FIRST MODULE IN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH 2

(January 31- February 11, 2022)

Course Learning Outcome: In this course, the pre-service teachers will be able to
demonstrate skills in data gathering.

In this week, the pre-service teachers are expected to:

 present the final research methodology of the proposed research in

preparation for the data collection;
 finalize the research instruments for the data collection; and
 conduct a pilot-test of the instrument for validation.

INTRODUCTION TO DATA COLLECTION

Guide Questions:
 What is data collection?
 How important is data collection in research?
 How is valid data collection achieved?

Introduction
Hello, researchers! Welcome to Educational Research 2. Congratulations for the job well-done in your

Research Proposal! You have nailed it. I am so proud of you! The success you have in the first semester
opens another door of an exciting journey of actualizing your study. In this course, we shall translate the theory
into practice for we will start conducting your study after you submit your revised Chapter 1.

Before conduct your study, let us have a brief review on the data collection process discussed in the
previous semester.

Data Collection
Data is an extremely important factor when it comes to gaining insights about a specific topic, study,
research, or even people. This is why it is regarded as a vital component of all of the systems that make up
our world today.

Data collection is defined as a systematic method of obtaining, observing, measuring, and analyzing
accurate information to support research conducted by groups of professionals regardless of the field
where they belong.

While techniques and goals may vary per field, the general data collection methods used in the
process are essentially the same. In other words, there are specific standards that need to be strictly
followed and implemented to make sure that data is collected accurately.

Not to mention, if the appropriate procedures are not given importance, a variety of problems might
arise and impact the study or research being conducted.
 The most common risk is the inability to identify answers and draw correct conclusions for the study, as
well as failure to validate if the results are correct. These risks may also result in questionable research,
which can greatly affect your credibility.

Hence, before you start collecting data, you have to rethink and review all of your research goals. Start
by creating a checklist of your objectives. Here are some important questions to take into account:

 What is the goal of your research?

- Identifying exactly what you want to achieve in your research can significantly help you
collect the most relevant data you need. Besides, clear goals always provide clarity to what
you are trying to accomplish. With clear objectives, you can easily identify what you need
and determine what’s most useful to your research.

 What type of data are you collecting?

- Data can be divided into two major categories: qualitative data and quantitative data.
Qualitative data is the classification given to a set of data that refers to immeasurable
attributes. Quantitative data, on the other hand, can be measured using numbers. Based on
the goal of your research, you can either collect qualitative data or quantitative data; or a
combination of both.

 What data collection methods and procedures will you utilize to acquire, store, and process
the data you’ve gathered?
- There are specific types of data collection methods that can be used to acquire, store, and
process the data. If you’re not familiar with any of these methods, keep reading as we will
tackle each of them in the latter part of this article. But to give you a quick overview, here are
some of the most common data collection methods that you can utilize:
 Experiment
 Survey
 Observation
 Ethnography
 Secondary data collection
 Archival research
 Interview/focus group

As mentioned earlier, there are specific types of data collection methods that you can utilize when
gathering data for your research. These data collection methods involve conventional, straightforward, and
more advanced data gathering and analysis techniques.

Furthermore, it is important to remember that the data collection method being used will depend on the
type of business you’re running. Therefore, not all types of data collection methods are appropriate for the
study or research that you are conducting for your business. That is why being mindful of these methods
can definitely help you find the best one for your needs.

1. Surveys and Questionnaires

Surveys and questionnaires, in their most foundational sense, are a means of obtaining data from targeted
respondents with the goal of generalizing the results to a broader public. Almost everyone involved in data
collection, especially in the business and academic sector relies on surveys and questionnaires to obtain
credible data and insights from their target audience.
  Surveys can be easily done online and with ease. Fact that the digital landscape is constantly
evolving, online surveys are becoming more and more prevalent every day.

 Online surveys can be accessed anytime and anywhere. The accessibility that online surveys
and questionnaires provide is one of the most significant advantages that you can utilize to collect
data from your target audience with ease.

