Main Methods Of Field Research - Essay Example

Main Methods Of Field Research Data collection is a significant part of any research process since it provides primary information or data to researchers. Among the different methods of primary data collection, questionnaires and interviews are the most common. Each of the two methods is applied according to the population size and the required accuracy. This essay will focus on interviews and use of questionnaire as the main primary data collection methods. Use of questionnaires is the most popular method of data collection. A questionnaire is a document that contains questions that a researcher expects their answers to be helpful in answering his research questions. The main benefits of using questionnaires is that its can be used to cover large population. Secondly, questionnaire enables a researcher to obtain specific responses to the research questions. Such responses are free from alterations that may result from human errors or emotional responses. Questionnaires can be used over a wide geographical area since they can be posted to different respondents through different channels of communication such as emails. The main disadvantage of questionnaire is that they require many re-writes in order to obtain the desired copy. In addition, questionnaires cannot be applied on an illiterate society. Questionnaires also lack flexibility that may be required by data collectors when conducting the fieldwork. Interview involves a direct dialogue between the researcher and the respondent or interview. Interview is a useful data collection method since its enables the researcher to obtain first hand information. In addition, the researcher is able to obtain immediate response from the field. Interviews also enable the researcher to establish the emotional response and attitude of the respondent, which is essential in measuring the accuracy of a response (Burgess, 1984). The main disadvantage of this method is that it can only be used in a small population. The methods also have geographical limitations since it depends on the ability of the interviewers. The method is also time-consuming since each interviewer will need to talk directly with each respondent. Finally, the method is costly since it requires many data collectors who may also require training. When conducting a survey there are several factors that need to be considered by the researcher. The researcher also needs to ensure that the sample questions are free from redundancy and contradictions. The researcher also needs to ensure that that the type of question asked in the sample questions adequately covers the research topic. This involves ensuring that the questions adequately answers or tackles different issues that the researcher is willing to investigate (Burgess, 1984). The researcher also needs to ensure that the questions are sensitive to the society values and classes. This includes gender, religion and political affiliations. Research authorization is also a significant factor of successful field study. The researcher will also need to consider the response rate for each of the research questions. y. Response rate will enable the researcher to develop an appropriate schedule by considering time allocation for each respondent or questionnaire. Considering the response rate will also enable the researcher to establish the most appropriate population sample for the survey. In conclusion, interviews and use of questionnaires are the two basic primary data collection methods. The pros and cons of each of the two methods determine their suitability of use in different data collection expeditions. Interviews involve direct questioning of a respondent while questionnaires use preset questions to collect information from the field. Reference Burgess, R. G. (1984) In the Field. An introduction to field research, London: George Allen &Unwin. Major advantage of field research Field research and use of secondary data are the man methods that researchers use to collect data from the field. Of the two methods, field research is the most preferred in social sciences. This is because social science researches take both the quantitative and qualitative approaches that are unsuitable with the other method of data collection. Field research involves collection of real data from the proposed geographical area by a researcher or a team of researchers. The preference of field research over secondary data analysis is that it enables researchers to obtain first hand information. Primary data or information is required in research since it enables researchers to create reliable research papers or recommendation. The basic components of field research are interview or asking questions and observation. Each of these methods has its own advantages and limitations that make it suitable or unsuitable for a particular research. Observation involves direct measurements and recording of different parameters from the field by the researcher. In such case, the researcher would be required to use senses such as sight, smell and hearing to determine measures of parameters that are of interest to the research. The researcher can also use different measurement equipments and apparatus such as thermometers to measure different parameters from the field (Burgess, 1984). On the other hand, interviews involve situations where the researcher goes to the field with preset question that require to be answered by a respondent. Interviews incorporate both the use of questionnaire and direct interviews. The main difference between the two methods of field research is that, observation does not involve a respondent while the interviews depend on the interviewers and the respondent. The main disadvantage of field research is that it is an expensive and a time-consuming research method. Researchers use four basic approaches as they conduct their field research, which include participant, participant observer, observer participant and complete observer. Participant observation is the approach whereby the researcher assumes a role in the social problem that is of interest to the research. In such case, a social researcher goes into the field and coexists with the population under observation as a covert or an overt. When acting as a covert, the researcher does not inform the participants about his/ her research mission. On the other hand, an overt observer will require informing the participants about his research intentions and request for their cooperation. Observer participant is the approach where by a researcher conduct direct observations from the field without acting like the participants. Observer participants goes to the field and conduct observations on the participants without getting involved with the problem under observation (Burgess, 1984). Finally, the complete observation approach is the situation whereby the researcher does not get closely involved with the insiders or the problem under observation. This approach is taken by most researchers in order to eliminate the chances of getting ideal results due to the influence of the researcher. In conclusion, field research involves the different data collection methods used by researchers to collect real information from a research