Descriptive

In descriptive research, you collect data about your study subject without
intervening. The validity of your research will depend on your sampling
method.

Population vs sample
First, you need to understand the difference between a population and a
sample, and identify the target population of your research.

 The population is the entire group that you want to draw conclusions

about.
 The sample is the specific group of individuals that you will collect data
from.

The population can be defined in terms of geographical location, age, income,

and many other characteristics.


Pros

 Cons

Descriptive

 Allows you to describe your research subject without influencing it.

 Accessible – you can gather more data on a larger scale.

 No control over confounding variables.

 Can’t establish cause and effect relationships.

Interview/focus group Primary Qualitative To gain more in-depth understanding of a topic.

 During an experiment.
 Using probability sampling methods.

Thematic analysis Qualitative To analyze data collected from interviews, focus groups or textual sources.

To understand general themes in the data and how they are communicated.
If your objectives involve describing subjective experiences, interpreting meanings, and
understanding concepts, you will need to do qualitative research.
Qualitative research designs tend to be more flexible, allowing you to adjust your approach
based on what you find throughout the research process.

Method What to consider

Surveys  How many respondents do you need and what sampling method will you us
simple random or stratified sampling)?
 How will you distribute the survey (e.g. in person, by post, online)?
 How will you design the questionnaire (e.g. open or closed questions)?

Interviews  How will you select participants?

 Where and when will the interviews take place?
 Will the interviews be structured, semi-structured or unstructured?

Dealing with the unforeseen challenges

caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has takena
significant toll on people all across the

world.