Methods and samples used for the qualitative research

The methods and samples used for the qualitative research are appreciable and effective. By exercising the methods and using the samples, the study aims at exploring and understanding behaviours and attitude of the individual specifically. During the research, the participants are asked to express their thoughts freely. Free-find recruitment method was used to recruit the participants to the research. In this method, the recruiters meet potential candidates from cit centres and town and offer them a questionnaire. The provided questionnaire determines the eligibility of the candidate.

Review of online forums, in-home ethnographic depth interviews and post-interview diary task are the three steps involved in the research. Since qualitative method is used, the sample size is very small. The findings cannot be used for larger studies, as the results are oversimplified.

Review of online forums
To understand and assist in the development of questions, a short desk review of online file sharing forum was conducted. This review of online forums assisted the approaches for successive phases of the research. Various sites were reviewed and the findings helped to understand the new and improved developments in file sharing, attitudes and behaviours regarding to the legitimacy of unauthorised file sharing and to identify the type of language used.

Ethnographic depth interviews
In four different cities, Ethnographic depth interviews were conducted. Altogether 36 in-home interviews were carried out to receive effective findings. Among the interviews, 24 interviews were conducted with adult participants aged 18+. Younger participants were included in the 12 friendship or paired depth interviews. By friendship pairing, younger participants felt more relaxed and comfortable while they were interviewed. This friendship environment, helped in the creation of an effective dialogue about file sharing between two people. The interviews lasted one and half hours to two hours. The interviews also involved observation of the participant while they were performing file sharing activities.

Post interview research
To be able to explore the behaviours and attitudes of the participants further, they were asked to partake in post interview research. Participants aged 18+ were invited to online discussion board and younger participants were required to complete a handwritten diary. To get a deep knowledge into the inspirations of the file sharer, daily diary element and
Activities were carried out. Post interview research combined these two parts effectively.

Samples
Based on the responses to recruitment screening questionnaire, the participants were asked to partake in a research. This was administered to get better know-how about file sharing activities. The research offered better understanding about frequency and extent of file sharing, types of applications being used and the type of media content shared.

In this research, 37 males and 10 females of age group 12 to 52 took part. The participants were arranged with regard to the frequency of their file sharing activities. They were categorized as mainstream, moderate and heavy file sharers. To define their knowledge they had to agree any of the following statement.

1) I would describe myself as an Mainstream users in file sharing activities and should not necessarily be familiar with all the methods for finding files

2) I would describe myself as Moderate user knowledgeable when it comes to file sharing and I know quite a few of the methods for finding files

3) I would describe myself as a Heavy user when it comes to file sharing and I know most of the opportunities for finding files.

In mainstream Adults users aged 17-52 years 7 interviews were conducted and in Children and young people Aged 12-16 9 were conducted. Eight interviews were conducted in moderate adults and 12 interviews in children and youngsters, 9 were conducted in heavy adults and 2 were conducted in heavy users among children and youngsters.