Research Methods

Types of Research Methods:

- Internet search engines such as: Google | Yahoo | Bing (Secondary Research)
- Surveys and Questionnaires (Primary Research)
- Interview ( Primary)
- Textual Analysis (Primary Research)
- Industry Websites (Secondary Research)
- Books | Newspapers (Secondary Research)
- Radio | T.V
- Email | Letters (Primary Research)
- Audience Feedback

Quantitative Data: This is data that is either statistical or numerical based. This type of data can be collated from Questionnaires where I may find patterns or trends with answers that were given to me. For example, I did a quick survey asking people whether or not they liked my film name 'Cultural Differences' (my first name) and I found that 35/45 people did not like it. Therefore have come to a conclusion that I am no longer going to use this as my short film title.

Qualitative Data: This is data that is based on words. For example this type of data may result from using research methods such as books and magazines (as I will be analysing the words in them).

Data that I used:

- Short film blog (what you are reading this from)
- Textual Analysis of other existing short films
- Looked at all of my previous notes that I made in class.
- I used the internet
- Looked at other existing short films for inspiration
- Survey

Primary Research: Pro's and Con's ...

Textual Analysis:
 Pro: - Gives me an insight into how to make my own short film providing me with endless innovation.
Con: - I needed to be careful when analysing other current existing material as I had to make sure that I was only observing and not copying other ideas that are not my own as well as avoiding copying the film itself.

Questionnaires:
Pro: - I can get answers quickly, making the entire data collection time efficient.
Con: - The answers that I was provided with may not have been entirely accurate as people may have only provided me with what they think I want to hear instead of their actual opinion - this is called desirability bias. Also, if the questions are not planned cautiously then answers may not actually be helpful or relevant, E.g 'Is my film good?' I may have received an answer saying 'yeah' or 'quite good'. Instead questions asking why should be put in place such as 'What do you like about this film' or 'what needs improving?'

Secondary Research: Pro's and Con's

Internet:
- Copyright issues
- Sites such as Wikipedia may not be accurate and can therefore be unreliable
- SPAM with the internet and cons to donate money as well as pop up adverts while you are researching,
- Information from the internet may be irrelevant
- Information overload | too much detail makes it increasingly difficult to filter and select information - Internet isn't free / taxes are expenses.