predefined group of respondents to gain information and insights into various topics of interest. They can have multiple purposes, and researchers can conduct it in many ways depending on the methodology chosen and the study's goal. In the year 2020, research is of extreme importance, and hence it's essential for us to understand the benefits of social research for a target population using the right survey tool.

The data is usually obtained through the use of standardized procedures to ensure that each respondent can answer the questions at a level playing field to avoid biased opinions that could influence the outcome of the research or study. The process involves asking people for information through a questionnaire, which can be either online or offline. However, with the arrival of new technologies, it is common to distribute them using digital media such as social networks, email, QR codes, or URLs.

What is an online survey?

An online survey is a set of structured questions that the respondent completes over the internet, generally by filling out a form. It is a more natural way to reach out to the respondents as it is less time-consuming than the traditional way of gathering information through one-to-one interaction and is less expensive. The data is collected and stored in a database, which is later evaluated by an expert in the field.

As an incentive for respondents to participate in such online research, businesses offer rewards like gift cards, reward points that they can redeem for goods or services later, free airline miles, discounts at gas stations, etc. Research studies with rewards are a win-win situation for both businesses and respondents. Companies or organizations get valuable data from a controlled environment for market research.

What are the advantages of an online survey?

1. Accuracy: In an online research study, the margin of error is low, as the respondents register their responses by easy selection buttons. Tradition methods require human interference, and according to a study, human intervention increases the margin of error by 10%.

2. Easy and quick to analyze: Since all the responses are registered online, it is straightforward to analyze the data in real-time. It is also ready to draw inferences and share the result.

3. Ease of participation: In this new-age technology-oriented universe, most people on this planet have access to the internet. Respondents prefer receiving the survey over email. Ease of participation dramatically increases as the respondents can choose a suitable time and place, according to their convenience, to register their responses.

4. Great branding exercise: In an online design, organizations or businesses have this opportunity to develop their questionnaire to align with their brand. Using logos and similar brand language (color and fonts) gives the companies an advantage as respondents can connect better with the brand.

5. Respondents can be honest and flexible at the same time: According to a study, researchers have found increased participation by respondents when deployed with online surveys rather than answering lengthy questions. By designing questionnaires that ask relevant questions, respondents are honest with their answers and can skip the questions or respondents to a more neutral option, increasing their flexibility to respond.

6. Survey templates: Leading online research tools have expert-designed ready survey templates that make it easier for researchers to choose from and conduct their research study. These templates are vetted questionnaires and are specific to every industry, making the study even more efficient.

Good survey templates and examples

A researcher needs to conduct surveys using the right questions and the right medium to administer and track responses. QuestionPro is a platform that helps create and deploy different types and sets of questionnaires, polls, and quizzes.

We have 350+ varieties of survey templates. including:

Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) + Net Promoter Score (NPS) Survey: We hear this time and again that the customer is king, which is true. A satisfied customer is a customer that helps your brand and organization grow, through direct means as well as being an advocate for your brand. This template talks about the goodwill your brand has created and how referenceable it is.

Employee Satisfaction Template: This template is the perfect fit for organizations that want to measure their employees' satisfaction levels. This template will give you insights into your organizations' culture and job satisfaction of your workforce within that culture.

B2B Templates: The business to business templates are efficient modes of collecting feedback around entities that directly contribute to your business. These may include vendors, clients, their experiences, and so on.

Company Communications Evaluation Template: This example is essential to analyze employee perspective about the subject of internal company communications, topics to cover in the newsletter, updates on the bulletin board, the efficiency of an organization's management in conversation, etc.

Hardware Product Evaluation Template: Improving hardware product features isn't a straightforward proposition due to a lot of elements like raw materials, supply chain, and manufacturing lines getting affected by it. Hence, while eliciting feedback for hardware, it is essential to be as objective as possible. It helps us understand the kind of necessary product innovations.

Strategic Planning Survey: Innovation methodology is essential to any organization's product or service lines. Hence, implementing customer support and making product or service tweaks when required is necessary for the sustenance and growth of an organization. This template helps organizations chalk out their business strategy.

Business Demographic Survey: This template aims to ask demographic questions and examples that help gain information on occupation, the primary area of business, job function and description, organization's gross income, etc.

Course Evaluation Survey: This template helps educational institutions conduct period feedback on their course and if students find it helpful or not if it's stimulating enough and students to see this is as value for money along with accentuated learning.

How to create a survey with a good design?

As explained before, a survey usually has its beginnings when a person, company, or organization faces a need for information, and there is no existing data that is sufficient. Take into account the following recommendations:

Define objective: The survey would have no meaning if the aim and the result were unplanned before deploying it. The survey method and plan should be in the form of actionable milestones, as well as the sample planned for research. Appropriate distribution methods for these samples also have to be put in place right at the outset.

The number of questions: The number of questions used in a market research study is dependent on the end objective of the research. It is essential to avoid redundant queries in every way possible. The length of the questionnaire has to be dictated only by the core data metrics that have to be collected.

