Observational Studies, Experiment, and Surveys in Qualitative Research

Observational  studies are use in qualitative research when the need for studying records, mechanical processes, lower animals, small children and complex interactive processes. Observational studies is only one of the few options available for such research.The observational studies are good because it help the researcher gather data as the event occurs, to do so the researcher has to be present or have some recording device on the scene. Another good use for observational studies is that can secure information about people or activities that can not be possible from experiments or surveys.

Experiments in qualitative research are use when a researcher intervene beyond that required for measurement. The usual intervention is when  the subject being study is manipulated by the observer  and how the subject is affected by it. Experiments are good for the ability they have to uncover casual relationships, provision for controlling extraneous and environmental variables, convenience of low cost  test situations rather than searching for their appearance in business situations, the ability to replicate findings, and the ability to exploit natural events.

Surveys in qualitative research are use when the need is to derive comparable data across subsets of the chosen sample so that similarities and differences can be found. Surveys findings and conclusions can be more reachable to a larger and diverse population. Also surveys as a primary data collection is really versatile and can save the researches money  expanding geographically more efficient than with observation.

This data collection can translate to quantitative research by inputting the data collected by observational studies, experiment or surveys into a computerize method like a spreadsheet. By using a spreadsheet the data concentrates more on the quantity of responses of the same or opposite question, giving the researcher a total number of the data found or percentage of the event or question being answer. In survey for example we can try to find out how many subjects like using the  new can opener by asking them how easy was to use or do you like the style or how this product make you feel after using it.

After this data is collected it can be transform into numbers of a percentage on how many of this people would buy  or not the new product. Any data collected in observation study, experiment or surveys can be transform into quantitative data if we eliminate the how, and when and concentrate in the how many.

 Business Research Methods (Eleventh Edition) D.Cooper/P.Schindler