Evaluate the Usefulness of Primary Methodologies When Conducting Social Research.
Primary methodologies are ways we gather information when conducting social research. There are multiple types of useful methodologies in collecting qualitative data like interviews and a focus group as well as quantitative data like questionnaires, surveys and statistical research for examples. There are many advantages and disadvantages to all primary methodologies, including the information collected being more personally suited to the researcher while being more time consuming than some secondary research.
One advantage of primary methodologies is the amount of information you can access from people. Some methodologies, like surveys, can generate qualitative data from a large number of participants easily. A survey, which is a ‘systematic snapshot used to infer for a larger whole’ , are easy to administer, are simply created, are cost effective and efficient in collecting information from a large number of respondents . Researchers can reach respondents, nationally and globally, through many means like the Internet and can collect the data in convenience too . But surveys can become unreliable due to when a survey is poorly written (surveyor bias, poor choice of wording and questions), respondent bias, respondents not answering properly (lack of motivation, afraid of honesty) and a lack of response to the survey . Surveys are an example of a useful primary methodology in collecting qualitative data like statistics from a wide range of people, if written properly and easy to understand.
Primary methodologies are useful in collecting personal data fitted to the social research being conducted. The researcher can choose appropriate methodologies which can best collect the qualitative and quantitative information required. An interview is far more personal than other primary methodologies, like a questionnaire, as the interviewer works directly with the respondent and creates questions based on the participants experience and can also ask follow-up
One advantage of primary methodologies is the amount of information you can access from people. Some methodologies, like surveys, can generate qualitative data from a large number of participants easily. A survey, which is a ‘systematic snapshot used to infer for a larger whole’ , are easy to administer, are simply created, are cost effective and efficient in collecting information from a large number of respondents . Researchers can reach respondents, nationally and globally, through many means like the Internet and can collect the data in convenience too . But surveys can become unreliable due to when a survey is poorly written (surveyor bias, poor choice of wording and questions), respondent bias, respondents not answering properly (lack of motivation, afraid of honesty) and a lack of response to the survey . Surveys are an example of a useful primary methodology in collecting qualitative data like statistics from a wide range of people, if written properly and easy to understand.
Primary methodologies are useful in collecting personal data fitted to the social research being conducted. The researcher can choose appropriate methodologies which can best collect the qualitative and quantitative information required. An interview is far more personal than other primary methodologies, like a questionnaire, as the interviewer works directly with the respondent and creates questions based on the participants experience and can also ask follow-up