Simple language: One factor that can cause a high survey dropout rate is if the respondent finds the language difficult to understand. Therefore, it is imperative to use easily understandable text in the survey.

Question types: There are several types of questions that can go into a survey. It is essential to use the question types that offer the most value to the research while being the easiest to understand and answer to a respondent. Using close-ended questions like the Net Promoter Score (NPS) questions or multiple-choice questions help increase the survey response rate.

Consistent scales: If you use rating scale questions, make sure that the scales are consistent throughout the research study. Using scales from -5 to +5 in one question and -3 to +3 in another question may confuse a respondent.

Survey Logic: Logic is one of the most critical aspects of the survey design. If the logic is flawed, respondents will not be able to continue further or the desired way. Logic has to be applied and tested to ensure that on selecting an option, only the next logical question shows up.

Characteristics of a survey

1. Sample and Sample Determination

First, a sample also referred to as the audience, is needed, which should consist of a series of survey respondents data with required demographic characteristics, who can relevantly answer your survey questions and provide the best insights. Better the quality of your audience, the better will be your response quality and insights.

The characteristics of a survey sample, are:

Determining sample size: Once you have determined your sample, the total number of individuals in that particular sample is the sample size. Selecting a sample size depends on the end objective of your research study. It should consist of a series of survey respondents data with required demographic characteristics, who can relevantly answer your survey questions and provide the best insights.

Types of sampling: There are two essential types of sampling methods; they are probability sampling and non-probability sampling. The two standard sampling methods are:

Probability sampling: Probability sampling is a sampling method where the respondent is selected based on the theory of probability. The major characteristic of this method is that each individual in a population has an equal chance of being selected.

Non-probability sampling: Non-probability sampling is a sampling method where the researcher selects a sample of respondents purely based on their discretion or gut. There is no predefined selection method.

2. Survey Questions: How to ask the right questions?

Useful questions are the cornerstone for the success of any survey and, subsequently, any research study.

The characteristics of the survey questions are as follows:

Data collection: Whether it is an email, SMS, web intercept, or a mobile app survey, the single common denominator that determines how effectively you can collect accurate and complete responses is your survey questions and their types.

Fundamental levels of measurement scales: Four measurement scales are crucial to creating a multiple-choice question in a survey. They are nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio measurement scales without the fundamentals of which, no multiple-choice questions can be created. Hence, it is essential to understand these levels of measurement to create a robust research framework.

Use of different question types: Multiple choice questions are the most common type of survey questions, in which some of the popular question types are: dichotomous question, semantic differential scale questions, rank order questions, and rating scale questions. Open-ended questions help collect in-depth qualitative data.

Administering the survey: It is essential to plan the type of survey to ensure the optimum number of responses required for your study. It could be a mix of interviews and questions or a questionnaire. Interviews could be telephone interviews, face-to-face interviews, online interviews, and questionnaires can be personal intercept, or web surveys.

3. Survey Logic: Skip logic and branching

The logic is one of the essential characteristics of a survey. The objective of using logic in a study is to move a respondent-based on their current selection to a question. Survey skip logic and branching provide the ability to create "intelligent" surveys, meaning respondents can answer relevant questions based on their answers to screening questions. The characteristics include:

Design: In this phase, the users design their logic and set it up in a way that irrelevant questions to each respondent, don't show up as part of the survey.

Application: Survey logic can be applied by using conditional branching or unconditional branching. Other parameters that form the basis of a logic depending on the objective of the study, are piping data, question randomization, link quota, etc.

4. Survey Methods

Survey methodology studies the in-depth sampling of individual units from a population and administering data collection techniques on that sample. It includes instruments or processes that ask different question types to a predefined sample, to conduct data collection, and increase the survey response rate.

The two distinctive member types are professionals in the field that focus on empirical survey errors and others that work to design surveys and reduce them. The primary tasks of an admin while deploying a survey is to identify and create samples, validate test questions, select the mode to administer questions, and verify data collection methods, statistical analysis, and data reporting.
Survey Methods based on Design
Research studies are of the following types:

Cross-sectional studies: Cross-sectional study is an observational research type that analyzes data of variables collected at one given point of time across a sample population. Population or a predefined subset. This study type is also known as cross-sectional analysis, transverse study, or prevalence study. The data gathered in a cross-sectional study is from people who are similar in all variables except the one under study. This variable remains constant throughout the cross-sectional study.

Longitudinal studies: Longitudinal study is an observational study employing continuous or repeated measures to follow particular individuals over a prolonged period, often years or decades. The longitudinal research collects data that is either qualitative or quantitative. In a longitudinal study, respondents are under observation over a period, ranging from months to decades, to observe any changes in them or their attitudes. For example, a researcher wants to find out which disease affects young boys (in the age group of 10-15). Then, the researcher will observe the individuals over that period to collect meaningful data.

Correlational studies: Correlational study is a non-experimental type of research design where two distinct variables are studied. Statistical analysis helps to examine the relationship between them without the interference of external "variables." This study aims to understand the change and level of change in one of the two variables in the study if the other variable changes. For example, if an ice cream truck has a jingle that can be loudly heard, people start to understand which ice cream truck is in the neighborhood and how far it is from the person's location.

