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Category Method Definition Advantages and Disadvantages
Observation Direct
observation
View subjects in
natural setting or
through field
experiment
Advantages: minimizes response bias, can provide
information which cannot be obtained otherwise
Disadvantages: limited to measuring behavior, time
consuming, and subject to investigator bias.
Solicitation of
Expert Opinion
Face to face
Interviews
Structured or semi-
structured face-to-face interviews
with individuals
Advantages: permits detailed & in-depth question and
response, minimizes non-responseDisadvantages: Costly,
interviewer bias, investigator bias
Telephone
Interviews
Structured or semi-
structured
telephone
interviews with
individuals
Advantages: Convenient, fast, relatively inexpensive, less
interviewer bias than personal interview
Disadvantages: Non-coverage, limited length and depth
of questions and responses
Self-AdministeredQuestionnaire Structuredinterviews received
via mail, internet,
phone to solicit
someone's opinion
Advantages: Cost effective for large areas, minimizesinterviewer
bias, promotes accurate answers
Disadvantages: low response rates, unanswered
questions, incorrect answers
Group Interviews Group Interviews:
Delphi Technique
Development,
evaluation and
synthesis of
experts points of
view through
solicitation and
collation of
experts judgments
on a particulartopic over several
rounds.
Advantages: responses can be made at the convenience
of the participant, individuals from diverse backgrounds
or from remote locations can work together, it is
conducive to independent thinking and gradual
formulation of reliable judgments or forecasting of
results
Disadvantages: Information comes from a selected group
of experts and may not be representative tendency to
eliminate extreme positions and force consensus,
moretime-consuming than group process methods, requires
time and participant commitment
Group Interviews:
Focus Groups
Brings together 8
to 15 individuals to
develop, evaluate
and reach
conclusions on
specific issues.
Advantages: Uses people's knowledgeand experiences
allowing for in depth qualitative information, Can
encourage participation from those who will not speak or
respond to a personal interview
Disadvantages: there is no confidentiality and thus some
opinions may not be expressed, social pressure,
Primary Data Collection Method
Investment Climate Advisory Services
World Bank Group
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1Journal of Extension
2U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of
Health
(semi-structured
interviews allowing
group interaction)
domination by an individual
Group Interviews:
Brainstorming
Interactive group
problem
identification and
problem solving of1-15 persons
Advantages: generates and clarifies many ideas so it is a
source of information, inexpensive, easy to apply
Disadvantages: limited when it comes to applying ideas
since it only stimulate creative thinking
Group Interviews:
Nominal Group
Technique
A possible
alternative to brain
storming. This
technique is a
structured
variation of small
group discussion
methods1
Advantages: Prevents the domination of discussion by a
single person, encourages the more passive group
members to participate, results in a set of prioritized
solutions or recommendations
Disadvantages: opinions may not converge in the voting
process, cross-fertilization of ideas may be constrained,
the process may appear to be too mechanical
Group Interviews:
Dialectic Inquiry
A structured
qualitative
research method.
A point and
counterpoint
process of debate
to reach a
synthesis.
Advantages: Many ideas can be explored, helps to
understand the point of divergence, bridges
irreconcilable points of view
Disadvantages: consensus may be difficult to obtain
Solicitation of
Public Opinion
Exit Interviews Can be face to face
or in written form
Advantages: captures the opinion right at the moment of
experience, no recall bias
Disadvantages: can be biased by an incident or other
negative experience which has nothing to do with the
research question, Hard to extrapolate if not large
sample
Household
Surveys2
Advantages: Most people live in households so can allow
for almost complete coverage ofthe population,households provide
a convenient place where people can
be contacted to be interviewed, a large number of
household surveys are collected allowing for cross
validation of the results, the Census collects baseline
information about households which helps calibrate
results
Disadvantages: Willingness to provide information,
memory of respondents, understanding of the questions
and knowledge of the topic
Organizational
Assessment
Interviews with
key informants
Interviews with
individuals who are
in a position toprovide the
answers for the
questions under
investigation
Advantages: Opportunity to get insider view, can provide
in-depth information
Disadvantages: relationship between the two partiesmay influence
the answers;
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Focus Groups Brings together 8
to 15 individuals to
develop, evaluate
and/or reach
conclusions on
specific issues.
(Are semi-structured
interviews allowing
group interaction)
Advantages: Uses people's knowledgeand experiences
allowing for in depth qualitative information, can
encourage participation from those who will not speak or
respond to a personal interview
Disadvantages: There is no confidentiality and thus some
opinions may not be expressed, social pressure,
domination by an individual
Guided Direct
Observations
Advantages: minimizes response bias, can provide
information which cannot be obtained otherwise
Environmental
Assessment
Stakeholder
Analysis
See Engagement
Module of Toolkit
Interviews with
key informants
Interviews with
individuals who are
in the position to
provide the
answers for the
questions under
investigation
Advantages: opportunity to get insider view; can provide
in-depth information
Disadvantages: relationship between the two parties
may influence the answers;
