RESEARCH

METHODOLOGY
DATA COLLECTION

By A.Palanisamy
Asst.Prof/Mech
SKCET,CBE.
 DATA COLLECTION
• Compilation and interpretation of primary
and secondary sources of information.

• The integration of different sources will

consolidate the write up of the report.
 SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Primary Source Secondary Source

•Data is collected by •Data collected,
researcher himself compiled or
written by other
•Data is gathered researchers eg. books,
through questionnaire, journals, newspapers
interviews, •Any reference must
observations etc. be acknowledged
 STEPS TO COLLECT DATA
REVIEW & COMPILE SECONDARY SOURCE INFORMATION
(Referred to in the BACKGROUND/ INTRODUCTION section of report)

 
 
PLAN & DESIGN DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS
TO GATHER PRIMARY INFORMATION
 
(Referred to in the FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS &
  RECOMMENDATIONS sections of report)
 
 

DATA COLLECTION

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

 METHODS USED
TO COLLECT
PRIMARY SOURCE DATA

1. Interviews
2. Questionnaires
3. Survey
4. Experimentation
5. Case Study
6. Observation

However, for a small-scale study, the most commonly used

methods are interviews, survey questionnaires and observations.
Effective way Involves verbal
of gathering and non-verbal
information communications

INTERVIEW

Can be conducted
face to face, by telephone,
online or through mail
Steps To An Effective Interview
Prepare your interview schedule

Select your subjects/ key informants

Conduct the interview

Analyze and interpret data collected from the interview

 The most common Useful to collect
data collection instrument quantitative and qualitative
information

Survey
Questionnaire

Should contain 3 elements:

1. Introduction – to explain the objectives
2. Instructions – must be clear, simple language & short
3. User-friendly – avoid difficult or ambiguous questions
 2 Basic Types of survey
questions:
1. Open-ended Questions
– Free-response
(Text Open End)
– Fill-in relevant
information
2. Close-ended Questions
– Dichotomous question
– Multiple-choice
– Rank
– Scale
– Categorical
– Numerical

Note: For specific examples and students’ activities on each question style,
please refer to the notes on Data Collection in the e-learning.
 Steps To An Effective Survey Questionnaire
Prepare your survey questions
(Formulate & choose types of questions, order them, write instructions, make copies)

Select your respondents/sampling

Random/Selected

Administer the survey questionnaire

(date, venue, time )

Tabulate data collected

(Statistical analysis-frequency/mean/correlation/% )

Analyze and interpret data collected

A sample of complete survey questionnaire
http://www.custominsight.com/demo/form_widgets.rtf
 Observe verbal &
non-verbal communication, Need to keep
surrounding atmosphere, meticulous records of
culture & situation the observations

Observations

Can be done through discussions,

observations of habits, rituals,
review of documentation,
experiments
Steps To An Effective Observation
Determine what needs to be observed
(Plan, prepare checklist, how to record data)

Select your participants

Random/Selected

Conduct the observation

(venue, duration, recording materials, take photographs )

Compile data collected

Analyze and interpret data collected

 DATA ANALYSIS
Summary sheet
1. To analyse data from interviews and observation, use
Checklist
Manually
2. To analyse data from questionnaires, use

SPSS
3. In a small scale study, the most common forms of statistical
analysis presented are:
•Frequency
•Mean
•Percentage
 DATA INTERPRETATION
1. It involves 2 terms
• ‘Results’ – presentation of data/findings (statistics)
• ‘Discussion’ – interpretation of data/findings

2. Things to consider when interpreting your data:

• Interpret findings based on the purpose and
objectives of your study
• Relate the findings to real life context
• Use persuasive language to convince your readers
to see the research from your point of view.
• Order your interpretation to highlight the most important
findings
• Include limitations to your research.
• Use simple, clear language