The quantitative questionnaire method versus the qualitative focus Essay

The quantitative questionnaire method versus the qualitative focus group method - Essay Example Within data collection, there are two different methods to ascertain information. These include the quantitative questionnaire method and the qualitative focus group method. Both of these aim to find out the pertinent details with the research that is being conducted yet these are inherently different in their intent and purpose. The reason for this is that one of these, i.e. questionnaire brings out just numbers and information while the focus group methodology aims to explore how and why these numbers or information sets have come up from and what are the exact reasons behind the very same. The manner in which questionnaires and focus groups are seen as significant have brought to the fore the importance of understanding how and where to employ them and what kind of research knowledge would be handy for making use of either of these methodologies. Without a doubt, both quantitative questionnaire method and the qualitative focus group methodology make use of the sample which remains an imperative tangent of any research, be it marketing or business. For the extent of this paper, focus would be on these two different tools, both of which come under different headings – quantitative and qualitative. The data collection remains an important part of any research which is being completed in order to satisfy a need or requirement. It is for this reason that data collection is given the significance as it studies how research will be used and what are the pros and cons to diversify the basis and extent of this research which has been employed. Since data collection always comes about when a sample has been chosen, it is necessary that the respondents are told exactly what their collection would do in order to bring about a research in the first place. If this research helps the business to grow as a whole, then there is no reason why this research should not be conducted. In fact recent research studies have depicted and highlighted the fact that data collecti on and indeed the selection of samples would make the entire research process a sure success, and there are reasons available to provide evidence for the same (Patzer 1996). One must understand that sample selection is always a random act and it should not be a forceful measure because there are certain sets of audiences which would not appreciate the idea of being researched upon and taken within the sample itself. Hence it is always a good exercise to think of the sample as being comprehensive and complete from all sides, without any bias or prejudices whatsoever. Data collection is therefore dependent on the sample selection measures which are deemed as important because this will bring in the much needed value and quality within the research process and also make it look more real and genuine. The research studies which are being conducted in this day and age are usually imaginary and depend a great deal on how people manage time constraints. If proper understanding and analysis regimes are followed, this research would bear fruit and make the whole exercise of conducting the said research an important one (Bryman 2001). A questionnaire is basically a research instrument which includes a series of questions in order to gather information from the prospective respondents. The questionnaires are usually designed for statistical analysis of the responses which have been envisaged. This form of data collection was invented by Sir Francis Galton. These questionnaires are comparatively different from the surveys as these are cheap in cost and hence do not require that much effort from the questioner when one compares these questionnaires with telephone surveys or even verbal ones. The respondents in essence have standardized responses/answers which are simple and easy to collect and combine data. For the sake of the users, this collection of data might just be very frustrating as the respondents have to read the questions and hence answer them accordingly. It ha s been noted