Panel Survey Compared with Five Other Research Methods - Essay Example

Panel Survey Compared with Five Other Research Methods Panel Survey Compared with Five Other Research Methods Research often plays a significant role in social sciences. It helps in providing warranted assertion about the environment and human beings in concern to life revolving around humanity and the universe. Research work is only achievable through observation and data collection (Jamie, Corrine, Chang, and Sandelowski, 2011). Research contributes to verification of methodologies and field theories that researchers wish to give credibility to their contribution. Most research works are usually driven from general observation or a problem that needs verification (Rubin and Babbie, 2010). However, the genesis of any research work is pegged on identification of research topic that will in turn lead to applicable research method (Lee and Xia, 2011). The most commonly used research methods often fall under qualitative and quantitative research methods. Panel survey is a qualitative research method that compares well with other research methods especially in understanding business dynamics. Some of the methods include cohort survey, longitudinal studies, formal and in-depth studies, focused grouped discussion, and observational research methods. Panel survey is a research method that allows a researcher to determine the changes and reasons that may have caused such changes within a population (Jackson, 2011). This survey focuses on the study of the trend of people since the sample of people is expected to change over a certain period. The sample that is used in this kind of survey is humans, and it is called panel. For example, a researcher who wants to know the change in quality of goods and services might use the customers who use the targeted goods or services (Rubin and Babbie, 2010). The selected customers are the researcher’s sample. After selecting the sample, the researcher will contact the same set of customers over the period he wants to study or survey the trend in the quality of services targeted by an organization (Bryman, 2012). It is essential to note that the panel survey uses the same question for all data it designates to collect. The main advantage of the panel survey is that its results are extremely useful and offer specific explanations. However, the survey may be difficult to conduct because it is expensive and takes a long time within which sample ratio may be affected with other factors such as socio-economic, ethical, or even death. Persons or samples may drop out of the studies, and they are often referred to as attrition (Lee and Xia, 2011). Additionally, survey panel usually allows researchers to investigate changes with a population set. The panel is often interested in a particular set of the population regardless on the number of a similar survey to be conducted over a given subject (BrankaKrivokapic-Skoko and Grant ONeill, 2011). For instance, a researcher may be interested in investigating the change in the buying habit on a certain good over a given age within a market domain. In other words, how the age affects the buying habit of certain services or goods within a market domain over certain duration (Rubin and Babbie, 2010). In such a case, the research will identify the panel and stick to it for subsequent studies. Sticking to a given panel often leads to quality information since there is duplicability and repetitiveness of the study. However, the death or lack of the same panels may jeopardize the survey validity. Longitudinal Research Method The longitudinal research is a correlational study that involves repeated observation of a given variable over a period or even over a decade (Johnson and Christensen, 2012). This study often deploys the use of psychological investigation in developing a trend with a targeted social setting though a generation. Just like panel survey, longitudinal survey contradicts other cross-sectional research studies since they offer a platform where individuals with the same characteristics are used to investigate and analyze social or psychological trends that affect any business venture (Bryman, 2012). For instance, longitudinal studies have been used (Arbitron inc…, 2011) to investigate the use of social media across different ages so that the same relationship is used in business advertisements with specific age target. According to a longitudinal study, different age groups use different social media sites differently; thus, from the conclusions, some ads can do well on some social sites more than others. Additionally, both longitudinal and panel survey may sometimes deploy observation as the mode of collecting the intended data. For instance, different organizations are often interested in the reception of audiences of advertisements that air during world sporting events (Wagner, 2010). For instance, a longitudinal survey has revealed that many people are often glued to their television sets during world sporting events; thus, it would be an excellent opportunity for advertising. Notably, longitudinal and panel survey have a difference in that panel survey is often interested in a small sample set unlike longitudinal studies that often targets a vast population. Formal and In-depth Interviews The formal and in-depth interviews are qualitative research methods that often play vital roles in data collection, analyses, and evaluation towards providing essential information regarding a processes or business venture (Arbitron inc…, 2011). The uses of these qualitative surveys often call for a proper understanding of the selected sample set as the reflection of the entire population (Morrow, 2011). Notably, the use of these qualitative methods among others often allow continual quality improvements within the targeted business venture; thus, researchers involved must be sure to generate quality improving hypotheses towards the same. For instance, the Microsoft Corporation has often used formal and in-depth interviews towards improving some Microsoft software applications (Wagner, 2010). The in-depth interview involves asking questions and listening for responses while noting answers. In situations where there are no convincing or clear answers, it is advisable for the interviewer to pose additional questions for clarity (Jackson, 2011). Questions directing in-depth interviews are often open-ended, and they aim at encouraging the targeted subjects to express themselves freely and in their own worlds. Notably, the same principles are shared with panel survey. Additionally, both interviews often involve the use of a human being as the sample sets. Moreover, they both take a short time