Research method Social Sciences Essay Research Paper

Analyzing Various Research Methods
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April 21, 2020
1 What is the difference between a survey and a questionnaire?
The main difference between a survey and a questionnaire lies in their use, scope, and applicability.
On the one hand, a survey is usually used for quantitative studies. This is because surveys are designed to gather as much data as possible from a vast number of participants (i.e., 10,000 participants), with the ultimate goal of determining and forecasting statistical trends. Thus, surveys usually employ ‘tick boxes’ rather than open-ended questions. One example of this method is an online survey conducted through social media platforms to determine how many people prefer shopping online compared to shopping in traditional brick-and-mortar stores. This particular application of the survey allows the researcher to identify general trends, with less emphasis on piecemeal evidence (i.e., personal opinions).
On the other hand, questionnaires apply to both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Compared to surveys, its main focus is to see how individuals think in a more in-depth manner. Accordingly, since questionnaires focus more on individual responses rather than a general trend, it usually utilizes open-ended questions and is limited (yet precise) in scope. One example of this is a questionnaire the specific and personal reasons why people prefer Facebook over Twitter.
2 What ...