METHODOLOGY

DATA COLLECTION
TECHNIQUES AND
INSTRUMENTS
IMPORTANCE

Data-collection techniques allow us to

systematically collect information about our
objects of study (people, objects, phenomena) and
about the settings in which they occur.
 1. KEY INFORMANTS
The use of key informants is an important technique to gain access to
available information.

Examples
 community leaders
 one or two informative members of the target group
2. OBSERVATION

Observation is a technique that involves

systematically selecting, watching and recording
behaviour and characteristics of living beings,
objects or phenomena.
TYPES OF OBSERVATION

Participant observation Non participant observation

The observer takes part in the The observer watches the
situation he or she observes. situation, openly or concealed,
but does not participate.

Example
A doctor hospitalised with a
broken hip, who now observes
hospital procedures ‘from
within’.
3. INTERVIEWING

An interview is a data-collection technique that

involves oral questioning of respondents, either
individually or as a group.

TOOL – Interview guide

4. QUESTIONNAIRE

A questionnaire is a data collection technique in

which written questions are presented that are to
be answered by the respondents in written form.

TOOL – Written questionnaires

5. FOCUS GROUP
DISCUSSIONS (FGD)

A focus group discussion allows a group of 8 - 12

informants to freely discuss a certain subject with
the guidance of a facilitator or reporter.
DESIGNING
QUESTIONS
TYPES OF QUESTIONS

Open-ended questions Closed questions

Open-ended questions allow for Closed questions structure the

completely open as well as answer by allowing only
partially categorized answers. answers which fit into categories
that have been decided in
advanced by the researcher.
EXAMPLES OF QUESTIONS
Open-ended questions
 What is your opinion on the
services provided in
McDonald’s?
 What do you think are the
reasons some adolescents in this
area start using drugs?
Closed questions
 Do you enjoy going to the
movie teather?
 Which types of activities do
you usually do in your free
time?
HOW TO DESIGN
QUESTIONS?
STEP 01

Content

Take your objectives and variables as a starting

point
STEP 02

Formulating questions

Formulate one or more questions that will

provide the information needed for each variable.
ADVICES
 Avoid leading questions.
 Check whether each question measures one thing at a
time.
 Avoid words with double or vaguely defined meanings
or that are emotionally laden.
 Ask sensitive questions in a socially acceptable way.
EXAMPLE
What action did you take the last time
your child had a stomachache?

A better set of questions would be:

 Has your child ever had a stomachache?
 (If yes:) When was the last time?, Did you do anything to treat it?
 (If yes:) What?
FOR EXAMPLE
Many teenagers have had abortions for unwanted pregnancies. Do
you know girls who had this problem? Have you ever had an
abortion?’

Instead, you could ask:

 If your friend was considering abortion for her daughter who
became pregnant while in school, what would you advise her?
STEP 3: SEQUENCING THE
QUESTIONS
Design your interview schedule or questionnaire to be informant
friendly.

The sequence of questions must be logical for the informant.

 Questions concerning background variables
 Closed questions
 Open ended questions
STEP 4: FORMATTING THE
QUESTIONNAIRE

When you finalize your questionnaire, be sure that:

A separate, introductory page is attached to each questionnaire,
explaining the purpose of the study, requesting the informant’s
consent to be interviewed and assuring confidentiality of the data
obtained.
 FORMAT OF
QUESTIONNAIRES
 Each questionnaire has a heading and space to insert the number,
date and location of the interviewed people.
 You may add the name of the interviewer, to facilitate quality
control.
 Layout is such that questions belonging together appear together
visually.
 If the questionnaire is long, you may use subheadings for groups of
questions.
 Sufficient space is provided for answers to open-ended questions,
categories such as ‘other’ and for comments on pre-categorized
questions.
 Boxes for pre-categorized answers are placed in a consistent manner
(e.g., on the right half of the page).