Survey Methods based on the distribution
There are different ways of survey distribution. Some of the most commonly used methods are:

Email: Sending out an email is the easiest way of conducting a survey. The respondents are targeted, and there is a higher chance of response due to the respondents already knowing about your brand. You can use the QuestionPro email management feature to send out and collect responses.

Buy respondents: Buying a sample helps achieve a lot of the response criteria because the people who are being asked to respond have signed up to do so. The qualifying criteria for the research study are met.

Embedding on the website: Embedding a survey on a site ensures that the number of responses is very high. Embedding a survey can be done while the person enters the website or is exiting it. A non-intrusive method of collecting feedback is essential to achieve a higher number of responses. The responses received are also honest due to the top brand recall value, and the answers are quick to collect and analyze due to them being in a digital format.

Post to the social network: Posting on social networks is another effective way of receiving responses. The survey is published as a link on social media, and people that follow the brand can be the set of audiences or respondents. There is no upper cap on the number of survey responses required and is the easiest and fastest way of eliciting responses.

QR code: QuestionPro QR codes store the URL for the survey. You can print/publish this code in magazines, on signs, on business cards, or on just about any object/medium. Users with a camera phone equipped with the correct reader application can scan the QR Code's image to open the survey in the phone's browser.

QuestionPro App: The QuestionPro App allows the circulation of surveys quickly, and the responses can be collected both online and offline.

API: You can use the API integration of the QuestionPro platform for potential respondents to take your survey.

SMS: Using SMS surveys are another quick way to collect feedback. This method can be used in quick responses and when the survey is simple, straightforward, and not too long. This method is used to increase the open and response rate of collecting feedback.

Distribution allows using one or a mix of the above methods, depending on the research objective and the resources being used for any particular survey. Many factors play a part in the mode of distribution of surveys like cost, research study type, the flexibility of questions, time to collect responses, statistical analysis to be run on data, and willingness of the respondent to take part in the study.

You can conduct a telephone or email survey and then select respondents for a face-to-face interview. Survey data are sometimes also obtained through questionnaires filled out by respondents in groups, for example, a school class or a group of shoppers in a shopping center.

You can also classify these by their content, using open or closed questions to know, for example, opinions, attitudes, details of a fact, habits, experiences for a later classification, and analysis of the obtained results.

In the same way, you can use some sample survey questions; ask for the classification of different alternatives. You can do a concise survey with items that can take five minutes or less to answer, or it can be a very long survey that requires one hour or more of the interviewee's time. For example, those who need to know in-depth behavior or attitudes of people prefer to use, in addition to surveys, a panel, or an online community.

5. Survey data collection

The methods used to collect survey data have evolved with time. Researchers have increasingly moved away from paper surveys to using quick, online questionnaires for survey data collection method has its pros and cons, and the researcher has to, in most cases, use different ways to collect the requisite data from a sample.

The survey response rates of each of these methods vary as multiple factors like time, interest, incentive, etc. play a role in the data collection process.

In the section above, we have looked at survey data collection methods based on design, cross-sectional research, and longitudinal surveys. In this method, we will look at the four main survey data collection methods based on their actual implementation. They are:

Online: Online surveys have now become the most widely used survey data collection method. There is a wide variety of advanced and straightforward question types that are available in online surveys. The data collection and data analysis are now structured and easy to manage. The survey response online is very high compared to other research options.

Telephone: Telephone surveys are a cheaper method than face-to-face surveys and less-time consuming too. Contacting respondents via the telephonic medium requires less effort and human resources. Still, the survey response rate could be debatable as respondents aren't very trusting to give out information on the call. In this survey data collection method, the researcher also has less scope to digress from the survey flow.

Face-to-face: Face-to-face surveys are on the most widely used methods of survey data collection. The survey response rate in this survey data collection method is always higher because the respondent trusts the researcher since it is in-person. The survey design in this research method is planned well in advance, but there is so much scope to digress to collect in-depth data.

Paper or print: The least used survey data collection method that is now being used mostly in field research is paper surveys. Researchers and organizations are moving away from using this method since they are logistically tough to manage and tough to analyze. These can be used where laptops, computers, and tablets cannot go, and hence they use the age-old method of data collection; pen and paper.

6. Survey Data Analysis

When you conduct a survey, you must have access to its analytics. While manual surveys based on pen and paper or excel sheets require the additional workforce to be analyzed by experienced data analysts, it becomes much simpler when using an online survey platform.

Statistical analysis can be conducted on this survey data to make sense of all the data that has been collected. There are multiple methods of survey data analysis, mostly for what is quantitative data. Most of the commonly used types are:

Cross-tabulation is one of the most straightforward statistical analysis tools that use a basic tabulation framework to make sense of data. Raw survey data can be daunting, but structuring that data into a table helps draw parallels between different research parameters. It involves data that is mutually exclusive to each other.