sample. Field researchers can approach the field as a participant, participant observer, and observer participant or as a complete observer. Each of these approaches depends on the nature of the targeted participants of population and expected results. Reference Burgess, R. G. (1984) In the Field. An introduction to field research, London: George Allen & Unwin. Types of sampling designs Introduction When conducting a researcher it may be impossible or difficult for the researcher to study or observe each member of a given population. In such situations, researchers rely on samples. A sample is a subset of a given population that the researcher assumes to have average characteristics of the whole population. Researchers use two basic sampling designs or techniques to conduct field surveys. Non-probability sampling design and probability sampling design are the main sampling design used in social research. Non-probability sampling technique is applied in social research particularly those that involve an evenly distributed population. In this technique, the researcher is not concerned with equal participation of all individuals involved in the survey (Burgess, 1984). This strategy assumes that the results of a research are independent from the participation of all individuals who form a specific population. In addition, the method does not give each member of the population a chance of being selected or considered in the research. Reliance on available subject is an example of non-probability sampling technique. In this technique the researcher, choose a specific location from where to contact the respondents. Such locations can be a section of a road or a shopping mall. Purposive judgment and quota sampling are other methods that are applied in non-probabilistic sampling. In probability sampling, researchers use sampling techniques that give all members of a certain population an equal chance of being selected for the survey (Burgess, 1984). Some of the methods in this technique include simple random sample, systematic sampling, stratified sampling and cluster sampling. Simple random sampling is the most commonly used sampling technique. In this technique, the targeted population is assigned a number. A computer program is then used to generate the intended random sample from the targeted population. In this case, the researcher will study the selected population sample. In systematic sampling, the researcher lists all the elements of a given population. The nth element of the population is chosen and included in the sample. The main advantage of probability sampling designs is that it enhances the accuracy of collected data (Burgess, 1984). This is because the technique allows participation from each member of the population. However, this technique is costly, time-consuming and requires sophisticated skills. In addition, the method is inappropriate with a very large population since it would be difficult for researchers to determine different samples. On the other hand, non-probability sampling designs lack accuracy since they do not considers all members of the target population. Non-probability sampling also lack logical approach and hence it cannot be validated using mathematical proofs or methods. The main advantage with this method is that it is easy to use and less costly. The method can also be used in large population for example when studying the US population. In conclusions, probability and non-probability sampling are the basic design methods that are applied in research. The main difference between the two techniques is the participation of each member of the population. Sampling techniques, methods are aimed at establishing a sample that has standard characteristics as those of the entire population. Reference Burgess, R. G. (1984). In the Field. An introduction to field research. London: George Allen & Unwin Performing secondary data analysis Introduction Secondary data analysis is the procedure used to study existing data that was collected by other individuals or researchers. Secondary data analysis is a significant research technique since it enable researchers to use data that they would not be able too obtain in ordinary condition. Such data include data that may have been collected long time before the research. Some secondary sources of data in researches involving the department of justice will include case files, witness information and census information. Secondary data analysis involves the use of prerecorded data to study certain aspects of the population. In this method the researcher, rely on data recorded by other individuals or researchers. In most cases, secondary data is not related to the research question. Although secondary data provide researchers with quick and efficient source of information, the validity of the data contained in such sources is significant to the researcher. The researcher also needs to measure the degree at which the data correlate with the actual or present situation. In order to establish these factors, researchers rely on evaluability assessments and feasibility studies (Burgess, 1984). Feasibility assessments are also conducted to establish whether it is worth for researchers to continue with the intended project. In evaluability studies, a researcher needs to enquire about the relationship of the data contained in the secondary sources with the actual situation. Another issue that requires being addressed in the feasibility assessment is the usefulness of the data in generating models through basic modeling techniques. In racial profiling evaluation, I will require to know the time when the data was collected. I will also require knowing background information such as education and age of the participants. These questions will enable me to establish the validity and its usefulness in studying the issue. The question will also enable me to establish if the secondary data is original. During the racial profiling evaluation, I will also require to know the control research that was used to ensure accuracy of the collected data. In addition, I will also require to know the time span of the recorded data. This will enable me to estimate the resources required to complete the research process. The questions will also enable me to establish the time required to complete the project successfully. Feasibility assessment will also enable me to establish the limitations of the research results. In this case, limitations will be the different information that cannot be obtained from the research project (Burgess, 1984). Such limitation will also include values that are not compatible with the resultant models. In concussion, secondary data analysis is the study of prerecorded sources of information in order to answer research questions. Feasibility assessments are essential in secondary data analysis since they enable the researcher to validate available data and evaluate the possibility of conducting successful research studies. In studies involving secondary data from the department of justice, I will require to conduct feasibility assessment before accepting the offer to participate in the research project. Reference Burgess, R. G. (1984) In the Field. 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