Discuss the advantages and benefits of each of the main data collection methods

What will be an ideal response?

The main data collection methods are mail questionnaires, telephone interviews, face-to-face interviews, and online questionnaires. Mail questionnaires can be used to collect information at a low cost per respondent. Respondents may give more honest answers to more questions in this format than to an unknown interviewer in person or on the phone. Telephone interviewing is one of the best methods for gathering information quickly and it provides great flexibility. Telephone interviewing is also less expensive than face-to-face interviewing. Face-to-face interviews are flexible and allow interviewers to help respondents understand difficult questions. Visual aids can be used, products can be demonstrated, and reactions and behaviors can be observed. Online questionnaires allow the interviewee to be more honest, the costs are greatly reduced, there is no interviewer bias, and reports come back faster.