Research Paper on:
Data Collection Approaches and Their Strengths and Weaknesses

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
and the observation method. Each of these methodologies has advantages and disadvantages. The method used may depend on the type of results that are required, the type of research that  is being undertaken and the way that the data is to be used after it is collected. In considering each of these data collection methods individual the strengths and weaknesses  may become apparent. The Questionnaire This is one of the most popular ways in which data may be collected. These are used for a range of purposes and will often  be the tool used to collect quantitative data. This is data where the response required are needed in high numbers. The usage range of questionnaires are divergent and the presentations  formulation of the questions and the coding of the data all influence the way that results are used. However, it is worth noting that although this may be classified as  mostly a quantitative process of collecting data it may also be a qualitative method, depending on the number, depth and style of the questions.  Quantitative research relies more on a large amount of results, with the data being recorded often being predominately numerical, it is suitable to be used as a method  of determining cause and effect relationships (Anonymous, 2000). The methodologies will often be based on scientific procedures of investigation. Quantitative research includes descriptive, correlational, quasi-experimental and experimental (Anonymous, 2000).  Qualitative research is narrower and more concentrated by looking to information to be gained in-depth from a smaller quantity of subjects (Anonymous, 2000).  Often this research will be word based with methods such as recorded in-depth interviews and other data which is not so easily classified (Anonymous, 2000). Qualitative research is best