Trend analysis provides the ability to look at survey-data over a long period. This method of statistical analysis of survey data helps plot aggregated response data over time, which helps to conclude the change in respondent perception over time.

MaxDiff analysis is a research technique to help understand customer preferences across multiple parameters. For example, a product's pricing, features, marketing, etc. become the basis for Maxdiff analysis. In a simplistic form, this method is also called the "best-worst" method. This method is similar to conjoint analysis, but it is much easier to implement.

Conjoint analysis is an advanced statistical research method that aims to understand the choices a person makes in selecting a product or service. This method offers in-depth insights into what is vital to a customer and what parameters sway their purchasing decisions.

TURF Analysis or Total Unduplicated Reach and Frequency Analysis is a statistical research methodology that assesses the total market reach of a product or service or a mix of both. This method is widely used by organizations to understand at what frequency is their messaging reaching the audience and if that needs tweaking. TURF Analysis is widely used to formulate and measure the success of go-to-market strategies.

Gap analysis uses a side-by-side matrix question type that helps regulate the difference between expected performance and actual performance. This statistical method for survey data helps understand what has to move production from practical to planned performance.

SWOT analysis, another widely used statistical way organizes survey data into data that represents strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of an organization or product or service that provides a holistic picture of competition. This method helps to create effective business strategies.

Text analysis is an advanced statistical method where intelligent tools make sense of and quantify or fashion qualitative and open-ended data into easily understandable data. This method is applied to unstructured data.

Learn More: MaxDiff Analysis vs Conjoint Analysis

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What is a survey? Definition, characteristics & examples | QuestionPro

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A survey is a research method used for collecting data from a predefined group of respondents to gain information and insights into various topics of interest. They can have multiple purposes, and researchers can conduct it in many ways depending on the methodology chosen and the study's goal.

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Understanding Document Review Work (Benefits and Disadvantages)

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Having document review as your line of work would be a risky undertaking since it demands a lot of physical and mental force that commonly results to have stressful and tough days. But just like…

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Lembaga Penelitian dan Pengabdian Masyarakat

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Qualitative Research Methods - Qualitative research is a research method to explore and understand the meaning that some individuals or groups of people think come from social or human problems (Creswell, 2013). The final report of a qualitative study has a flexible structure or framework. The perspective used in this study is inductive style, focuses on individual meanings, and translates the complexity of a problem.

Qualitative research begins in the field which is based on natural environments, not theory. The data and information that have been obtained from the field are taken for the meaning and concept, presented in descriptive analytic and generally without using numbers, because they prioritize the processes that occur in the field.

In general, this type of research includes information about the main phenomenon that is being explored in a study, research participants, and the location of a study. Qualitative research can also state the research design chosen.

In the world of education, qualitative research has the objective of describing the process of educational activities based on what is in the field as study material to find shortcomings and weaknesses so that efforts can be determined to improve them; analyzing a symptom, facts, and educational events in the field; compile a hypothesis related to the concepts and principles of education based on information and data that occur in the field.

Qualitative Research Characteristics

The following are some of the characteristics of qualitative research:

1. Natural environment (natural setting). Qualitative researchers collect field data at the locations where participants experience the problem or issue to be studied. Qualitative researchers do not change the environmental settings and activities of the participants. Information is gathered by talking directly to people and seeing them act directly in a natural context.

4. Inductive data analysis. Qualitative researchers build categories, patterns and themes from the ground up (inductive) or from separate data into a complete conclusion.

Qualitative research strategies

The following are the strategies in qualitative research:

* Ethnography is a branch of anthropology to analyze the culture of a nation or society in its natural environment over a long period of time in collecting main data, observational data and interviews.
* The purpose of the analysis is to understand a view of life from the perspective of the indigenous people.
* This research was conducted with observation, long enough observations of a group, tribe / community, to find the meaning of each behavior, the language of interaction / something related to the community itself.

2. Case studies
* Researchers carefully investigate a program, event, activity, process, or group of individuals.
* Cases are limited by time and activity, and researchers collect complete information using time-based procedures.

* 3. Phenomenology
Researchers identify the nature of human experience about a particular phenomenon.
* Understanding the experience of human life makes phenomenological philosophy a research method whose procedures require the researcher to study a number of subjects with a relatively long and direct involvement in it to develop patterns and meaning relations.

4. Grounded Theory
* Researchers produce a general and abstract theory of a particular action, process, or interaction that comes from the views of participants.
* Researchers must go through a number of stages of data collection and filtering categories for the information that has been obtained.
* It has main characteristics, namely: (1) constant comparison between data and emerging categories and (2) theoretical sampling of different groups to maximize information similarity and difference.

5. Narrative
* Researchers investigate the lives of individuals and ask a person or group of individuals to tell their life.
* This information is retold by the researcher in a narrative chronology.
* In the final stage of the research, the researcher must combine with a narrative style his views on the participant's life with the views held by the researcher himself.

The following are strategies that need to be carried out in qualitative research:

1. Qualitative observation
Qualitative observation is an observation in which the researcher goes directly to the field to observe participant behavior and activities at the research location. In this observation, the researcher can record and record both structured and unstructured notes. Usually researchers are involved in a variety of roles, it can be as a complete participant or non-participant.