to do repetitive studies (Comely and Beaumont, 2011). This feature is different with that of longitudinal studies that, though repetitive, they are repeated over long periods. Focus Group Interviews Different group interviews often take different formats depending to the purpose of the study, question structures, and the circumstances of the interview (Johnson and Christensen, 2012). The group interviews may be conducted in the form of community interviews, focused group discussions, and spontaneous group interviews. The focus group interview often involves that use of a small group of the entire targeted group (Autry and Golicic, 2010). This group is often made up of relatively homogenous group members since they are collected from the same social backgrounds and sharing similar experiences. The researcher asks questions and leads the group with the aim of collecting the desired data. The questions are usually answered independently since different persons will always have a different opinion regardless of the shared background (Research and markets, 2012). The focus group discussion often aims at improving the internal management of an organization; thus, the survey have been used by numerous organization where the employees are collected from different quarters and their view on how the organization can improved are gathered independently, but in a group setting. This nature of survey aims at extracting feeling of participants regarding the issue or towards answering the hypothesis. The main difference between panel survey and focus group interviews or discussions is that the panel survey focuses on individual responses on issues while focus group discussions often aims at addressing a group on the research issues or questions (Rubin and Babbie, 2010). Additionally, the panel survey may take formal questions whereas focus group interview taking unstructured questions. Observational Research Method Observation research often provides firsthand information regarding the subject under research. It is believed that they are the sure sources of data for quality problem evaluation. The observational research methods may include the use of participants, programs, and program activities (Monette, Sullivan, and DeJong, 2011). Moreover, it usually articulates accurate description of events and notification of relevant processes as well as human interactions. Data evaluation involved in the observational surveys is usually handwork; therefore, this study usually requires skillful, competent, and trained individual for quality results (Research and markets, 2009). For instance, the observational research technique has been used the open market to determine trend and relationship or change in supply and demand on certain especially newly introduced services or goods in the market. Specifically, the research was used to analyze the reception of new Microsoft’s software into across generations. There are usually series of different formats of observational studies. The mainunderlying differences among them are the role of the interviewer in the observational program (Autry and Golicic, 2010). In some cases, the observer who is the researcher may be fully or partly involved or detached in the study. Contrary, researchers in the panel survey are usually involved fully in the study. However, they can sometimes note any observable event relevant to the study. Cohort Survey Cohort studies often focuses on a particular sample set but conducts series of studies over the same sample. In most cases, it takes the form of panel survey; however, they differ in the sense that it sometimes changes the subject or topic of study for subsequent studies (Jackson, 2011). For instance, a cohort study may be designed to study the change in business stability, in relation to regional conflicts. In the baseline, cohort studies may target a particular nation’s stability or a particular commodity (Rubin and Babbie, 2010). However, in the subsequent studies, the researcher will conduct the same study but may focus on a different nation or regional market or a different commodity (Rubin and Babbie, 2010). These changes are expected to take the study into a different direction and give a different attitude since a particular group or population will be targeted but with different topics under the same study. It should be noted that despite being conducted repetitively, the panel survey often sticks to its baseline features (Cameron, and Molina, 2011). Despite similarities and differences in these research methods, they all involve human beings as the sample sets. Moreover, each of these survey methods have found its application in the study of changes in numerous business ventures especially in analyzing changes in human demand in relation to changes in market phenomena. Summary Research method Advantages Disadvantages Panel Survey It is easy to conduct since it involves small sample set It is never time consuming Cheap to conduct since it involves a small sample set the small sample set involved may not provide comprehensive data towards quality conclusion Formal and In-depth Interviews The survey provides accurate data since it is interactive Time consuming since every person’s idea is collected The data may biased if the sample set concentrated only on people with same opinion Focus Group Interviews collected data is accurate Directly involves the problem group; thus, may not be expensive the survey may allow the collection other data alongside the research data time Since it involves discussion irrelevant data may be collected if the group introduces other themes expensive especially if it aims at open market Cohort survey Cheap and Easy to manage since it focuses one interest group the survey displays the highest degree of inconsistency since the baseline theme often differ with other subsequent themes Observational research method Cheap to conduct reduces biasness generated by interest groups Allow collection of intensive data collection gives room for inaccurate data since it depends on observational information without explanation of the trend Cannot be used in collecting fine information for qualitative analysis Longitudinal Can study different and varied parameters at the same time The study allows long time understanding of a particular trend Involves series of study elements; thus, the quality of data may be poor Its time consuming and expensive Cannot be used to study a phenomenon that requires immediate response since it compares results of series of studies to arrive at conclusion References Arbitron inc. files patent application for methods and systems for gathering market research data. 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