Types of Research Methods and its Drawbacks

My Research Plan

1.)    Secondary Research: Websites/Internet (Institution and Language)

Advantages	Disadvantages
Some websites are a reliable source to use when searching for convenience. Some great examples are BBC and Guardian	Some sites can be unreliable and may not have relevant information
The internet provides many forms of information.  Researchers can find vast amounts of data	Books are a better and reliable source for a researcher
Much faster  than looking it up in books

Websites will be used when trying to find out about the BBFC who regulate films. But also looking at short films and reviewing them against the codes and conventions found in a dramas. I will also use websites such as BBC Film Network to watch short films and review of what they had done well, the narrative, the camera shots and angles used, editing tools, codes and conventions.

2.)    Secondary Research: Books (Genre)

Advantages	Disadvantages
Reliable source of data, its realistic	Not as fast as looking at the internet
You can source reference of quotes used from books	After time books are old and of no use of relevance

http://plapa.hubpages.com/hub/Advantages-of-Internet-over-Books

Books will be an essential part of my research. I will be using books to find out about genre and how key theorists defining genre and the idea of Iconography. Using books may give me the foundation to understand what things I would need for my film.

3.)    Primary Research:  Surveys (Audience)

Advantages	Disadvantages
There is little or no bias involved as surveys do not require any personnel	There is inflexibility when it comes to surveys as the questions are standardized and therefore means that participants cannot expand on points and give their own views
Surveys are fairly representative and a lot of information can be found just by the quantity of people complete the survey	Also, questions may be contradictory as a participant may not understand or may agree with more than one view thus causing confusion
Questions on a survey are objective, meaning only precise answers are needed such as yes or no which thus makes it easier to measure and compare results	Respondents completing surveys may not choose to give an accurate answer they may lie creating unreliable false information for the researcher to work with.
There are many ways of sending a survey, an online survey is most popular thus creating a higher and better response rate	Respondents may not want to answer questions that will present them badly
It is relatively quicker to create surveys than other research methods such as interviews

 http://explorable.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-surveys

http://www.snapsurveys.com/blog/advantages-disadvantages-surveys/

Surveys are suitable to use when planning the basic structure of my film by asking my target audience. The survey will have questions that will help us plan and design what story lines, key events and outcomes we should use and what they look for in a Drama.Surveys will give us an idea of what our  film should be like. but also, to test whether my audience like or dislike certain scenarios in which I have made.

4.)    Primary Research: Focus Group (Production)

Advantages	Disadvantages
The ability to address different ideas and expand points	Can be seen as very overwhelming when there are different ideas
Everyone has a point to say and disagree with differing points	Hard to compare and encode answers
Points may be made that were not even considered	Can cause a lot of disagreements and arguments
Easier to get detailed answers and opinions	Hard to manage a large group of people
It saves money and time than interviewing

http://www.evalued.bcu.ac.uk/tutorial/4b.htm

When the film is open to improvements a focus group can help gesture their suggestions and help make the film better. A focus group can point out what they liked about the film and what the thought didn't work. It will also help with the narrative of the story. Whether they understood the story from beginning to end and whether it flows and makes sense or is quite confusing.

5.)    Primary Research: Interviews (Production)

Advantages	Disadvantages
People are more likely to speak and offer detailed responses with an interviewer	There is a high risk of interviewer bias. The interviewer may inflict his or her own views. Making the research futile
Interviewers can help interviewees if they misunderstand questions	They can be very time-consuming such as contacting the interviewee arranging a date etc.
Interviewing tends to be more reliable than other sources  as other methods such as postal surveys may not always get a high response rate as many people do not bother to fill them in	They can be very costly as there is a cost of personnel involved.

http://www.evalued.bcu.ac.uk/tutorial/4c.htm

Interviews with individuals will be held. This is where we would recruit the same people from the focus group and see whether we have met our criteria. We will ask the audience final key questions such as whether they have understood the final concept of the film and if its a worthy film to watch.