2. Qualitative interview
In qualitative interviews, qualitative researchers can interview face-to-face or face to face with participants, by telephone, or can also be involved in focus group interviews or group interviews. The questions are unstructured and open questions for the purpose of capturing the opinions and views of participants on a particular issue.

Qualitative documents can be public documents such as newspapers, magazines or papers or in the form of personal documents such as diaries, diaries and e-mails.

4. Audio and visual material
This data can be in the form of recordings of both sound and images and printed results such as pictures, photographs and paintings.

That was a little explanation about qualitative research methods, hopefully they can provide benefits.

Source: Creswell, J.W, (2013). Research Design.Thousand Oaks California: SAGE publications.

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Qualitative Research Methods - Objectives, Characteristics and Strategies

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Qualitative Research Methods - Qualitative research is a research method to explore and understand the meaning that some individuals or groups of people think come from social or human problems (Creswell, 2013). The final report of a qualitative study has a flexible structure or framework.

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Historical research is undertaken to answer questions concerning causes, effects, or trends related to past events that may shed light on the present practice or behavior. Historical research involves a systematic collection and a critical evaluation of data relating to past occurrences of a particular phenomenon.

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A checklist is a form that is used for quickly and easily recording data or identifying actions or requirements. It is usually easy to extract data in a useful manner from a checklist. It is particularly effective at registering the occurrence of incidents, events, tasks, or problems.

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A questionnaire is a research instrument that consists of a set of questions or other types of prompts that aims to collect information from a respondent. A research questionnaire is typically a mix of close-ended questions and open-ended questions.

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Technological Research refers to the study of technology, how improves over itself, and the pros and cons it has in society. It involves investigating technological advancements, improvements, practical testing.

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Mixed Methods Research combines elements of Quantitative Research and Qualitative Research in order to answer our research question. Mixed Methods can help gain a more complete picture than a standalone Quantitative or Qualitative study, as it integrates benefits of both methods.

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Quantitative research is a systematic investigation of phenomena by gathering quantifiable data and performing statistical, mathematical, or computational techniques. Quantitative research collects information using sampling methods, surveys, polls, and questionnaires.

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A projective research allows respondents to project their subjective or true opinions and beliefs onto other people or even objects.

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Action research is a research method that aims to simultaneously investigate and solve an issue. In other words, as its name suggests, action research conducts research and takes action at the same time.

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Surveys are a method of gathering information from a group of individuals by asking them questions. Surveys can be conducted through various mediums such as paper and pencil, online forms, telephone, or face-to-face interviews.

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Documentation review is a process where the document goes through one or multiple stages of review and reviewers and the feedback gets amended in the document.

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Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can be used to gather in-depth insights into a problem or generate new ideas for research.

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16 Advantages and Disadvantages of Experimental Research

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How do you make sure that a new product, theory, or idea has validity? There

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Definition:
Experimental research is research conducted with a scientific approach using two sets of variables. The first set acts as a constant, which you use to measure the differences of the second set. Quantitative research methods , for example, are experimental.

If you don't have enough data to support your decisions, you must first determine the facts. Experimental research gathers the data necessary to help you make better decisions.

Any research conducted under scientifically acceptable conditions uses experimental methods. The success of experimental studies hinges on researchers confirming the change of a variable is based solely on the manipulation of the constant variable. The research should establish a notable cause and effect.

You can conduct experimental research in the following situations:

Learn about: Quantitative Market Research

Types of experimental research design

The classic experimental design definition is, "The methods used to collect data in experimental studies."

There are three primary types of experimental design:

The way you classify research subjects, based on conditions or groups, determines the type of design.

1. Pre-experimental research design: A group, or various groups, are kept under observation after implementing factors of cause and effect. You'll conduct this research to understand whether further investigation is necessary for these particular groups.

You can break down pre-experimental research further in three types:

2. True experimental research design: True experimental research relies on statistical analysis to prove or disprove a hypothesis, making it the most accurate form of research. Of the types of experimental design, only true design can establish a cause-effect relationship within a group. In a true experiment, three factors need to be satisfied:

This experimental research method commonly occurs in the physical sciences.

3. Quasi-experimental research design: The word "Quasi" indicates similarity. A quasi-experimental design is similar to experimental, but it is not the same. The difference between the two is the assignment of a control group. In this research, an independent variable is manipulated, but the participants of a group are not randomly assigned. Quasi-research is used in field settings where random assignment is either irrelevant or not required.

Advantages of experimental research

It's vital to test new ideas or theories. Why put time, effort, and funding into something that may not work?

Experimental research allows you to test your idea in a controlled environment before taking it to market. It also provides the best method to test your theory, thanks to the following advantages:

Researchers have a stronger hold over variables to obtain desired results.

The subject or industry does not impact the effectiveness of experimental research. Any industry can implement it for research purposes.

The results are specific.

After analyzing the results, you can apply your findings to similar ideas or situations.

