Topic 2.3 - Research

Question 1

What is the difference between primary and secondary research?

Answer 1

Primary research is data you collect yourself.
Secondary research is data that someone else has already collected.

Question 2

Identify 3 primary research methods

Answer 2

Focus groups
Interviews
Online surveys and Questionnaires

Question 3

Identify 3 secondary research methods

Answer 3

Books and Journals
Internet sites
Magazines and Newspapers
TV programmes and Online videos

Question 4

What is a focus group?

Answer 4

Someone facilitates a discussion about the produce to a small group of people.

Question 5

Identify 1 advantage of using a focus group for research

Answer 5

Responses are instant, reliable and relevant.
Questions can be adapted as the discussion develops.

Question 6

Identify 1 disadvantage of using a focus group for research

Answer 6

Can be expensive to organise.
Difficult to ensure that people from all the different groups that might use the product are represented.

Question 7

Identify 1 advantage of using an interview for research

Answer 7

One-to-one format allows the interviewer to ask further questions and get more details about an answer.
Talking to another person one-to-one can be good for getting honest answers.

Question 8

Identify 1 disadvantage of using an interview for research

Answer 8

Difficult to collect quantitative data.
Could be expensive if interviewee needs to be paid.

Question 9

Identify 1 advantage of using and online survey and questionnaire for research

Answer 9

They can be sent to lots of people at once.
Results of online surveys can be analysed electronically.
Quick and cheap to set up and run especially if online as no printing costs involved.

Question 10

What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative information?

Answer 10

Qualitative information is based on individual responses such as written responses, opinions, reasons and explanations.
Quantitative information is based on numerical data e.g. number of people who watched a particular TV programme.

Question 11

Identify 1 advantage of using books and journals for research

Answer 11

They are likely to have been written by experts on the subject.
It may be judged to be more reliable than other sources of information.

Question 12

Identify 1 disadvantage of using books and journals for research

Answer 12

Information may be out of date.
Authors may have their own agenda and push their own opinions.

Question 13

Identify 1 advantage of using the Internet for research

Answer 13

Information is instantly available and easy to find.
The cost is very low.

Question 14

Identify 1 disadvantage of using the Internet for research

Answer 14

Anyone can publish their own data so may be unreliable.
Reviews may be fake or uninformed.

Question 15

Identify 1 advantage of using magazines and newspapers for research

Answer 15

New issues are published regularly.
Publications are created around the world so will provide insights into different cultures.

Question 16

Identify 1 disadvantage of using magazines and newspapers for research

Answer 16

Articles may not be written by experts.
Articles can become quickly out of date.
You may need to buy the magazine or newspaper.
They may be biased.

Question 17

Identify 1 advantage of using TV programmes and online videos for research

Answer 17

Content covers a wide range of topics and genres.
New content is regularly created.
Can be accessed around the world.
TV programmes are normally made by trustworthy organisations.

Question 18

Identify 1 disadvantage of using TV programmes and online videos for research

Answer 18

Creators may have their own agenda or be sponsored.
Videos on social networks and video sharing sites may be poorly researched and of poor quality.

Question 19

Identify 1 advantage of qualitative data

Answer 19

People can explain the reasons behind their choices and opinions in detail.
It is useful for generating quotes and short soundbites.

Question 20

Identify 1 disadvantage of qualitative data

Answer 20

Collecting detailed data from lots of people may take a long time.
It can take a lot of work and a long time to analyse.
Results may be difficult to summarise and display.

Question 21

Identify 1 advantage of quantitative data

Answer 21

Data can be easily analysed and factual statements generated.
Patterns and trends can be quickly spotted.
Data can be quickly and easily collected from a large number of people.

Question 22

Identify 1 disadvantage of quantitative data

Answer 22

Doesn’t allow individual voices and viewpoints to be heard.
Any errors in the data may be difficult to spot.
Data may not be able to tell you the reasons behind people’s opinions.