 Low price method. Compared to the other data collection methods, creating surveys and
questionnaires don’t require large spends.

 Offers a wide range of methods of data collection. When utilizing surveys and questionnaires,
you will have the power to collect different data types such as opinions, values, preferences, etc.

 Flexibility when it comes to analyzing data. Surveys and questionnaires are easier to analyze
compared to other methods.

2. Interviews

An interview is accurately defined as a formal meeting between two individuals in which the interviewer
asks the interviewee questions in order to gather information. An interview not only collects personal
information from the interviewees, but it is also a way to acquire insights into people’s other skills.

Here is the summary of advantages you can gain from this data collection method:

 Conducting interviews can help reveal more data about the subject. Interviews can assist you
in explaining, understanding, and exploring the perspectives, behavior, and experiences of
participants.

 Interviews are more accurate. Since it is an interview, subjects won’t be able to falsify their
identities such as lying about their age, gender, or race.

 An interview is a flowing and open-ended conversation. Unlike other methods, interviews

enable interviewers to ask follow-up questions in order to better understand the subject.

3. Observations

The observation method of data collection involves seeing people in a certain setting or place at a specific
time and day. Essentially, researchers study the behavior of the individuals or surroundings in which they
are analyzing. This can be controlled, spontaneous, or participant-based research.

Here are the advantages of Observation as a data collection method:

 Ease of data collection. This data collection method does not require researchers’ technical skills
when it comes to data gathering.

 Offers detailed data collection. Observations give researchers the ability and freedom to be as
detail-oriented as possible when it comes to describing or analyzing their subjects’ behaviors and
actions.

 Not dependent on people’s proactive participation. The Observation method doesn’t require
people to actively share about themselves, given the fact that some may not be comfortable with
doing that.
When a researcher utilizes a defined procedure for observing individuals or the environment, this is known
as structured observation. When individuals are observed in their natural environment, this is known
as naturalistic observation. In participant observation, the researcher immerses himself or herself in
the environment and becomes a member of the group being observed.

4. Records and Documents

This data collection method involves analyzing an organization’s existing records and documents to track
or project substantial changes over a specific time period. The data may include the following:

 Email logs
 Staff reports
 Call logs
 Databases
 Information logs
 Minutes of meetings

Here are the significant advantages of using records and documents as a data collection method for your
business:

 The data is already available. There is no need for you to conduct any active research because
the information you need is already made available.

 Easy tracking of collected data. Records and documents will allow you to recheck the history of a
specific event that can help you find answers to questions, such as why your supplies ran out way
outside your projected schedule for example.

5. Focus Groups

A focus group is a group interview of six to twelve persons with comparable qualities or shared interests. A
moderator leads the group through a series of planned topics. The moderator creates an atmosphere that
encourages people to discuss their thoughts and opinions. Focus groups are a type of qualitative data
collection in which the information is descriptive and cannot be quantified statistically.

Here are the advantages of Focus Groups as a data collection method:

 Easy collection of qualitative data. Focus groups can easily collect qualitative data since the
moderator can ask questions to determine the respondents’ reactions.

 Non-verbal cues can be easily observed. The presence of the moderator is an essential part of
the data collection. With the moderator around, it will be easier to obtain data from non-verbal
responses from the participants.

Quantitative Data

Quantitative data is numerical and is generally organized which means that it is more precise and definite.
And because this method of data collection is measured in terms of numbers and values, it is a better
choice for statistical analysis.

Here are some of the most popular quantitative data collection methods you can use to obtain concrete
results: Surveys, Experiments, Tests, Metrics and Market Reports.
Qualitative Data

Unlike quantitative data, qualitative data is composed of non-statistical information that is

commonly structured or unstructured. Qualitative data isn’t also measured based on concrete
statistics that are used to create graphs and charts. They are classified according to
characteristics, features, identities, and other categorizations.

