Data collection methods
The main important aspect with in the process of research methodology is the data collection which plays a significant role in evaluating the key search towards the research as well as it will authenticate the data which is been gathered as well as the equivalent analysis by means of the actual search towards the literature. Generally there are two kinds of data collection methods within the research process such as the primary source of data as well as the secondary source of data.
Primary source of data
The primary source of the data is the significant method of the data collection which is been established towards the research methodology. When compared with the other resource types the primary source of data information is the perfect as well as the trust worthy one which is been gathered directly from the actual source of the problem. Within this research process the surveys are utilized and the questioners which are needed are well organized and are forwarded to the major individuals who are included with in the research process.
The views and ideas of the individuals who have participated in the research process of the semi structured interview is been utilized as the major primary data sources as well as the additional search from this interview process is been utilized in order to analyze the strength of the research which is been finished. The answers which are given by the individual will be more and more perfect and trustworthy then the primary source of the information could be referred to as the perfect way to collect the data which is required.
As the main aim of this research is to gather the opinion of different colleges with respect to online marketing strategies to be followed to attract and recruit the local students, the required primary information is gathered using the surveys. These interviews are prepared in the form of questioners and escalated to the respective respondents as mentioned in the research sample size and based on their opinions and view, further research findings and analysis is done. The current and future marketing strategies to be implemented by the colleges as mentioned at the case study level are analyzed using these questioners and their opinions can be considered as the key primary source of information in this research.
Secondary source of Information
In simple words secondary source of data talks or writes about the key findings from the primary research. Opinion of different authors and publishers from different sources are identified and discussed against the actual findings in the primary research. Secondary source of information can be used to review the work of others with respect to the work done across the research and compare the findings with the work of others and also helps in evaluating the quality of the work done.
Obtaining the secondary information is faster and cheaper than primary information and for some projects which involve budget and time constraints, secondary information can be considered as the best option. All the time the secondary source of the information is necessary to continue the research as well as to compare the actual search which is from the primary source of information by means of the present secondary source of information.
Generally the secondary source of the data is been collected from the articles which are published, journals as well as the websites. The information or the data which is been collected from the secondary sources is been compared by the actual search by taking the views of the individuals who are included in the primary source of the information as well as the actual importance of the data is been evaluated.
The required secondary source of information is gathered from different articles, journals and digital libraries with respect to online marketing strategies, higher education in UK and the present student recruitment process followed by different colleges and universities in UK and the corresponding policies in place.
Sample size considered
In the previous section the qualitative research methodology is been utilized within the research process as well as the sample size is been taken in to consideration is less as well as the views and ideas of the actual individuals who are included with in research process are analyzed to fulfill the research work The required primary source of information is gathered from the colleges as mentioned in the research strategy section and the key respondents involved in this research are the marketing heads.
The casual probability sampling technique is been used in order to select the individuals as well as there is a non- zero probability to interview the individuals in order to gather the primary source of information which is required and the required information is gathered from 100 customers based on the surveys research approach.