METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION

Concepts
Purpose
Types of methods of data collection
(Adenias Ishabisa)
 Methods of data collection
• It simply refers to how the researcher obtains
the empirical data to be used to answer
his/her research questions.
• Once data are collected they are analysed and
interpreted and turned into information and
results or findings.
• All empirical relies on one or more methods of
data collection
 Purposes of methods of data collection
i. To understand, evaluate or assess a person,
situation or events
ii. To select or promote an employer
iii. To effect therapeutic change (psychiatric
interview)
iv. To test or develop hypothesis
v. Develop research instrument
vi. Gather data
vii. To sample respondents
 Types of methods of data collection
• There are major six methods of data collection
i. Tests
ii. Questionnaire
iii. Interview
iv. Focus group discussion
v. Observation
vi. Existing or secondary data (documentary
review)
 Cont…
• Tests includes standardized tests that usually
include information on reliability, validity and
norms.
• Tests are constructed by researchers for
specific purposes and skills.
• They are commonly used in research to
measure personality, aptitude, achievement
and performance.
 Questionnaire
• It is a self-report data collection instrument that is
filled out by research participants.
• Questionnaire are usually paper-and-pencil
instruments but they can also be placed on the web
for participants to go to and fill out.
• Questionnaire are sometimes called survey
instruments.
• These word “survey” refers the process of using a
questionnaire or interview protocol to collect data.
Principles of questionnaire construction

i. Make sure the question item match your

research objectives
ii. Understand your research participants--
consider the demographic and cultural
characteristics of your potential participants
so that you make it understandable them
iii. Use natural and familiar language.
iv. Write items that are clear, precise and
relatively short.
 Cont…
v. Do not use “leading” or “loaded” questions
- Leading questions had the participants to
where you want him/her to be.
- Loaded questions included loaded worded
(i. e words that create an emotional reaction
or response by your participants).
vi. Develop a questions that is easy for the
participants to use.
 Cont…
vii. Always pilot test your questions.
viii. Avoid double negatives.
(participant require combining two negative)
i.e. I disagree that teacher should not be
required to supervise their students during
library time.
ix. Determine whether an open-ended or a
closed ended questions is needed.
 Interview
• Refer to situations where the researcher asks
questions the participants.
• The interviewer asks the interviewee questions (in
person or over the telephone)
• Things to consider during interview
• Trust and rapport are important
• Probing is available – used to reach clarity or gain
additional information e.g of standard probes are,
anything else? any other reason? What do you
mean?
 Cont…
• Interview may be quantitative or qualitative
• Quantitative interview
i. Are standardized (the same information is
provided to every one)
ii. Use closed-ended questions
 Cont…
• Qualitative interview
i. They are based on open-ended question
ii. It can be informal conversational interview,
interview guide approach or standardized
open-ended interview.
 Focus Group Discussion
• A focus group discussion is a situation where a
focus group keeps a small and homogeneous
group (of 6-12 people) focused on the
discussion of a research topic or issue.
• Focus group sessions generally last between
50 to one hour, one to two hours.
• Also they are recorded using audio/video tape
 Cont…
• Focus groups discussion are useful for
exploring ideas and obtaining in-depth
information about how people think about an
issue.
 Observation
• Refer to the researcher observes participants
in natural and/ or structured environment.
• Looking at what people actually do
• It is important to collect observational data (in
additional to attitudinal data) because what
people say is not always what they do.
 Types of observation
• Observation can be carried out in two types
environment
i. Laboratory observation (which is done in lab
set up by researcher)
ii. Naturalistic observation (which is done in
real-world settings)
 Forms of observation
i. Quantitative observation
ii. Qualitative observation
Quantitative observation involves
standardization, procedures and it produces
quantitative data.
Qualitative observation is exploratory and open-
ended and the researcher takes extensive field
notes.
Different roles of observation in qualitative

i. Complete participant and becoming a full

member of the group.
It is involve informing the participants that
you are studying them
ii. Participant as observer
It involves spending extensive time “inside and
informing the participant that you are studying
them.
 Cont…
iii. Observer as participant
It involves spending a limited amount of time
“inside” and informing them that you are
studying them.
iv. Complete observer
It involve observing from outside and not
informing that participant that you are studying
them.
 Secondary/existing data
• It involves (data originally used for a different
purposes) are contrasted with primary data
(original data collected for the new research
study).
• Commonly used secondary data
i. Documents
ii. Physical data
iii. Archived research data
 Cont…
• Documents: are two main kinds
i. Personal documents – (thing written or
recorded for private purposes) include letter,
diaries, family pictures
ii. Official documents (things written/recorded
for public or private organizations) e.g
newspaper, annual reports, yearbooks,
minutes.
 Cont…
• Physical data- any materials thing created or
left by humans that might provide information
about phenomena of interest researcher.
• Archived research data (researcher data
collected by other researcher for other
purposes and these data are save often in type
form of CD form so that others might later use
the data.