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Selecting Methods of Data Collection: Research Methodology

This document discusses different methods for collecting data in research including primary methods like interviews, questionnaires, and observation as well as secondary sources. It covers the advantages and disadvantages of various data collection techniques and provides guidance on constructing effective research instruments and questions for quantitative and qualitative studies. The chapter also distinguishes between data collection approaches in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research.

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Eva Danielle
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104 views17 pages

Selecting Methods of Data Collection: Research Methodology

This document discusses different methods for collecting data in research including primary methods like interviews, questionnaires, and observation as well as secondary sources. It covers the advantages and disadvantages of various data collection techniques and provides guidance on constructing effective research instruments and questions for quantitative and qualitative studies. The chapter also distinguishes between data collection approaches in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research.

Uploaded by

Eva Danielle
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Research Methodology

Chapter 9

Selecting Methods of Data


Collection
Topics covered
• Differences in methods of collecting data
• Major sources of information gathering
• Collecting data using primary sources
– Observation
– The interview
– The questionnaire
– Advantages and disadvantages
– Types of questions
– Formulating effective questions
• Constructing a research instrument in quantitative research
• Methods of data collection in qualitative research
• Collecting data using secondary sources
Differences in methods of collecting data in
quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods
research
Quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods
classification depends on the answers to the following
questions:
• What philosophical approach is underpinning the
research approach?
• How was the information collected? Was the format
structured or unstructured/flexible or a combination
of the both?
• Were the questions or issues discussed during data
collection predetermined or developed during data
collection?
Differences in methods of collecting data in
quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods
research continued
• How was the information gathered recorded? Was it
in a descriptive, narrative, categorical, quantitative
form or on a scale?
• How was the information analysed? Was it a
descriptive, categorical or numerical analysis?
• How will the findings be communicated? In a
descriptive or analytical manner?
• How many different methods were used in
undertaking the study?
Insert Figure 9.1 Methods of data collection
Major sources of information gathering

• Primary data: The researcher undertakes the


data collection

• Secondary data: The data is already available


and can be reanalysed
Observation
Watching and listening to interactions
– Participant observation
– Non-participant observation
– Natural
– Controlled
Recording of observations:
• Narrative recording
• Categorical recording
• Recording on electronic devices
Effects that could affect observations:
• Hawthorne effect: Participants are aware of the observation and change
their behaviour
• Elevation effect: Researcher over-uses a particular scale for recording
• Halo effect: Researcher bias towards a particular participant
The interview
Questioning people
– Unstructured interviews: Freedom in structure,
content, wording and order of questions
– Structured interviews: Interview schedule
predetermines the questions, wording and order
The questionnaire
Written list of questions completed by the
respondent
– Mail or postal questionnaire (covering letter)
– Collective administration
– Online questionnaire
– Administration in a public place
Choose between interview schedule and
questionnaire

Consider the following:


• The nature of the investigation
• The geographical distribution of the study
population
• The type of study population
Strengths and weaknesses of questionnaires

Strengths Weaknesses
• Convenience: • Limited application
– Saves time • Low response rate
• Self-selecting bias
• Inexpensive:
• Lack of opportunity to clarify issues
– Saves human and financial
• No opportunity for spontaneous
resources
responses
• Offer greater anonymity • Responses may be influenced by
– No face-to-face action the response to other questions
– Likelihood to obtain more • Others can influence the answers
accurate information on • Responses cannot be supplemented
sensitive questions with other information
Advantages and disadvantages of interviews

Advantages Disadvantages
• More appropriate for • Time consuming and
complex situations expensive
• Useful for collecting in- • Quality of data depends on
depth information – Quality of interaction
• Information can be – Quality of interviewer
supplemented – Could vary when multiple
researchers are involved
• Questions can be explained
• Possibility of researcher bias
• Has a wider application
Types of questions
Open-ended questions Closed questions
• Advantages: • Advantages:
– Provide in-depth information – Easy to answer
– Greater variety of information – Easy to analyse due to ready-
– No investigator bias made categories
• Disadvantages:
• Disadvantages – Information lacks depths and
– Analysis is more difficult if variety
answers need to be classified – Greater possibility of
– Loss of information if respondents investigator bias
cannot express themselves – Answers are selected from a list
– Possible interviewer bias and may not reflect respondents
opinion
Formulating effective questions

• Use easy and every day language


• Avoid ambiguous questions
• Avoid double-barrelled questions
• Avoid leading questions
• Avoid questions based on assumptions
Constructing a research instrument in
quantitative research
• Personal and sensitive questions
• The order of the questions
• Pre-testing a research instrument
• Pre-requisites for data collection:
– Motivation to share required information
– Clear understanding of the questions
– Possession of the required information
Methods of data collection in qualitative
research

• Unstructured interviews
• In-depth interviews
• Focus group interviews
• Narratives
• Oral histories
• Observation
Collecting data using secondary sources
• Government or corporate websites
• Earlier research
• Personal records
• Mass media

Possible problems of secondary data:


• Validity and reliability
• Personal bias
• Availability
• Format

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