Discuss the different research methods: survey research, qualitative methods, historical and comparative methods and last secondary data analysis. How are these methods distinctive from each other?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Varies. Survey research is a data collection based on responses to a series of questions. Surveys can be offered in several formats: a self-administered mailed survey, group surveys, in person interviews, or telephone surveys. Qualitative methods include data collection conducted in the field, emphasizing the observations about natural behavior as experienced or witnessed by the researcher. Methods include participant observation for gathering data, which involves developing, and sustaining relationships with people while they go about their normal activities. Focus groups are unstructured group interviews where a focus group leader actively encourages discussion among participants on the topic of interest. Lastly, relatively unstructured, is intensive interviewing, where the interviewer seeks in-depth information on the interviewee's feelings and experiences and perceptions. The third of the methods are historical and comparative methods is the historical method is a research method that focuses on one historical period or traces a series of events overtime. Comparative research involves multiple cases or more than one time period. The fourth and final of the methods is secondary data analysis, which usually involves analysis of previously collected data that are used in a new analysis. Large public survey data sets such as the U.S. Census the General Social Survey, the National Election Survey or the International Social Survey Program can be used, as can data collected in experimental studies or with qualitative data sets. For HIV/AIDS research, we use the secondary data analysis based on existing medical records for a routine health survey. However, if they wanted to examine the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS treatment over time and compare infection rates between men and women, they would use historical and comparative method.