A researcher needs several instruments and methods for collecting data, each of which may differ in complexity, design, administration, and interpretation. There is a certain kind of evidence or piece of data that each method of gathering it is best suited to gather. The researcher has to determine which methods will provide the information necessary to evaluate his hypothesis. If he discovers that no suitable research instruments already exist, he may need to develop his own or make some adjustments to current ones. To do this, the researcher has to acquire knowledge of and practise with all of the available research instruments, including their purposes, strengths, and weaknesses. In this lesson, you'll learn about the many ways of gathering information, such as surveys, interviews, and other projective and sociometric approaches.
Characteristics of a Good Research Tool
Original, first-hand data is the key resource for the researcher. Either qualitative or quantitative methods might be used. It took a long time for qualitative research to be recognised as a legitimate method for advancing management theory. When JB Savarin said, Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are, in his 1825 book, 7he Physiology of Taste, he sparked a lot of curiosity. The field of organisational behaviour studied the role of personality, as well as human feelings and requirements. The analysis, however, was often conducted using quantitative methods. The Thematic Apperception Tests (TAT) developed by William Henry (1956) are an example of the subjective approaches that may be used to evaluate and understand the factors that contribute to an individual's style of thinking and behaving. When compared to the results of a more formal and structured approach, the insights and perspectives gained from the data collected are richer. However, due to the subjective nature of the data, a great deal of objectivity on the part of the researcher is required. Qualitative research is a highly skilled endeavour that needs natural ability and formal education to do well.