Final answer:
The two main types of data collection methods are Primary and Secondary, and Quantitative and Qualitative, each determined by the source of the data or its nature. These methods, including surveys, interviews, and ethnography, are chosen based on research questions and have distinct advantages and limitations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Types of Data Collection Methods
The two types of data collection methods mainly referred to in research are: 1) Primary and Secondary, referring to the source of the data whether it’s collected firsthand for a specific research purpose (primary) or gathered from existing resources (secondary); and 2) Quantitative and Qualitative, related to the nature of the data where quantitative is numerical and quantitative is non-numerical and descriptive.
Different research methods such as surveys, ethnographical field research, formal and informal interviews, historical secondary data analysis, and content analysis are selected based on the topic and the specific research questions posed. Methods like ethnography provide in-depth qualitative insights but may limit the ability to generalize findings, whereas methods like surveys can collect data from larger samples but may face challenges such as self-reporting bias.
Each research design has its advantages and disadvantages, and the choice dictates the strength and applicability of the study's findings. Moreover, while certain research methods can highlight correlations, they do not necessarily establish causation, which is a crucial consideration in research design planning.