0901877 - Research Methodology Report

Research Methodology Report

The purpose of this report is to identify the different mediums of research available to us for use and how these mediums can be used in order to obtain the information required to start the development of the 3D model. 

There are two main types of research which will be used extensively during this project; primary research resources and secondary research resources. 

What is primary research? 

Primary researches are “Experiments, investigations, or tests carried out to acquire data first-hand, rather than being gathered from published sources.” (Business Dictionary, 2011). This means that the research that you discover will be your own and you can take credit for it. 

Examples of primary resource:

·         Questionnaires

·         Interviews

·         Focus Groups

·         Observation

·         Surveys

How this kind of research can be used to benefit the project

The primary research that is going to be using in this project is an observational visit of the Finchingfield guild hall. A guide was there to take us around the building and we were allowed to take photographs and ask questions about the renovations which will be taking place. This will be vital because the photographs will allow us to capture the materials and the current structural design of the guildhall. The guide also answered questions concerning how the building will look once the renovations will be finished. He also provided us with secondary research material, which will be discussed in the next section. 

What is secondary research? 

Secondary research is “Primary data that was collected by someone else or for a purpose other than the current one” (Business Dictionary, 2011). This means that the research that you discover will be someone else’s therefore you must give credit to them if you use them to help you in your own work.  

Examples of secondary resource:

·         Online sources

·         Books

·         Leaflets

·         Magazines

·         Maps

How this kind of research can be used to benefit the project

During the Finchingfield trip, the guide gave us a leaflet containing information on the guildhall and also all the renovations that will be taking place. On the leaflet, there is a floor plan on what everything should look like once the renovations are complete and what each room will look like. This will be very useful because the design can be drawn out on paper before we begin to model using the software, reducing the chance of making mistakes. We will also be using online sources, such as the Finchingfield website, to help us by filling in the gaps in our information that we did not find out ourselves on the trip. 

References

Business Dictionary
2011
Primary research definition
Link: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/primary-research.html
Last Accessed: 09/10/2011

Business Dictionary
2011
Secondary research definition
Link: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/secondary-data.html
Last Accessed: 09/10/2011