Research Methods

1. What factors should you consider when choosing between relying on sources like travel blogs or conducting your own research for a holiday planning?
2. Why is it important to have a clear purpose when starting research, and how does this shape your process?
3. What types of research questions should you ask when planning a holiday?
4. What are the key characteristics of secondary research, and when would it be useful for understanding a company’s strategy?
5. How do surveys help in research, and what type of conclusions can you draw from them?
6. What insights can be gathered from workshops as a qualitative research method, and when should they be used?
7. How do personal interviews provide unique perspectives, and what potential bias should be considered?
8. What role do local observations and trials play in research, and how do they provide valuable data?
9. How does the Delphi method work, and why is it valuable for business forecasting?
10. How does the Delphi method differ from other workshop methods, and when is it most useful?
11. What is the difference between close-ended and open-ended research questions, and when should each be used?
12. What types of close-ended questions would be helpful in planning a perfect holiday?
13. How do open-ended questions help gather qualitative data, and what type of insights do they provide?
14. How do you decide which research method to use based on the data you need to gather?
15. What are the strengths and weaknesses of various research methods like secondary research, workshops, and Delphi?

What is the Delphi method?

A research method in which the viewpoints of experts are gathered through cycles of feedback 

A quantitative research method in which large groups of people are surveyed on a topic 

A research method based on using trials and designed tests in controlled conditions 

Specific local observations of a single process based on gathering the most valuable information

Answer:

Factors to consider when choosing between travel blogs and conducting your own research include the reliability of the sources, the type of information needed, and whether personal experiences or broader insights are required. Self-conducted research can provide tailored results but may be time-consuming.

Having a clear purpose in research helps focus efforts, guides the selection of research methods, and ensures that the data gathered aligns with the research goals. It shapes the process by determining which questions to ask and what analysis to perform.

When planning a holiday, research questions might include: What are the best destinations for my budget? What activities are available in my chosen location? How do previous visitors rate their experience?

Secondary research involves analyzing existing data like company reports, which provides a broad understanding of a company’s strategies and performance. It's useful when gathering background information or assessing a company’s market position without firsthand data collection.

Surveys help gather quantitative data from a large group, providing statistical insights. Conclusions from surveys are often broad and generalized, useful for identifying patterns and trends across a population.

Workshops provide qualitative insights from diverse perspectives, ideal for gathering in-depth information. They should be used when a detailed understanding of a specific issue or challenge is required from people with various expertise levels.

Personal interviews allow for deep insights into individual perspectives but may be biased based on the interviewee’s opinions. Interview bias can skew results, so it's important to consider the context and how questions are framed.

Local observations and trials provide valuable real-time data by directly observing processes or testing scenarios. These methods offer insights into practical applications and behaviors, which may not be captured through secondary research.

The Delphi method involves collecting expert opinions, seeking feedback, and refining forecasts through multiple rounds. It is valuable for business forecasting as it aggregates diverse expert views to predict outcomes or trends.

The Delphi method differs from workshops by focusing on expert consensus rather than group discussions. It is useful when a decision requires input from specialists, particularly in areas with uncertainty or complex forecasts.

Close-ended questions provide fixed responses for quantitative analysis, while open-ended questions allow detailed, qualitative insights. Use close-ended questions for clear, measurable data and open-ended questions for deeper exploration of thoughts and opinions.

Helpful close-ended questions for holiday planning could include: "Did you travel with family or solo?" or "Did you prefer an all-inclusive resort or self-catering accommodation?"

Open-ended questions allow for detailed responses, providing insights into preferences, motivations, and experiences. They help uncover reasons behind choices, like "What was the most memorable aspect of your trip?"

Choosing a research method depends on the type of data needed. Quantitative methods like surveys work for measurable data, while qualitative methods like interviews and workshops are suited for exploring opinions, behaviors, and experiences.

Research methods like secondary research, workshops, and Delphi each have strengths (e.g., secondary research provides background info, workshops facilitate diverse input, and Delphi helps achieve expert consensus). However, they may have weaknesses, such as limited scope or potential bias.