INTERVIEWS

(Jaydah, Shanice, Dojela)

● What is an interview?

An Interview is generally a qualitative research technique which involves asking

questions to converse with respondents and collect elicit data about a subject.

● Types of Interviews
○ Structured
● Questions are predetermined and administered in the same order
to all persons being interviewed.
● Best method to use when interviewing several persons as
responses can be compared.
○ Unstructured
● Questions are improvised and are open ended.
● Is similar to having a natural conversation and allows the
interviewer to get more in depth details about the topic.

Advantages Disadvantages
Provides flexibility for interviewers Can be costly and time consuming

Better response rate Interview can cause bias as a person may be

more inclined to people please

People without resources or can’t read or Less anonymity for interviewee

write can participate

Interviewer can judge body language Less accessibility of interviewees

Interviewer can control the order in which The efficacy of interview depends on the
questions are answered skills of the interviewer

Research can be more thorough

SURVEYS (use of questionnaires)
(Kristina, Jordanne, Abigail)

Definition:
● Social Survey: typically structured questionnaires designed to collect information from
people in standardized form. Might be carried out through self-completion, the
respondents fill out the questionnaires themselves, or can take the form of structured
interviews.

Things to consider:
● Use of close-ended and/or open-ended questions - This is to control the responses and
prevent the respondents from giving irrelevant information or venting their personal
frustrations with the company they work for.

● Keep it short and to the point - people do not like to respond to long questionnaires

● Sometimes you will not get all the responses you anticipate - Be sure to choose a large
number of participants to ensure you and your team will gather enough information from
the employees and customers.

Advantages Disadvantages

Can be distributed to several people No response. People may be too busy,

simultaneously through mail/email uninterested or illiterate.

Closed ended questions serve for easy Interpretations of questions may vary
analysis between respondents. Two exact answers
does not equate to the same interpretation

Respondents can answer when it is most If sent electronically, there is no evidence that
convenient to then the questionnaire was completed by the
person to whom it was intended
PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS
(Rochet, Rhea, Britney)

What is meant by observation?

Observation is the process of gathering detailed information by closely monitoring and
examining an environment.

Observation reveals additional information that the engineer would not have known otherwise.

Advantages Disadvantages

It is the simplest method of research The management of the business may not be
open to this method

It is easier to come to a conclusion Everything needed may not be observed

The length of this research allows the This method is usually done over a long
observer to gather the information needed. period of time

Other than management, it does not require There may be a bias presented when the
the cooperation of the respondents observer’s presence is known.

The information is accurate since it is being There is no way to go further in the

observed first-hand investigation, the researcher only has
information from the things observed
EXAMINATION OF WRITTEN DOCUMENTS
(Jessica, Sheri-Lee, Alleyana)

What is the Examination of Written Documents?

● The analyzing of standard documents to understand how an organization is designed to work.

EXAMPLES AND USAGES FOR WRITTEN DOCUMENTS

EXAMPLES USAGES

Annual Reports Helps the analyst measure the company’s ability to pay its debts as
they dome due

Balance Sheets States the financial position of an organization’s assets and liabilities

Organizational Charts Analyzes the company’s structure and levels

Application Forms Collects the relevant and required information on each applicant

Advantages Disadvantages

Provides background to the company's purpose There may not be sufficient data in the documents
and background. shown.

Shows accurate and specific data on the Some documentations may be incomplete or
organization. inaccurate information.

Easy to access documentation.

There are many forms of written documents which

show different perspectives in the data.