Media research methods: overview

Primary research
- Straight from the source. Institutions finding out info for themselves.
eg. Market research; Surveys, questionnaires, focus groups* or one on one interviews**, observation.
-Empirical research- any kind of observable research like a persons behaviour, rather than thoughts.
-Direct contact with producers of a media product, like a site, is a seldom used form of research that could be very useful.
- Chatrooms and forums could be a useful tool for research.


*(target audience chatting about a product and reviewing it, also used for films, online stuff...)
**(so you can't be swayed and can be really grilled)

Secondary research
- books, online research, newspapers etc etc etc

- wikipedia is a lazy version of online research and very unreliable!
- The Guardian Media (on Mondays) is v.v.v.good and The Telegraph technology section.
- The media show from radio 4 as a podcast is useful.


Combining research methods leads to fuller end products.