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83 J.L. Pol'y & Globalization 51 (2019)
Interviews and Questionnaires as Legal Research Instruments

handle is hein.journals/jawpglob83 and id is 51 raw text is: Journal of Law, Policy and Globalization we 2iLSteOr:g ISSN 2224-3240 (Paper) ISSN 2224-3259 (Online) DOI: 10.7176/JLPG Vol.83, 2019 IISTE Interviews and Questionnaires as Legal Research Instruments Michael Sunday Afolayan'* Omolade Adeyemi Oniyinde, Ph.D2 1.Business & Industrial Law Department, Faculty of Law, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria 2.Public Law Department, Faculty of Law, Ekiti State University, P.M.B. 5363, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria Abstract This work is an inquiry into the duo instrumentalities of research namely; interview and questionnaire in the field of legal research. It focused on issues such as nature, usefulness, types, advantages, disadvantages, reliability as research instruments, as well as the comparison of the two instrumentalities. The essence of this work is to expose to legal researchers the 'pros' and 'cons' of this instruments and their multidimensional ramifications in serving as better tools for more effective and fruitful legal research venture. In carrying out this work, doctrinal approach was adopted by looking at the existing literatures in the field of legal research and examining the extent, if any, to which the survey method of research is embraced by lawyers and legal researchers to improve on the outcome of their research and to reflect the reality or impact of law on the society. It was discovered that what a traditional legal researcher does is to organise his study around legal propositions; use court reports and conventional legal materials which are readily assessable in a law library as his principal sources of data, and draws conclusion from these legal materials.' The recent trend, however, is to move beyond or away from the desk and gather information from the field in order to have more social and realistic input in legal research. This has widened the scope of legal research methodology but the fact remained that the methods and strategy adopted for any particular research project will depend on the subject matter.21n conclusion, this work provides the basic guides in the selection, construction and administration of questionnaire and interview as research instruments. Their uses and limitations, as well as their construction in terms of the structure and content were also discussed. The response rate as well as the quality of information acquire will depend on the subject matter of research, the choice of the researcher and the extent to which the suggestions in this work are utilised. Keywords: Legal, Research, Interviews, Questionnaires, Instruments. DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/83-08 Publication date:March 31st 2019 Introduction Research is defined as a systematic search for facts or scientific investigation of principles and facts of any subject, based on original and first-hand study of authorities or experiment.3 It involves searching into a matter closely and carefully. It is an inquiry directed at the discovery of truth.' Three characteristics of research include the fact that, first, research is systematic and controlled, basing its operation on the inductive-deductive model against experience whose event occurs in a haphazard manner. Second, research is empirical; that is, experience is used for validation. Subjective belief must be checked against objective reality. Third, research is self-correcting; there are inbuilt mechanisms to protect the researcher from error and his procedure and results are open to other professionals through revision or rejection of incorrect result in time. Fourth, research is a combination of experience and reasoning, and it is regarded as the most successful approach to the discovery of truth.5 However, no research is purely new, as even original discoveries are an extension of the search already undertaken, being showed generally as expressing agreement or refutation or plain addition.6 In Rajkumari Agrawala's words;7 Research is a continuum... Research is the gathering of evidence or information for ascertaining an assumption or verifying some hypothesis. It is an inquiry for the verification ofa fresh theory or for supplementing prevailing theories by new knowledge. A researcher therefore owes it a duty to examine works prevailing in his area of research and is burdened with the heritage of information already collected in his area of work. 'Aboki, Y, Introduction to Legal Research Methodology, Second Edition, (Tamaza Publishing Co.Ltd, Zaria 2009) p.3 2 Gasiokwu, M.O.U., Legal Research Methodology, (Chenglo Ltd, Enugu, 2004) pg 3. Worthley, B.A., Some Reflections on Legal Research after Thirty Years Silver Jubilee of the Indian Law Institute Publication No. 7, Legal Legal Research Methodology (1983) 2. 4Ayua, I.A., Legal Research and Development in Ayua, I.A. & Guobadia D.A. (eds), Law and Research Methodology (NIALS, Lagos, 2001). 5 Babarinde, S.A., The Link Between Everyday Reasoning, Scientific Reasoning, Scientific Research and Theory, in Methodology of Basic Basic and Applied Research (2nd ed), (Postgraduate School, University of Ibadan Publication, Ibadan, 2006. 6 Gasiokwu, M.O.U., Legal Research Methodology, (Chenglo Ltd, Enugu, 2004) pg 3. 7Ibid. 51

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