Fact Finding Techniques

There are four main fact finding methods used when conducting a research.

Interview

This means interviewing respondents and collecting data through what they say. According to Sekaran (2006), interviews could be unstructured or structured as well as conducted through telephone, online or face-to-face.

Steps of conducting an interview:

• Prepare for the interview
• Establish objectives for the interview 
• Determine the people to interview
• Write down all the questions that must ask 
• Conduct the interview
• Document the interview
• Evaluate the interview
  (uobabylon, 2013)

Observation

Gathering data while observing actions of people in their natural environment along with their activities and behaviors. This includes their movements, work habits  statements made, facial expressions etc.  (Sekaran, 2006)

Questionnaire and Survey

According to Sekaran (2006), questionnaire is a set of pre-formulated questions to which respondents answer through writing or online. This is an effective way of of collecting data because the researcher has the ability of getting exactly needed data by asking the relevant questions. Types of questions which could be included in a questionnaire are as follows:

• Open ended/ Close ended questions
• Positively and Negatively worded questions
• Double-Barred questions
• Ambiguous questions
• Recall-dependent questions
• Leading questions
• Loaded questions

Advantages:

• Cost effective
• Can address a large number of people 
• Involve a large section of subjects

Disadvantages:

• Difficulties in designing the form
• Slow actions
• Problems in understanding the questions

References

Sekaran. U (2006), "Research methods for business" Published by: John Wiley & sons

uobabylon (2013), "Fact Finding Methods" [Online] Available from: http://www.uobabylon.edu.iq/uobColeges/ad_downloads/5_29801_43.pdf Accessed on: 22nd January 2013.