You can identify the cause and effect of a hypothesis. Researchers can further analyze this relationship to determine more in-depth ideas.

Experimental research makes an ideal starting point. The data you collect is a foundation on which to build more ideas and conduct more research.

Whether you want to know how the public will react to a new product or if a certain food increases the chance of disease, experimental research is the best place to start. Begin your research by finding subjects using QuestionPro Audience and other tools today.

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Experimental research - Definition, types of designs and advantages | QuestionPro

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Experimental research is a quantitative research method with a scientific approach, where a set of variables are kept constant while the other set of variables are being measured as the subject of an experiment. Learn about various types of experimental research design along with its advantages.

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Quasi-experiments are studies that aim to evaluate interventions but that do not use randomization. Similar to randomized trials, quasi-experiments aim to demonstrate causality between an intervention and an outcome.

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Experimental research is a study conducted with a scientific approach using two sets of variables. The first set acts as a constant, which you use to measure the differences of the second set. Quantitative research methods, for example, are experimental.

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Characteristics of an Experimental Research 

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Characteristics of an Experimental Research 

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1. It gathers the necessary data to help you make better decisions.
2. It allows us to manipulate variables and observe the effects, which is crucial for understanding how different factors influence the outcome of a study.
3. Experimental research is a powerful tool for understanding cause-and-effect relationships.

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1. Accuracy
2. Completeness
3. Consistency
4. Accessibility

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Characteristics of a Qualitative Research

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Characteristics of a Qualitative Research

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1.Qualitative researchers collect field data at the locations where participants experience the problem or issue to be studied. Qualitative researchers do not change the environmental settings and activities of the participants.
2. Qualitative researchers generally collect their own research data through participant observation, documentation, or direct interviews with participants.
3. Qualitative researchers generally choose to collect the required data from various sources such as interviews, documentation, and observations, rather than relying only on one source data.

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The characteristics include the lack of random assignment to treatment groups and the inability to prove causation; besides, these kind of research are the most common type of experiments used in a social research.

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Solve immediate problems

Improve existing systems

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-It must translate the information needed into a set of specific questions that the respondents can and will answer.

-It must uplift, motivate, and encourage the respondents to become involved in the interview and complete the interview.

-It should minimize the response as well as other types of errors.

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Characteristics of a Projective Research

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Characteristics of a Projective Research

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1. Dynamics
2. Holistic
3. Creative
4. Participatory
5.Transformer
6. Design plans and/or projects
7. Systematics
8. Proactive

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Characteristics of  a Mixed Method Research

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Characteristics of  a Mixed Method Research

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v  The analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data.

v  The collection of both open and closed-ended data (qualitative and quantitative data) in response to research question.

v  Persuasive and rigorous procedures for the qualitative and quantitative methods.

v  The integration of these two data sources (by merging, connecting, embedding).

v  The use of specific mixed methods design that involves a concurrent or sequential integration.

v  An approach to research that has a philosophical foundation.

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Characteristics of a Quantitative Research

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Characteristics of a Quantitative Research

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Structured tools: Structured tools such as surveys, polls, or questionnaires are used to gather quantitative data. Using such structured tools helps collect in-depth and actionable data from the survey respondents.

Sample size: Quantitative research is conducted on a significant sample size that represents the target. Appropriate sampling methods have to be used when deriving the sample to fortify the research objective

Close-ended questions: Closed-ended questions are created per the objective of the research. These questions help collect quantitative data and hence, are extensively used in quantitative research.

Prior studies: Various factors related to the research topic are studied before collecting feedback from respondents.

Quantitative data: Usually, quantitative data is represented by tables, charts, graphs, or any other non-numerical form. This makes it easy to understand the data that has been collected as well as prove the validity of the research.

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Characteristics of a Technological Research

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Characteristics of a Technological Research

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Characteristics of Technological Research

-It has its focus on understanding the principles, design, and functionality of technology.

-Technological Research involves theoretical analysis, experiments, development of new technologies.
-Its target is to move forward knowledge, provide solution to technical and technological issues, and contribute to technological progress.

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Characteristics of a Historical Research

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Characteristics of a Historical Research

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Historical research focuses on a careful study and analysis of data about past events. Historical research is a critical investigation of events, their development, and experiences of the past and a careful weighing of evidence of validity or information of the past and interpretation of evidence.

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-All items that need to be included should be included. (Obviously, the value of any checklist is negated if it doesn’t include all the necessary items for the successful accomplishment of a process.)

-No items should be included if they don’t need to be checked. (Unnecessary items create confusion about what needs to be checked and what doesn’t.)

-Items should be listed in a logical order, so they can easily be found. (For example, listing items on a grocery list by store section keeps you from backtracking.)

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Main use of the Quasi-Experimental Research

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Main use of the Quasi-Experimental Research

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Quasi-experimental research are often used for social experiments because it can be difficult to use random selection for these types of experiments. For example,  studies or experiments used on a set group of participant such as a specific class of students.

