Methodology 1 primary data/ plan

I have chosen to gather my information on the views of western audiences on the Asian-horror genre through the use of semi-structured interviews, a focus group and handed out questionnaires as these methods will give me the opportunity to use in-depth analysis. My research is obviously from a micro approach as I am looking at a small sample of subjects and their personal views. I make no assumption that my small scale research represents every western A-horror fan across the world.

The semi-structured interview will allow me to take a micro approach to its analysis and look at the results from an interpretist’s point of view a.k.a the interpretation of qualitative data on a small scale. This use of interview also allows my subjects to elaborate on some questions if they feel they have more to say, but it also provides a guideline for me to follow and gather the information I want. I can also connect with my subjects on personal levels and set up trust to gather my information. With a questionnaire it is a little different. The level of intimacy and expansion on information is extremely limited as I cannot interact with the subjects and ask them to detail or explain some of their answers. However I believe that through triangulation (using more than one method) especially the assortment of interviews and questionnaires, it will give me a mixture of both qualitative (which is the most favoured form of result in my investigation) and quantative data and therefore provides a balance in my study.

I have decided to interview the subjects at their own house/ apartment in a room where in they feel comfortable. This is because I feel that they could be intimidated if made to travel to another destination such as my own house or restaurant. I will bring biscuits or a fruit basket to the interview so as to clear the air and create a light atmosphere. I will wear jeans as to create a casual feel to the interview however the rest of my attire will be moderately smart. I will wear black boots, a white woolly top and a simple silver necklace, no other jewellery apart from a watch. This will help my subjects to relax.

The interviews will be conducted whenever my subjects are free to reduce inconvenience for them. I will ask the subjects to not allow anyone else to enter the room in which the interview is being conducted so as to minimize distractions. I will record the interview on a Dictaphone so I can minimise writing and have all information gathered rather than trying to write everything down. It will also allow my subject to freely speak without them needing to repeat anything. However the problems to using a Dictaphone is it may discourage or intimidate my subjects and may even obstruct some information from being gathered. However, there is no other way to overcome this problem unless I do not inform them that they are being recorded. This unfortunately is a breach of personal information and is unethical, therefore I must simply hope that my subjects feel comfortable with the environment I have set up and they do not worry too much about being recorded.

I will gather my subjects through the use of snowball sampling, this is the method that requires the interviewer to simply inform a few people of the interviews or study session and then those few people will contact others and so on and so forth until your sample quota has been filled. I may also gather people who I have met through facebook as some of my friends know others who are also fans of a-horror, therefore I will get in touch with them and ask them if they wish to either fill in a questionnaire or attend and interview or focus group.

I will be conducting the interview in the same way each time; I will be forward and to the point and wont allow them to stray off from their answers. I will not sit cross legged as this is a sign of sloppiness, instead I will cross my feet at the ankles and look more smart and relaxed. Hopefully this will create a nicer atmosphere. I will first ask if they would like to be addressed as Mr and Mrs X (insert name) or if they feel more comfortable being referred by their first names, and in an extreme case being called a nickname or a shortening. This will show respect and also provide a bond between myself and my subjects while also keeping interviewer-subject confidentiality. I will also approach the focus group in much the same way, however with focus groups the discussion may get out of hand and therefore I may need to break my calm composure to handle any heated or aggressive behaviour that may ensue.

Questionnaires will be better for gathering quantative results when regarding my primary data. I do not yet know whether to deliver the questionnaires through facebook, email, or simply hand them out to classmates or friends. The internet options may not guarantee more than 40% return rate, perhaps not even that as contacting those who already have the questionnaire may be difficult. However if I handed the questionnaires out at school I could chase them up, confront the subject in person and request that I be given the completed questionnaires immediately. I have already stated the negativities when regarding questionnaires. There are intimacy issues, the subject may not be truthful and the return rate is poor. However it is a simple, easy and quick way of gathering large amount of data on a specific issue and along with my other three methods of primary data gathering, it will give me the opportunity to gather both qualitative and quantative data to be studied from a micro point of view.