DATA

COLLECTION
Data Collection
 is an extremely important part of any
research because the conclusions of a study are
based on what the data reveal.

The choice of procedures usually depends on

the objectives and design of the study and the
availability of time, money and personnel.
Objectives of the Chapter
After studying this chapter, the learners should
be able to:

1. Define what term data means,

2. distinguish quantitative from qualitative data,
primary from secondary data
Objectives of the Chapter
3. Describe the different techniques in collecting
quantitative data, with the use of interview,
administration of questionnaires, testing, and use
of service statistic

4. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of

using self-administered questionnaires and
interview.
Objectives of the Chapter
5. Describe and illustrate when and how in
depth interviews focus group discussion and
direct observation are used, and

6. Prepare a questionnaire/ interview schedule

What are data???
WHAT ARE DATA?
• The term data refers to any kind of information
researchers obtain on the subjects, respondents or
participants of a study.

• Data are collected and used to answer research

question or objective of the study
Some examples of research data:
• demographic information. Such as age sex,
household size, civil status, religion

• Social and economic information such as

educational attainment health status, extent of
participation in social organization, occupation,
income, housing condition and the like
• Scores in a standardized researcher-made tests or
results of laboratory examination and clinical
observations of patients/ clients.

• Grades or ratings obtained from records or forms

• Verbal or written responses to questions
regarding attitudes towards and perceptions of
something
Types of research data:
• 1. Quantitative data-are information which can be
counted or expressed in numerical values.

• Examples: age, grades, income, test score, number

of children, level of satifaction, amount of sales
• 2. Qualitative data- are descriptive information
which has no numerical value.

• Examples:
• Attitudes towards or perception of something,
process used in accomplishing an activity, a
person’s experiences, one’s idea about certain
concept, situation, phenomenon like drug abuse, f,
barangay justice system family planning,sexual
harassment, problem about social media
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
• Primary Data- information collected directly from
the subjects being studied, such as people, areas,
or objects

• Secondary data are information collected from

other available sources, like recent census, world
wide survey, national survey, such as agriculture
and industry
Techniques of Collecting Quantative data
• The choice of the best way to collect data largely
on the type of data to be collected and source of.
Before starting to collect data a researcher should
decide:
• What data to collect,
• Where or from the data will be obtained
• The two common means of collecting primary
quantitative information are self-administered
questionnaire and structure interview.
• Quantitative information may also be collected
from secondary sources and service
statistics(Fisher et, al, 1991)
• Surveys- studies which obtain data by
interviewing people or administering
questionnaires
Self-administered Questionnaire
Questionnaires are distributed to the respondents
who write the answer to the questions in
appropriate spaces in the questionnaire.

Questionnaires may be administered individually or

in group by the researcher or by an authorized
individual
FEATURES OF A SELF-ADMINISTERED
QUESTIONNAIRE
 Questionnaires are given to the respondents who
are asked to read and answer the question
themselves.

Questions and instructions are addressed to the

respondents
Instructions on how to accomplish the
questionnaire are clearly specified in the instrument
 Advantages of using a Self administered
Questionnaire
1. Less expensive per respondent than interview
2. A questionnaire requires less time AND LESS
SKILSS FOR DATA GATHERING and processing
3. External influence is avoided

4. Respondents have time to think before

answering because they are not under pressure
to give an answer immediately
 Disadvantages of using a Self administered
Questionnaire
• 1. The per respondent cost of self –administered
questionnaires may be low, but return rate is also
generally low, usually less than 50 percent.
• 2. Many respondent do not return accomplished
questionnaires
• 3. Respondents included in the sample may not be
representative of the population being studied.
• 4. No one will answer or clarify questions that may
arise
 Mailed Questionnaires
• Some questionnaire are mailed to respondents
accompanied by self-addressed envelops

• The respondents are asked to mail back the

accomplished questionnaires.
Structured interview
• Structured interview involves a face to face
interaction between the data collector (the
interviewer) and the source of information (the
respondent)
• The interviewer directly asks the respondent
questions from a prepared instruments, which is
called an interview schedule
 Feature of a structured Interview
• The interview reads each question to the respondent
and record verbatim in the instrument the answer
provided by the respondent.

• Respondents are asked the exact questions as

formulated and as sequenced
• Instructions for the interviewer on how questions
should be asked and how are to recorded are
incorporated in the instrumnets
 Advantages of face to face interview
• 1.The interviewer/ investigator; can observe the
body language of the respondent
• 2. The interviewer can probe for clarification of
ambiguous responses
• Interview is effective for semi-literate or illiterate
respondents
• The expected response rate in an interview is high
 Disadvantages of face to face interview
• 1. The cost in terms of money, time and personnel
per respondent is high, especially because of
travel cost.

• 2.Skilled interviewers are required. Training is

needed for those who lack experience and/ or
those who are not yet skilled in conducting
interviewer.
How to conduct Interviews???
• Interview must be conducted by competent and
skilled interviewers who understand the purpose of
the study and the task they are expected to
accomplish. The main task of the interviewers are
to:

1. Locate the survey respondents

2. Obtain permission to conduct the interview
3. Ask the questions
4. record the answers given by the respondents as
instructed
1.Locating the survey respondents
• The interviewer can locate respondents with the
assistance of someone who knows the
respondents.
• In a community survey, the interviewer may
request barangay official’s or leaders to hekp
locate respondents
• In organization on institution from human
resource department
2.Obtaining permission to conduct the interview

• The interviewer must obtain permission to

conduct the interviews from an authority and
from the respondent.
• Every individual has the right to privacy, and
therefore, has the right to share or withhold
personal information.
3. Asking the questions
• Questions in the interview schedule must be asked
as sequence and as worded.
• When asking questions, the interviewer must
maintain eye contact with the respondent and listen
with interest to what the respondents is saying.
• The interviewer should avoid arguing with the
respondents, even if he does not agree with what the
later is saying.
4. Recording the answer given by the
respondents as instructed
• Respondents to all questions must be recorded
verbatim in the spaces provided in the interview
schedule.
• The interviewer must write answer to question
legibly.
• Incomplete and vague answers must be classified
before ending an interview
SECONDARY DATA
SECONDARY DATA
• Secondary data- existing information from
censuses, national surveys and other completed
studies which may be used for further analysis.

• It may also used to enrich and supplement data

collected for a study.
 Examples of secondary data
• Data on population and housing from the national
Statistic office
• Data on family planning practice, reproductive
health, immunization and adolescent sexuality
from National Health and Demographic Survey
Techniques in Collecting Qualitative DATA
• Qualitative approach in data collection are
preferred when obtaining data on processes, on
how and why a project works, and how individuals
think about or perceive a certain issue, situation,
practice people or what their attitudes are
towards something
In-depth interview
• An in-depth interview is a direct, face-to face
means of gathering information from individuals
using probing techniques.
• The interviewer asks questions using a topic or
guide or set of general questions, often called an
interview guide.
• Open ended questions. Follow up questions are
asked based on response and flow of interview.
When to use in-depth interview
• To answer “ how” and why questions
• To generate detailed information about a process,
someone’s feelings, perceptions or opinions about
an issue or subject

• To identify relevant variables, which may not have

emerged in previous studies.
How to use In depth Interviews