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This research is essential for developing new drugs and medical treatments.
Similarly, experimental research is used in the field of psychology to test theories and understand human behavior. By manipulating variables such as stimuli, researchers can gain insights into how the brain works and identify new treatment options for mental health disorders.

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Qualitative research is used to understand how people experience the world, and it tends to be flexible and focus on retaining rich meaning when interpreting data.

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The main use of the document review is to determine or understand the purpose of the review. This will determine the criteria you use to evaluate the document during the review and the length of the review.

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The main use of a survey is to collect data that is representative of the group being surveyed, allowing researchers to make informed decisions or draw conclusions.

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When the target is expressed in numbers. It is used to test and confirm theories or facts about a topic.
Common research methods are experiments, observations recorded as numbers, and closed-ended, multiple-choice question surveys. Data analysis is through mathematical and statistical processes. When the population to investigate is large because it requires a large population sample.

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Mixed Methods Research may be the right choice if the research process suggests that quantitative or qualitative data alone will not sufficiently answer the research question.

ü  Generalizability. - Qualitative research usually has a smaller sample size, and thus is not generalizable. In Mixed Methods Research, this comparative weakness is mitigated by the comparative strength of “large N,” externally valid quantitative research.

ü  Contextualization. - Mixing methods allows to put findings in context and add richer detail to the conclusions. Using qualitative data to illustrate quantitative findings can help provide more details for the analysis.

ü  Credibility. - Using different methods to collect data on the same subject can make the results more credible. If the qualitative and quantitative data converge, this strengthens the validity of the conclusions.

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It is carried out in several fields, such as engineering, computation science, medical sciences, and information technology. It focuses on improving existing technologies, develop new technologies or processes, evaluate technological feasibility, and interpret the impact technology has on social, economic, and ethical environments.

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ü  Social research

ü  Health sciences

ü  Market research

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ü  To make sure things are done in the right order

ü  To make sure no activities that need to be done are forgotten

ü  To make sure requirements have been met

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ü  Periods of time

ü  Geographical locations

ü  Military history

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Action research is often used in the social sciences, particularly in educational settings. Particularly popular with educators as a form of systematic inquiry, it prioritizes reflection and bridges the gap between theory and practice. Due to the nature of the research, it is also sometimes called a cycle of action or a cycle of inquiry.

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Projective techniques are normally used during individual or small group interviews. They incorporate a number of different research methods. Among the most commonly used are:

Word association test

Sentence completion test

Thematic apperception test (TAT)

Third-person techniques

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Quasi-Experimental Research

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Quasi-Experimental Research

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Advantages
1. Higher external validity
2. Higher control over targeted hypotheses
3. Can be combined with other methodologies

Disadvantages
1. Lower internal validity
2. Risk of inaccurate data
3. Risk of bias

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Experimental Research

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Experimental Research

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Advantages
1. It provides researchers with a high level of control.
2. There is no limit to the subject matter or industry involved.
3. Experimental research provides conclusions that are specific.
4. The results of experimental research can be duplicated.

Disadvantages
1. Results are highly subjective due to the possibility of human error.
2. Experimental research can create situations that are not realistic.
3.  It is a time-consuming process.
4. There may be ethical or practical problems with variable control.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Quantitative Research

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Quantitative Research

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Here are some advantages of Quantitative Research

Collect reliable and accurate data. - As data is collected, analyzed, and presented in numbers, the results obtained will be extremely reliable.

Quick data collection. - Quantitative research involves studying a group of people representing a larger population. The process of analyzing the data and finding patterns is made easier and faster through the use of statistics.

·Wider scope of data analysis. - Due to the statistics, this research method provides a wide scope of data collection.

Eliminate bias. - This research method offers no scope for personal comments or research biasing of results. The results achieved are numerical and thus fair in most cases.

Here are some disadvantages of Quantitative Research

You get a less detailed picture. - With this research method, results are based on numerical responses and, as a result, you get slightly less insight into the thoughts, motivations, and drivers of your group.

It’s somewhat artificial. - Quantitative research needs to be carried out in an unnatural environment so that it can be controlled. And while this is important, it means the results you gather might differ from ‘real world’ findings.

You’re faced with limitations. - A quantitative method needs to have pre-set answers, and sometimes, how a participant thinks, feels, or behaves might not be featured in the list. Their true answer is masked behind your lack of options, and it might push them to pick one that doesn’t really reflect how they feel.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Qualitative Research

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Qualitative Research

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Advantages
1. Flexibility
2. Natural settings
3. Meaningful insights
4. Generation of new ideas

Disadvantages
1. Unreliability

2. Subjectivity
3. Limited generalizability
4. Labor-intensive

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Mixed Method Research

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Mixed Method Research

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Advantages of Mixed Methods Research

“Best of both worlds” analysis. - Combining the two types of data means benefit from both the detailed, contextualized insights of qualitative data and the generalizable, externally valid insights of quantitative data. The strengths of one type of data often mitigate the weaknesses of the other.

Method flexibility. - Mixed methods are less tied to disciplines and established research paradigms. They offer more flexibility in designing your research, allowing to combine aspects of different types of studies to distill the most informative results.

