Research methods and study Field, observation, longitudinal etc?

Laboratory study 

Research done in a laboratory. A laboratory study may use special equipment and cells or animals to find out if a drug, procedure, or treatment is likely to be useful in humans. It may also be a part of a clinical trial, such as when blood or other samples are collected. These may be used to measure the effect of a drug, procedure, or treatment on the body.

Observation

Observation as a data collection method can be structured or unstructured. In structured or systematic observation, data collection is conducted using specific variables and according to a pre-defined schedule. Unstructured observation, on the other hand, is conducted in an open and free manner in a sense that there would be no pre-determined variables or objectives.

Advantages of Observation Method

• Provides direct access to research phenomena
• By observing firsthand, the researcher can collect, check and record accurate data
• Greater flexibility in terms of application
• Generate a permanent record of phenomena and the researcher or others can refer with it later
• The organization method is one of the simplest methods of data collection. It does not require too much technical knowledge
• The observation method is one of the best ways to formulate a hypothesis. The researcher can observe and come to know about the activities, perceptions, likes and dislikes to form a theory on his subject
• Observation method is one of the most common methods used in all sciences and is very easy to follow and accept
• In some instances observation is the only available tool to collect essential data and information
• The observation method does not require the willingness of the participant to record. The researcher can observe from a distance and record his findings

Disadvantages of Observation Method

• Faces a severe disadvantage because it takes a longer time frame compared to other data collection methods
• There is a chance of higher observer bias in the observation method
• Several personal behaviors are not open for observation and this proves a limitation in case of observation method
• There is a higher chance of the observer influencing the behavior of a sample group elements
• Uncertainties of the event cannot determine the actual time when the event will take place, and this is why every occurrence that is open to observation cannot be observed
• Many of the incidents are abstract like love, affection and the researcher can’t gain an exact and correct account of those
• The social phenomena generalization made by observation are not considered reliable as it cannot be used for lab experiments
• In some cases, it is seen that two persons observing the same phenomena come at different results and this can lead to faulty perceptions
• Observation method is considered an expensive affair as it requires hard effort, plenty of time and high cost

What is Field Research?

Field research is defined as a qualitive method of data collection that aims to observe, interact and understand people while they are in a natural environment. For example, nature conservationists observe behavior of animals in their natural surroundings and the way they react to certain scenarios. In the same way, social scientists conducting field research may conduct interviews or observe people from a distance to understand how they behave in a social environment and how they react to situations around them.

Methods of Field Research

Field research is typically conducted in 5 distinctive methods. They are:

• Direct Observation

In this method, the data is collected via an observation method or subjects in a natural environment. In this method, the behavior or outcome of situation is not interfered in any way by the researcher. The advantage of direct observation is that it offers contextual data on people, situations, interactions and the surroundings. This method of field research is widely used in a public setting or environment but not in a private environment as it raises an ethical dilemma.

• Participant Observation

In this method of field research, the researcher is deeply involved in the research process, not just purely as an observer, but also as a participant. This method too is conducted in a natural environment but the only difference is the researcher gets involved in the discussions and can could the direction of the discussions. In this method, researchers live in a comfortable environment with the participants of the research, to make them comfortable and open up to in-depth discussions.

• Ethnography

Ethnography is an expanded observation of  social research and social perspective and the cultural values of an  entire social setting. In ethnography, entire communities are observed objectively. For example,  if a researcher would like to understand how an Amazon tribe lives their life and operates, he/she may chose to observe them or live amongst them and silently observe their day-to-day behavior.

• Qualitative Interviews

Qualitative interviews are close-ended question that are asked directly to the research subjects. The qualitative interviews could be either informal and conversational, semi-structured, standardized and open-ended or a mix of all the above three. This provides a wealth of data to the researcher that they can sort through. This also helps collect relational data. This method of field research can use a mix of one-on-one interviews, focus group and text analysis.

• Case Study

A case study research is an in-depth analysis of a person, situation or event. This method may look difficult to operate, however, it is one of the simplest ways of conducting research as it involves a deep dive and thorough understanding the data collection methods and inferring the data.

Steps in Conducting Field Research

Due to the nature of field research, the magnitude of timelines and costs involved, field research can be very tough to plan, implement and measure. Some basic steps in the management of field research are:

1. Build the Right Team: To be able to conduct field research, having the right team is important. The role of the researcher and any ancillary team members is very important and defining the tasks they have to carry out with defined relevant milestones is important. It is important that the upper management too is vested in the field research for its success.
2. Recruiting People for the Study: The success of the field research depends on the people that the study is being conducted on. Using sampling  methods it is important to derive the people that will be a part of the study.
3. Data Collection Methodology: As spoken in length about above, data collection methods for field research are varied. They could be a mix of surveys, interviews, case studies and observation. All these methods have to be chalked out and the milestones for each method too have to be chalked out at the outset. For example, in the case of a survey, the survey design is important that it is created and tested even before the research begins.
4. Site Visit: A site visit is important to the success of the field research and it is always conducted outside of traditional locations and in the actual natural environment of the respondent/s. Hence, planning a site visit along with the methods of data collection is important.
5. Data Analysis: Analysis of data that is collected is important to validate the premise of the field research and  decide the outcome of the field research.
6. Communicating Results: Once the data is analyzed, it is important to communicate the results to the stakeholders of the research so that it could be actioned upon.

Advantages of Field Research

The advantages of field research are:

• It is conducted in a real-world and natural environment where there is no tampering of variables and the environment is not doctored.
• Due to the study being conducted in a comfortable environment, data can be collected even about ancillary topics.
• The researcher gains a deep understanding into the research subjects due to the proximity to them and hence the research is extensive, thorough and accurate.

Disadvantages of Field Research

The disadvantages of field research are:

• The studies are expensive and time-consuming and can take years to complete.
• It is very difficult for the researcher to distance themselves from a bias in the research study.
• The notes have to be exactly what the researcher says but the nomenclature is very tough to follow.
• It is an interpretive method and this is subjective and entirely dependent on the ability of the researcher.
• In this method, it is impossible to control external variables and this constantly alters the nature of the research.

What is a Longitudinal Study?

A longitudinal study is a research project that involves the observation of one or more sample groups over a long time, anywhere from a few months to 30 years or more. Such studies are invaluable to social science; they allow researchers to track changes and trends in individual behavior, societal development, relationships, and many other variables. A longitudinal study might be conducted by psychologists, sociologists, medical researchers, environmental scientists, anthropologists, or other experts who want to obtain reliable information about a population over time.

What is Panel Studies?

A panel study is defined as a study that collects information on the same individuals at different points in time. The various data collections are often called waves. A panel study is therefore a longitudinal study; it differs from other studies that collect information over time, such as time series and cohort studies, in that it studies the same persons longitudinally

Existing data based research?

Secondary research or desk research method that involves using already existing data, existing data is summarized and collected to increase the overall effectiveness of research. These documents can be made available by public libraries, website, and many more.