Research+Methods

// Which Research Methods were Used? Why? //

toc

For the **research** conducted for project ** Tech ****Nation **, we mostly used **Qualitative** research //methods//. "Qualitative research is "Research involving detailed, verbal descriptions of characteristics, cases, and settings. Qualitative research typically uses observation, interviewing, and document review to collect data." Although some of our **survey** questions were **quantitative**, such as //age//, the reason for using mainly **qualitative** //methods// is because to understand what user **want** or **need**, a more **descriptive** than mathematical //approach// is more **valid** and //useful//.

=Survey =


 * Surveys are the most **common** way to gather information in research usually. But some of the **reasons** why we decided to use a **survey** are:
 * Online **surveys** reach our target **audience**! Through social networking websites such as [|Facebook] and [|Twitter] we maximize the number of participants.
 * **Surveys** are usually a **quick** and **painless** way to get a feel of the main **existing** issues.
 * //Students// are often on **tight** schedules, so doing a 10 question **survey** is //convenient// and //fast//.


 * Feel free to //check// out our **survey** by clicking [|here].

=Focus Group =


 * **Focus groups** are a great way to **bounce** ideas around. It is a more **active** and //interactive// method than just a good old **survey**. By listening to what the //participants// in the **focus** **group** have to say helps us **refine** our idea and **improve** our design through the **suggestions** and **questions** of individuals in our focus group, our //audience//.


 * Feel free to //check out// our **focus group** by clicking [|here].

=Case Studies =


 * Since project ** Tech ****Nation ** deals with creating an online **portal**, it is **useful** to analyze //other// portals that may //exist// to solve a similar purpose. By **analyzing** other portals and websites and by looking at what //worked// for these websites and what //didn't//, we can **learn** from the //mistakes// and //learn// from what aspects helped in their **success** for the design of our **portal**.


 * This will be an ongoing process, the more websites we find and analyze, the more **knowledge** we will get on how to create a //good//, successful and **sticky** website.

= = = = =**Interviews **=


 * Interviews aid in getting a **feel** of //individual// **concerns**. **Interviews** and focus groups serve **similar** //purpose//. But unlike **focus groups** that rely on the **interaction** between //a number of individuals//, interviews are more **personal**, focused on **one** person at a time. The specific **focus** of **interviews** helps in getting //more// **detailed** and //individual// concerns, suggestions and comments.