MODULE 3:

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
FINDING ANSWERS THROUGH DATA COLLECTION

Introduction:
A researcher has to gather data for his paper. Because he is not omniscient (all-knowing) as
God, he still needs to read books, interview people, conduct a survey, and resort to other means of
collecting information. Therefore, he must have an ample knowledge regarding the ways of gathering
data.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this module, the students should be able to:

A. Explain the different data collection procedures; and
B. Plan data collection procedure for research methodology.

CONCEPT EXPLANATION:

DATA COLLECTION
 What are Data?
- Data are characteristics or information, usually numerical, that are collected through
observation.
- Data collection is a process of collecting information from all the relevant sources to find
answers to the research problem, test the hypothesis and evaluate the outcomes.

SOURCES OF DATA
1. Primary Sources
 Written at the time of the even; these may be official communications, journals,
newspaper articles, minutes of meetings, reports, letters, commentaries, etc.

2. Secondary Sources
 Written at some time after the event, involving commentaries on situations and
events (e.g., newspaper editorials)

3. Statistical Sources
 (e.g., census and contemporary surveys)

Scott (1990) provides a checklist for evaluating the sources earlier mentioned:

1. Authenticity - Is the origin of the document certain?

2. Credibility - Is the evidence biased towards a particular
viewpoint?
3. Representativeness - Is the document typical of similar documents
of that period?
4. Meaning - Is the researcher absolutely clear about the
meaning of the document?

CLASSIFICATION OF DATA ACCORDING TO LEVEL OF MEASUREMENT

 What is classification of data?
- Is the process of arranging data into homogenous groups or classes according to some
common characteristics present in the data is called classification.
 - Refers the process of organizing data by relevant categories so that it may be used and
protected more efficiently.
- Is the process of sorting and categorizing data into various types, forms or any other
distinct class.
- Data classification enables the separation and classification of data according to data set
requirements for various business or personal objectives. It is mainly a data management
process.

CLASSIFICATION OF DATA:
Quantitative data must be classified according to their level of measurements, as follows:

DATA TYPE MEANING EXAMPLES

1. Nominal Data  Data consist of  Gender, civil status,
names, labels, or religion, natinality
categories only
 The data cannot be
arranged in an
ordering scheme
 Discrete and follow
no logical order
 Simply basic
classification of data
2. Ordinal Data  The data can be  Size of shirts
arranged in an (Small, medium,
ordering scheme or large), military
ranked. ranks, contest
 The difference winners (first,
between the values second, third)
of the data cannot be
determined.
 Discrete and follow a
logical order
 Have no standardized
differences between
values
3. Interval Data  The difference  Temperature
between the values  Test scores
of data are of known
sizes.
 The interval between
the values has
meaning.
 The “zero” does not
imply the absence of
characteristics
 Continuos and follow
a logical order
 Have standardized
differences between
values, but have no
natural zero
 Absence of “absolute
zero” or “true zero”
4. Ratio Data  The ratio of data  Height, weight,
values has meaning distance, volume
 The “zero” indicates
the absence of the
characteristics under
consideration
  Continuos and follow
a logical order
 Have standardized
differences between
values and a natural
zero
 Presence of “absolute
zero” o “true zero”

 Note that Absolute zero is the presence of a true zero on a number scale. A scale with
absolute zero is the most informative and accurate scale to use for measurement, but only a
ratio scale has an absolute zero.
 For example, when counting money, $10 is twice the amount of $5, and $0 is the complete
absence of money. So money can be measured with a ratio scale. But temperature in degrees
Fahrenheit cannot be measured with a ratio scale because 0 degrees F does not represent the
complete absence of temperature. The Fahrenheit scale lacks an absolute zero.

METHODS IN COLLECTING DATA

There are five most common methods in collecting data. These include direct method, indirect
method, registration method, observation method, and experimental method.

1. Direct Method
 This method is often called the “interview method”.
 This is done through a direct and personal contact of the researcher with the person
from whom data will be collected.
 It is executed by asking the interviewee a series of questions.

2. Indirect Method
 This method is also known as the “questionnaire method”.
 It is executed through the use of either online questionnaire or pen-paper form
questionnaire distributed to groups of people that are, most of the time, randomly
chosen.
 This method is advantageous since it lessens the time and effort needed by the
researcher to conduct the interview.
 However, there is no guarantee that those respondents given the questionnaire will
answer honestly and return the said questionnaires.

3. Registration Method
 This method is done through the gathering of data from concerned office.
 For example, if you need information about a population, the most appropriate office
to visit is the Commission on Population (PopCom) and National Statistics Office (NSO)
or Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)

4. Observation Method
 This method is purely based on subjective remarks of the observer.
 It is applicable to data pertaining to attitude, behavior, and values of individuals.
 There are two kinds of observation:

1. Participant Observation
- The participant observer takes part in the activities of the observed.
- Example: Taking field notes by a missionary communicating with the Aetas.

2. Non-participant Observation
- The non-participant observer does not take part in the activities of the
observed.
- Example: A school principal evaluating the teaching performance of his
faculty members.
5. Experimental Method
 It is the method that determines the cause-and-effect relationships of a certain
parameter or event under a controlled condition.
 This method is usually used by researchers in the field of science.