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Methods of Collecting Data, Interviews and Questionnaires in Practice (DR Alby)
Methods of Collecting Data, Interviews and Questionnaires in Practice (DR Alby)
Closed questions
Closed questions can make analysing the data relatively easy, but they restrict the responses.
For example, on many courses students are given a standard list of features (e.g. lectures, books, assessment, tutorial support) and asked to indicate on a five point scale how satisfied or dissatisfied they are with the feature. These are highly structured (precoded) closed questions.
Please tick the boxes using the following scale Very Satisfied: +2 Satisfied +1 Average 0 Dissatisfied -1 Very Dissatisfied -2
Open questions
The same form may have a space for the student to make any comments he or she wishes to make on the course. This is an open question which will produce almost completely unstructured data. Although the open question produces data that is difficult to organise and code, it allows subjects to respond freely and express shades of opinion rather than forcing them to have precoded opinions.
Interviews
An interview is a series of questions a researcher addresses personally to respondents. An interview may be structured (where you ask clearly defined questions) or unstructured, where you allow some of your questioning to be led by the responses of the interviewee. Especially when using unstructured interviews, using a tape recorder can be a good idea, if it does not affect the relationship with the person being interviewed.
Ethical principles
If you are interviewing, be sure that your interviewees are happy to talk with you. Do not demand too much of their time. With the people whom you are observing or interviewing be clear about what will happen with the data you collect. Assure them that what they tell you will be kept anonymous and confidential.
CONSENT FORM FOR USE WHEN TAPED MATERIALS, PHOTOGRAPHS OR ORIGINAL WORKS ARE TO BE RETAINED Project Title Researchers name Supervisors name I have read the Participant Information Sheet, and the nature and the purpose of the research project has been explained to me. I understand and agree to take part. I understand that I may not directly benefit from taking part in the project. I understand that I can withdraw from the study at any stage and that this will not affect my status now or in the future. I confirm that I am over 18 years of age. I understand that I will be audiotaped / videotaped during the study I understand that the tape will be (insert details of how and where the tape will be stored, who will have access to it and what limits will be placed on that access) I grant the University the exclusive and royalty free right to reproduce and use in its ongoing activities photographs, video, or any other recording by any means of my voice or physical likeness which is produced in the course of the project. (delete if the taped material is not to be used by the university for any purpose beyond the current study) I understand that the University shall not be required to make any payment to me arising out of its exercise of this right. (delete if the taped material is not to be used by the university for any purpose beyond the current study) I understand that wherever practical, the University will acknowledge my participation in the project in exercising this right. (delete if the taped material is not to be used by the university for any purpose beyond the current study) Name of participant Signed Dated I have explained the study to subject and consider that he/she understands what is involved. Researchers signature and date
Smith to a group of kids: "Are Americans good or bad?" Iraqi child: "Good" Smith: "They are good." Iraqi child: "Yes" Iraqi child #2: "What' your name?" s Smith: "Huh?" Iraqi child #2: "What' your name?" s Smith, James Bond-like: "My name? Smith. Harry Smith." Iraqi child #2: "Sir, my name is Bush." Smith: "Your name is Bush?" Iraqi child #2 "Yes." Smith, pointing at the kid child and chuckling: "He says his name is Bush." Smith, back in his narration: "The cost of these smiles has been steep. April was a particularly deadly month." -- Exchange among host Harry Smith and Iraqi boys, The Early Show, CBS, May 23, 2006.