Research Methods

Types

1. Historical Documents

2. Official Statistics (census data, government and university studies)

Surveys

• quantitative (#’s) vs. qualitative (descriptions)

• direct (face to face) v.s. indirect (mail, phone, internet)

• Open-ended (goes on and on) v.s. closed (yes / no ; rate 1 2 3 4 5)

• random v.s. selective

Interviews

Observations

• participant observation (taking part) v.s. natural observation (park bench)

Case Studies

• In-depth look at a group

Experiments

• Uses “inquiry Model” (Scientific Method) to study subject matter