The Research
Instruments
Reported by:
Yolanda T. Sobrepeña
Paliparan NHS
Introduction:
One of the most
important components of a
research design is the
research instruments
because they gather or
collect data or information.
These research
instruments or tools
are ways of gathering
data. Without them,
data would be
impossible to put in
hand.
QUESTIONAIRE
The most common instrument
or tool of research for
obtaining the data beyond the
physical reach of the observer
which, for ex. May be sent to
human beings who are
thousands of miles away or
just around the corner.
Two Forms of
Questionnaire
Closed form / Closed-
ended
Open form / Open-
ended
Guidelines in Using the
Questionnaire
Clarity of language
Singleness of purpose
Relevant to the objective
of the study
Correct grammar
Principles to consider in
constructing Questionnaire
1. define or qualify terms that
could easily be misinterpret
2. be careful in using descriptive
adjectives and adverbs that have
no agreed-upon meaning
3. be careful of inadequate
alternatives
4. beware of double negative
5.avoid the double-barreled
question
6. underline the word if you wish
to indicate special emphasis
7. when asking for rating or
comparisons a point of reference
is necessary
8. avoid unwarranted assumptions
9. phrase questions so that they are
appropriate for all respondents
10.design question that will give a
complete answer
11.provide for the systematic
qualification of response
12.consider the possibility of
classifying the respondents yourself
rather than having the respondents
choose categories
Advantages
Facilitates data gathering
Is easy to test data for reliability
and validity
Is less time-consuming than
interview and observation
Preserves the anonymity and
confidentiality of the respondents’
reactions and answers
Disadvantages
Printing and mailing are costly
Response rate maybe low
Respondents may provide only
socially acceptable answers
There is less chance to clarify
ambiguous answer
Respondents must be literate and
with no physical handicaps
Rate of retrieval can be low because
retrieval itself is difficult
INTERVIEW
It is in a sense of an oral
questionnaire. Instead of writing
the response, the interviewee
gives the needed information
orally and face-to-face. With a
skillful interviewer, the interview
is often superior to other data-
gathering device.
The purposes of interview are :
- to verify information
gathered from written sources
- to clarify points of
information
- to update information and
- to collect data
Types of
Interview
Structured or
standardized
Unstructured or
unstandardized
Telephone interview
RATING SCALE
Involves qualitative
description of a limited
number of aspects of a
thing or traits of a
person
Forms of Rating
Scale
Thurstone
Technique
Likert Method
Semantic Differential
CHECKLIST
The simplest of the devices,
consists of a prepared list of
items. The presence or absence
of the item may be indicated by
inserting the appropriate word
or number
Use in descriptive and historical
researches
SOCIOMETRY
Technique for describing the
social relationships among
individuals in a group. In a
indirect way it attempts to
describe attractions or repulsions
between individuals by asking
them to indicate whom they
would choose or reject in various
situations
DOCUMENT OR
CONTENT ANALYSIS
Used as a main tool of research
or a subsidiary tool
Main tool in historical research
but a subsidiary tool in
descriptive research and less
used in experimental research
SCORECARD
A rating that may yield a total
weighted score that can be
used in evaluating
communities, buildings, sites,
schools, or textbooks.
Similar in some respect to
checklist and rating scale
TEACHER or
RESEARCH-MADE
TOOLS
Very popular in research
Part of the overall instruments used
in research studies
It combined with other standardized
tests in the assessment of
individuals’ operations and
situations
TAPE RECORDED
DATA
Observe through the ear as
well as through the eye
Also use video tape
recorder or radio cassette
recorder
OPINIONNAIRE
An information form that
attempts to measure the
attitude or belief of an
individual
Also known as attitude
scale
OBSERVATION
Perceiving data through the
senses: sight, hearing, taste
touch and smell
Most direct way used in
studying individual behavior
Types of
Observation
Participant and non-
participant observation
Structured and unstructured
observation
Controlled and uncontrolled
observation
PSYCHOLOGICAL
TESTS
An instrument designed to
describe and measure a sample of
certain aspects of human behavior
e.i. performance test, paper and
pencil test, achievement
inventory, personality inventory
and projective devices
READY-to-USE INSTRUMENT
or STANDARDIZED TEST
Product of long years of
study
tend to be highly reliable
and cover a wide range of
student performance level
CRITERIA for
Measuring Research
Instruments
1. Validity- measure
what is intends to
measure
Types of Validity
Content validity
a. expert judgment
b. table of specification
Criterion validity
Construct validity
2. Reliability – stability
in maintaining
consistent
measurement in a test
administered twice
Methods in determining
the Reliability of a Test
Test-retest method
Alternate or parallel form
Split-half method
Rationale equivalence
method
Reason for Conducting a
Field Test or Dry-Run
Determine the feasibility and
applicability of the study
Validate the instrument to ensure that
the data to be collected are valid
Check the reliability of the instrument
to ensure that the data collected are
reliable and accurate
Ensure efficiency and
effectiveness of instrument in
gathering the needed data
Ensure that the instrument, say
questionnaire, is objective,
simple, meaningful, easily
administered and adequate in
collecting the needed data
Be able to obtain accurate and
reliable data in the procedure of
investigation
Be able to obtain recommendations
and suggestions for the enrichment
of the instrument
After pretest or try-out, revision
must be made in content structure or
format, mechanics and organization
before an actual investigation is made
THANK YOU FOR
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