ABSTRACT
Four stand-alone research methods are each depicted and presented in the four sections of this chapter. The focus group method is used for gathering data from groups of participants when individual views and input are not crucial. Transaction log analysis is a technique for collecting data automatically captured and recorded by a system (e.g., search engines, e-commerce sites). Research diaries are entries created and maintained by individuals to record what happened in a specified period of time and/or their reflections on a regular, personal, and contemporaneous basis for research purposes. The historical method refers to studying a research problem in history by critically collecting, assessing, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting evidence from both published and unpublished materials. Unique topics discussed for each method include major parameters in focus group research, essentials in obtaining and processing transaction logs, taxonomy of research diaries, and features of historical research as well as data sources and evaluation in historical research. Common topics covered for all the four research methods consist of how to use a particular method in research, and dos and don'ts in research using a specific method. Each section ends with a case study utilizing that particular method for data collection.