Disadvantages of Mixed Methods Research

Workload. - Mixed Methods Research is very labor-intensive. Collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing two types of data into one research product takes a lot of time and effort, and often involves interdisciplinary teams of researchers rather than individuals. For this reason, mixed methods research has the potential to cost much more than standalone studies.
Differing or conflicting results. - If the analysis yields conflicting results, it can be very challenging to know how to interpret them in a mixed methods study. If the quantitative and qualitative results do not agree it may have confounding variables, it can be unclear how to proceed.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Document Review

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Document Review

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Advantages
1. Great source of background knowledge and data experience
2. Working low key or don’t attract too much attention
3. Noticing issues that have been overlooked or missed by other means and lay it forward to necessary measures or cases

Disadvantages
1. Information may not be up-to-date, unorganized or informally topsy-turvy
2. Might be biased due to selective existing files or records
3. The information gathered may be inaccurate or half-finished

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Survey

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Survey

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Advantages

Relatively easy to administer

Can be developed in less time (compared to other data-collection methods)

Cost-effective, but cost depends on survey mode

Can be administered remotely via online, mobile devices, mail, email, kiosk, or telephone.

Disadvantages

Respondents may not feel encouraged to provide accurate, honest answers

Respondents may not feel comfortable providing answers that present themselves in a unfavorable manner.

Respondents may not be fully aware of their reasons for any given answer because of lack of memory on the subject, or even boredom.

Surveys with closed-ended questions may have a lower validity rate than other question types.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Technological Research

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Technological Research

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Advantages of Technological Research

It adds to innovation of technology and advancements of already existing technology.

It helps to solve problems.

It boosts the understanding of the impact technology produce on society.

Technological Research can help to improve processes or products.

Disadvantages of Technological Research

It can need numerous resources to be carried out such as equipment, materials and expensive technical expertise.

Technological Research may experience difficulties related to intellectual property rights, safety environments, or ethical implications.

It may take much time development/testing.

The practical implementation can provide different results, and thus, the research may need to be reworked.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Questionnaire

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Questionnaire

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Advantages of Questionnaires

- You can collect data from more individuals in less time by employing questionnaires.

-The use of questionnaires also results in lower expenditure. This helps to reduce the cost of the study's trip.

-Statistical analysis is possible thanks to the questionnaire's questions' systematic and categorical organization, which makes it possible to conduct a statistical analysis of the responses gleaned from them.

Disadvantages of Questionnaires

-There is a dearth of comprehensive and extensive information. Through direct and in-person interaction, such as during an interview or through scheduling, comprehensive and specific information may be gained.

-The possibility of incorrect information - In the questionnaire approach, the researcher is not present, so if a respondent has trouble comprehending a question, no one is available to clarify its purpose or meaning.

-Variation in replies is a problem. In addition to this, different respondents will provide various answers based on how they interpret the questions.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Checklist

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Checklist

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Advantages of Checklists

-Allows you to determine the specific frequency of certain events or tasks.

-Collected data can be displayed in many familiar formats, such as a bar chart.
-Easy to use, simple to create.

Disadvantages of Checklists

-They can draw your focus to the wrong things

-They can become time-consuming

-Checklist forms are usually specific to a particular situation

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Historical Research

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Historical Research

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Advantages of Historical Research

-Permits investigation of topics and questions that could be studied in no other way.

-It is the only research method that can study evidence from the past.

-The historical method is well suited for trend analysis.

Disadvantages of Historical Research

-Limitations are imposed due to the content analysis

-Researchers cannot ensure representation of the sample

-Lack of control over external variables

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Action Research

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Action Research

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Advantages

Action research is highly adaptable, allowing researchers to mold their analysis to their individual needs and implement practical individual-level changes.

Action research provides an immediate and actionable path forward for solving entrenched issues, rather than suggesting complicated, longer-term solutions rooted in complex data.

Done correctly, action research can be very empowering, informing social change and allowing participants to effect that change in ways meaningful to their communities.

Disadvantages

Due to their flexibility, action research studies are plagued by very limited generalizability and are very difficult to replicate. They are often not considered theoretically rigorous due to the power the researcher holds in drawing conclusions.

Action research can be complicated to structure in an ethical manner. Participants may feel pressured to participate or to participate in a certain way.

Action research is at high risk for research biases such as selection bias, social desirability bias, or other types of cognitive biases.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Projective Research

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Projective Research

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Advantages

Projective tests allow people to express their thoughts and ideas without the fear of judgement or social constraints, as is the case with structured testing methods such as questionnaires or formal interviews.

When people are able to express themselves more freely by giving responses to ambiguous stimuli, psychologists can study subconscious and unconscious mechanisms which can help them understand problems of a more personal or sensitive nature.

Disadvantages

Due to the ambiguity of the stimuli and the unstructured nature of this technique, highly qualified professionals and experts are required to administer and determine the results of projective tests.

Rigorous interviewing and analysis is required to draw conclusions from projective techniques. This, coupled with the need for trained professionals, makes it an extremely expensive process.