This essay is going to critically discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using surveys and questionnaires as a method of Socio-Legal research. When conducting socio-legal research, a number of methods can be used to collect useful information. Focusing on surveys and questionnaires, there is a small difference. Questionnaires gather the information from different respondents while a survey is the systematic collection of information from different individuals . Qualitative and quantitative research is the two main functions of research. They both hold different views. Quantitative research may be seen as the less contentious of the two because it is more closely aligned with what is viewed as the classical scientific paradigm. Quantitative research involves gathering data that is absolute, for example numerical data so that it can be examined as unbiased as possible. The main idea behind quantitative research is that it is able to separate things easily so that they can be counted. The researcher generally has a clear idea of what is being measured before they start measuring it, and their study is set up with controls. Qualitative research on the other hand is a more subjective form of research, in which the research allows themselves to introduce their own bias to help form a more complete picture. Qualitative research may be necessary in situations where it is unclear of what is exactly being looked for in a study, while quantitative research generally knows exactly what it is looking for. Questionnaires and surveys are quantitative socio-legal research, because it is the collection of numerical data, or data that can be easily being turned into a numerical form. In terms of analysing quantitative data, Excel is the b... ... middle of paper ... ...-legal helps to bring about a better understanding of the law and postgraduate scholars would do well to prepare themselves with other research methodologies. Focusing on surveys and questionnaires, and quantitative research methods, it varies on the person getting questioned as to which method they prefer. Some individuals may prefer to fill in a questionnaire, as it is quick and simple for them, whereas someone else would rather have a face-to-face interview because they may find questionnaires to complicated. Giving people the choice gives the more chance of getting a response overall. It is important that the researchers are aware of the advantages and disadvantages because they will then be aware of what method to use, and will know what method is best to use. It is also an advantage to work with experienced researchers in order to find out the best results.
While you can conduct research for a survey, you can utilize a questionnaire to gather information for it. A questionnaire is a tool and a survey is a method of research. The survey was used to gain an insight on the employee’s perspective of the company’s atmosphere and the overall professional sense that was portrayed in the workplace. As well as what they felt was lacking thereof regarding marketing strategies. Whereas, the questionnaire was used to gain personal insight on the employee’s feeling and thoughts towards the company and their marketing program.
Qualitative: This is different to quantitative due to the fact that first this can provide question which can be given multiple choice responses for the user to be able to answer.
According to Smith (1983) quantitative research is to explain, predict and develop laws that can be universally applied and Qualitative research is the interpretation and understanding of what people give to their situation. The researchers clearly stated the purpose of their studies, aim, objectiv...
There are several different types of surveys and questionnaires that can be used to collect data. The most common is the electronic survey because it can be given to a lot of people quickly and is viewed as more anonymous. However, there are some draw backs with surveys. According to Marril (n.d.), surveys can elicit responses that are socially acceptable instead of the truth. In addition, surveys are impersonal and leave little room to clarify responses (Cummings & Worley, 2009).
The strengths in using the questionnaire or survey method are the simplicity of collecting the data. The poll or survey method can be an inexpensive way to conduct research. References Creswell, J. W. (2012). Qualitative Inquiry and research design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. London: Sage Publications.
For everything that occurs, there will somehow be something that caused the action to happen. It is more of a cause and effect ideal or simple a reaction to an action. In terms of research academics, independent and dependent variables are concepts or attributes to certain things that occur such as drug use, crime, or domestic abuse. For example, stress or other personal problems may lead to someone to use drugs. Also, poverty may lead someone to commit crime. In addition, a power controlled individual may cause a partnership to suffer physical or verbal abuse.
Research can be quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative research is objective and involves measuring the phenomena under investigation. Qualitative research is subjective, explores experiences and feelings, and involves the recording of phenomena that cannot easily be quantified (Toates, 2010, pp. 5-6). Both are empirical since they involve data collection (OU, n.d.).
Some of the advantages are the researcher is able to collect the data straight away. The researcher is able to evaluate the written answer without having to mess around. There are some disadvantages of doing questionnaire. Which can be participant might not understand and cannot ask the researcher. Sometimes the participant will not answer truthfully or take
The research carried on both quantitative approach and qualitative approach. It began with quantitative approach—questionnaire. Bryman and Bell (2003) asserted that mail or postal questionnaires are most popular forms of questionnaires. Another form—self-completion questionnaire was also common because of the overlap with postal questionnaire to some extent.
On the other hand, Quantitative research refers to “variance theory” where quantity describes the research in terms of statistical relationships between different variables (Maxwell, 2013). Quantitative research answers the questions “how much” or “how many?” Quantitative research is an objective, deductive process and is used to quantify attitudes, opinions, behaviors, and other defined variables with generalized results from a larger sample population. Much more structured than qualitative research, quantitative data collection methods include various forms of surveys, personal interviews and telephone interviews, polls, and systematic observations. Methods can be considered “cookie cutter” with a predetermined starting point and a fixed sequence of
Surveys: Are generally given in the form of an interview or questionnaire, providing researchers with information about how people think or act. In an interview, researchers try to obtain data through face-to-face interviews or telephone questioning. A skillful interviewer can go beyond the written questions and probe participants underlying feelings.
To gain my secondary information I used such sources as the Internet, books and midwifery journals. My secondary information will consist of the benefits of breast-feeding for the mother and baby, the benefits of bottle-feeding for the mother and baby as well as statistics on breast-feeding. All information that I have gained for my secondary data is all reliable, because it has come from recommended sites, books and journals that have been approved from the Government or from hospitals and doctors themselves.
The Advantages and Limitations of Social Surveys in Sociological Research To survey something, is to carry out a systematic overview so that a researcher can produce a comprehensive general report on it. Survey method is often used by positivist sociologists seeking to test their hypotheses, and to investigate causes and examine variables. As with every other sociological research, survey has its own advantages and limitations. Positivist research, which is in the scientific tradition, begins with a hypothesis that can be either confirmed or rejected according to the data collected. One of the significant advantages of survey method is that, it can be used to collect data that is a representative of a larger population.
Obviously some methods and tools used in quantitative research are more effective than others, much depends on the purpose behind the research. Using telephone surveys as a part of research gives the company an opportunity to become more personnel useless they are using automatic dialer system. Some disadvantage of this survey is that it can become time consuming, reach less participants and be more costly. Another type of survey that allows social interaction is the in-person surveys, the advantage of in-person survey, is that the organizations can get more personal with the participants. The interviewer can see the participants’ reaction to questions and their body language, they can also get more than just facts and the interviewer can become more social. In-person surveys also have some disadvantage, such as, more costly, time consuming and take more personnel time to conduct the survey. Even though the Internet is very popular, there are advantages and disadvantages regarding internet ways. The advantage of internet surveys are that they allows the company to reach out to more participants, less costly, easier to conduct and gather data can be stored and completed in a timely manner. Disadvantage of internet surveys include; it is less personnel, only based on facts, restricted to specific questions and availability of willing participants. In short effectiveness is based on purpose. In
Lack of response is the main disadvantage for mail surveys. The group survey is another low cost form, however the individual respondent is interviewed in a group. The disadvantage with group surveys are the logistics of marshaling the respondents to one location and the perception by respondents that grouping posses less anonymity. Electronic surveys are a relatively new addition in survey research and could very well become comparable to the telephone survey. Electronic surveys are advantageous for the low cost as well as ease in delivery. Because the delivery method is through internet, and the general population does not