Reasons for Choosing a Method

There are different reasons for choosing a method. These are some of them:

1. The kind of data you need - whether it is quantitative or qualitative. You need to choose a method which will give you qualitative data for this question. You should also consider whether you are using a positivist or interpretivist approach, as these researchers prefer different methods, because different issues are important to them.
   
   
2. Validity - the method gives you more indepth or accurate data. For example, because young people can talk about what music means to them. Interpretivists place particular value on validity, and think that collecting data in a natural environment is more likely to produce valid data.
   
   
3. Reliability - if the method is structured, you can compare answers from different respondents and have a larger (and more representative) sample. Positivists place greater value on reliability and representativeness, because they are trying to develop general explanations, or to explain cause-and-effect.
   
   
4. Practical advantages:
   It is quick to collect data, and/or quick to code your data.
   It is cheaper than other methods, or will fit within your budget.
   It will give you access to a sample.
   
   
5. Ethical issues: it will not cause damage or distress, it does not involve deceit, and the researcher will not have to do anything illegal or unethical to find out about the topic.
   
   
6. The Topic: the method is suitable for the topic - i.e. informal music-making. Here, you need to consider what kind of information is available on this.

In this example you should concentrate on the criteria for evaluation, time as a practical issue, and on ethics.