Primary research - Primary research is a source of research that you do yourself, all research you gather is original. To gather this information together there are many different sources and techniques that are available. There are lots of different methods for primary research like ringing up people and getting information or sending out a quiz or survey. The purpose of doing primary research is to get first hand information that you have found out yourself. One of the positives of doing primary research is you collect and gather the information yourself so you know it is what your looking for because you have done it yourself. However, it might be hard to collect the information together like having to hand out your own questionnaires or doing data spread sheets yourself, it takes time and costs money that you might not have.
Questionnaires - To gather primary research together you could hand out a questionnaire you have designed yourself. This means you know what questions are on it so you will get a desired responses back from your audience and get the information you need. A questionnaire can be handed out when you need feedback on a media product or if you need to get a better understanding of your target audience.
Interview - You yourself could carry out an interview, this will ensure you get accurate information, you will also be able to ask the exact questions you want. If you don't get a desired answer you have the opportunity to ask it again. Doing an interview is great for primary research as it is quick to receive responses and you don't have to process all of the research like you would have to do with a questionnaire.
Observations - Observing a scene or meeting that is occurring can be an excellent way of primary research. If you was to sit in on a media based meeting that was taking place you would be able to gather information from listening and taking notes on what they are saying. It would open up opportunities to meet people who are based in the media industry, this will allow you to further your research and gather a solid amount of information together.
Surveys - A survey is similar to a questionnaire but slightly less formal. A survey gives an individual the opportunity to ask questions and receive back peoples opinions etc. Surveys are a good form of receiving research in large quantities as you are able to hand thousands of surveys out.
Types of questions - When conducting an interview or creating a questionnaire for a group of people there are two different types of questions that can be asked. Closed questions or open questions. There is a huge difference between the two which can affect what kind of responses you receive back from your audience.
Closed questions - A closed question determines what kind of response you are going to get back. If you ask a closed question you are most defiantly going to get a basic limited response back from the person you asked. For example How old are you? , There is really only response that can be given which is what makes it a closed question, because it is so limiting.
Open Questions - When a person asks an open question they have done this to get a detailed response from their audience. An open question leaves opportunity for the person to respond in depth. For example, What is your favourite comedy programme and why? This type of questions leaves room for detailed feedback from that individual. Open questions can be a lot more personnel than closed ones.
Focus Groups - A focus group is when a variety of individuals get together to answer numerous different questions. A focus group is a great form of primary research as you get varied responses from each individual, as well as being able to have discussion. When doing a focus group it is best to ensure the demographic of people is different so you know you will get a mixed opinion.
Audience Panels - An audience panel is similar to a focus group in some ways, an audience panel is feedback from an audience on a product they have used or something they have viewed on TV/heard on the radio. The way an audience panel works can differ, the majority of the time a handful of the general public will be picked out to view an advert, programme etc. Once they have viewed the new media product they are then given the opportunity to give feedback and comment on it. This is an extremely useful method of primary research as you are getting first hand information on something that is fresh in the consumers mind.
photographic record of events - Photographic record of events is simply the storage of photos, taking images to remember visual settings/scenes. For example if I was locating scouting I would need to take photo's so I know what my locations look like and I can compare to other locations. Photographic records will help me to do photographic research.
Own Video - Own video is a great form of primary research, you are able to film events, protests, demonstrations. You are then able to use these videos to help you with your primary research. There are not many limitations to what you can film. If you needed information but did not want to write it down you are able to film a meeting taking place. This means you have filmed primary research.
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