Data

Collecti
on
By:
Faye Louise R. Manuel
Krisha B. Baraquiel

What is data collection

?
The

process by which the

researcher collects the
information needed to answer
the specific research problem.

In collecting the data, the

researcher must decide :
When to collect the data
Who will collect the data
How to collect the data
Which data to collect

The selection of data collection

method should be based on the
following:
The

identified hypothesis or research

problem
The

research design

The

availability of resources

The

information gathered about the

variables

IMPORTANCE OF ACCURATE AND

APPROPRIATE DATA COLLECTION

accurate data collection is

essential to maintaining the
integrity of research
Both the selection of appropriate
data collection instruments
(existing, modified, or newly
developed) and clearly
delineated instructions for their
correct use reduce the likelihood
of errors occurring

Consequences from improperly

collected data include:
inability to answer research questions accurately
inability to repeat and validate the study
distorted findings resulting in wasted resources
misleading other researchers to pursue fruitless
avenues of investigation
compromising decisions for public policy
causing harm to human participants and animal
subjects

Criteria or attributes of a
good instrument
Reliability
Validity
Sensitivity
Objectivity
Feasibility

Methods
of data collection
1.
2.
3.

Questioning technique
Data observation
Measurement or scaling
techniques

The questioning technique

This method is most effectively

used on the survey approach.
in this method, there is a set of
carefully prepared and logically
ordered questions.

Advantages

Disadvantages

1. Relatively simple method of

obtaining data
2. Less time is consumed
3. Researcher is able to gather
data from a widely scattered
sample
4. Less expensive
5. Less pressure on the
respondents with whom he may
not feel comfortable with.
6. The respondents feel free to
express views they fear might be
disapproved or might get them
into trouble.

1. Responses to a questionnaire
lack depth
2. may omit or disregard any item
he chooses
3. Some items may force the
subject to select responses that
are not his actual choice.
4. Length of the questionnaire is
limited according to the
respondents interest
5. Printing may be costly especially
if it is lengthy
6. Data are limited to the
information that is voluntarily
supplied by the respondents
7. Some items maybe
misunderstood
8. The sample is limited to those
who are literate

Methods and tools

for questioning
Interview
2. questionnaire
1.

Interview
This is a two-way conversation initiated by
an interviewer to obtain information from
a participant
This is the most often-used technique for
obtaining information from people.
It is a face-to-face interpersonal role
situation in which interviewer asks a
person- an interviewee or a respondentquestions which are meant to obtain
information pertinent to the research
problem.

Two types of
research interviews
Standardized
interview

Unstructured
interview

This is characterized
by a set of questions
formulated in a
standardized way, as
in questionnaires.
This involves asking a
set of questions
derived by the
interviewer from a list
of key topics or

questionnaire
This instrument embodies a set
of questions asked in a
standardized manner to each
participants or respondent and
the researcher asks only
questions that are listed in the
interview guide.

Forms of
questions
Open-ended
format
Multiple choice
format

Checklist
format

Criteria of an
effective questionnaire
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.

Clarity of language
Specificity of content and time period
Singleness of purpose
Freedom from assumption and
suggestion through questions
Freedom from suggestions

Data observation
This is one of the basic approaches of
gathering information.
In this method, the researcher uses his
various senses- the sense of seeing hearing,
feeling, tasting and smelling- in the study of
an individual or group of individuals in
various natural setting.

 The

main characteristics of direct

observation technique is that
researchers must rely heavily on
their powers of observing rather than
actually communicating with people
to collect primary data.

Types of
direct observation
Structured observation

In this method, the

variables or factors to
study are more
delineated.
The researcher has
clear idea of what
factors to study and in
what context or event
this will be observed.

Unstructured
observation
This is more flexible
than the structured
observation
It lacks specificity in
the variables for the
study, the researcher
captures as much as
she/ he can in the
setting and in the
event being
witnessed.

Tools for observation

The tally sheet or checklist
- This form describes the behaviour to be observed
by the researcher in considerable detail to allow
him in tallying and checking the behaviour of the
participant/ respondent whenever it occurs.

The observation rating scale

- This describes the desired behaviour desired to
be observed with the corresponding scale on
each item.

Observation method

Advantages

1. Observation is the only method

available to gather certain
types of information.
2. Original data can be collected
at the time they occur.
3. Researchers can secure
information that most
participants would ignore
either because it is so common
and expected or because it is
not seen as relevant.
4. It can capture the whole event
as it occurs in its natural
environment alone.
5.Participants seem to accept an
observational intrusion better
than they respond to
questioning.

Disadvantages

1. Observation is a slow and

expensive process that requires
either human observers or costly
surveillance equipment.
2. Most reliable results are
restricted to information that
can be learned by overt action
or surface indicators.
3. The research environment is
more likely suited to subjective
assessment and recording of
data than controlling and
quantifying of events.
4. Observation is limited as a way
to learn about the past. It is
difficult to gather information
on topics such as intentions,
attitudes, opinions, or
preferences.

Secondary
Techniques Of Data
Collection
are

sources of information already collected

that researchers may be able to use in answering
their research questions.

Two forms:
Internal secondary data
are collected by the individual company for
accounting purposes or management
activity reports.
External secondary data
are collected by outside agencies such as
the local and national government, business
associations or based on periodicals.

Advantages of secondary
documents
Secondary documents are economical since the materials
have already been collected by others. The researcher spend
only for moving around to retrieve these materials and for
duplicating the materials for personal use.

Do not result in or lead to reactivity on the part of the unit of

analysis. This is because they are not directly contacted to
provide information to the researcher.

Information that is difficult to disclose in a person-toperson such as an interview, can be obtained through
secondary sources.

Sources Of Secondary Data

Primary sources
-are original works of research or raw data without
interpretation.
-these are memos, letters, complete interviews or speeches
(in audio, video, or written formats), laws, regulations, court
decisions or standards, and most government data
,including census, economic and employment/ labor data.
Secondary sources
-are interpretations of primary data.
-these are encyclopaedias , textbooks, handbooks,
magazine and newspaper articles, and most newscasts.
Tertiary sources
-are interpretations of secondary sources or , more
commonly, finding aids such as indexes, bibliographies, and
internet search engines.

Types Of Information
Sources
1. Indexes and Bibliographies
these are the mainstay of any library because they help to identify
and locate a single book or journal article from among the billions
published.
2. Dictionaries
are use to verify spelling, grammar usage or definition of terms.
3. Encyclopaedia
can be used to find background or historical information on a topic or
to find names or terms that can enhance the research results in
other sources.
4. Handbooks
are collection of facts related to the topics.
Often include statistics, directory information, a glossary of terms,
and other data essential to a field.
5. Directories
are used in finding names and addresses as well as other data.

THE END