Qualitative data is also exploratory in nature and is frequently left wide open until more
study has been completed. Theorizations, assessments, hypotheses, and presumptions are all
based on qualitative research data.

Here are some of the most commonly known qualitative data collection methods you can use to
generate non-statistical results:

 Records and documents

 Interview transcripts
 Focus groups
 Observation research

Teaching-Learning Activities.

1. Meet your Research groupmates and examine the research papers returned to you by the panel of
examiners. Listen to the audio recording you have secured during the Research Proposal. Based on their
suggestions and comments, revise and improve your research study.

2. Reread the whole research and be able to clearly identify the GOAL of you research, the TYPE OF
DATA you need in your research, the METHOD of gathering the data and the TOOL in the collection of
data. Revisit your Statement of the Problem (SOP) and make sure that your instrument is aligned with your
SOP.

3. Be guided by the timeframe of this course as indicated below.

Research Activities Inclusive Dates

1.Revision of Chapter 1 (Based on the Panel of January 31- February 7, 2022
Examiners’ Suggestions)
2. Finalization of Research Instrument/s January 31- February 7, 2022
3. Pilot- testing (Instrument) February 7-11, 2022
4.Conducting the Research Study (Actual February 14- March 4, 2022
Participants)
5. Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data March 7- 18, 2022
(Consultation with the Statistician Included) (First
Draft of Chapter 2)
6. Revision of Chapter 2 and Drafting of Chapter 3 March 21- April 1, 2022
(Summary, Findings, Conclusion and
Recommendations)
7. Revision of Chapter 2 and 3 April 4-15, 2022
8. Submission of the Full-Blown Research April 18-22, 2022
9. Final Revision of the Full-Blown Research April 25-29, 2022
10. Briefing for Oral Defense May 2, 2022- May 6, 2022
11. Oral Defense May 9- May 20, 2022
12. Revision Based on the Suggestions of the May 23- May 27, 2022
Panel
13 Submission of the Hardbound Copy and May 30 June 10 2022
Analysis. Ponder on these questions. (No written output is required.)
1. How important is data collection in a research study?
2. How is validity and reliability observed in data collection?
3. Why is it necessary to establish a clear goal in research?

Assessment.
1. Based on the suggestions and comments of the panel during the research proposal, improve and revise
your research study. Specifically, carefully design your research methodology. Provide the details in the
data gathering process and treatment of the data. Print your revised chapter 1 and provide one copy to
your research teacher. Make sure that the questionnaire has been revised based on the comments of the
panel. Examine if the questionnaire contains specific and clear instructions.
2. Conduct a pilot test to validate your questionnaire/ research instrument. The ones who will answer the
questionnaire must be part of the population of your study, but not the actual participants of the study.
Present in a table the results/ responses gathered during the pilot test. List down the discrepancies you
notice in the gathering of data through the pilot test.
Note: Each member of the group must have a copy of the finalized Chapter 1 and of the results of
the pilot test. These two files will be required from each student.
The comments from Mr. Christopher Asuncion L. Arcay will be provided during the first
submission of your outputs of the first learning module.

Synthesis.
The data collection process is crucial in research. If there are discrepancies in the instruments
used, the research study is doomed because if such is the case, validity is transgressed. If there are
inconsistencies in the research methodology in the gathering of data, the internal validity is also affected.
Since the data gathered are the bases for conclusions in answering the problems of the study, then
researchers carry the burden of responsible, ethical, professional and valid data collection.

Teacher’s Advice: While you still have enough time, start writing a draft of the following preliminary parts of
research, namely:

 Abstract (Until Chapter 2 and 3 are done)

 Acknowledgements
 Dedication
 Table of Contents
 Appendices

By the way, in your Research Procedures, you have to indicate whether or not you use Google Forms for your
survey, printed questionnaires or a combination of both. Start making these forms online because your teacher
will require you to send the link for proofreading purposes. The informed consent form must also be inserted on
the Google Form before the actual questions. Samples of Google Survey Form will be provided via Messenger
Group Chats.