Tools of Data Collection (Sadia)

DATA COLLECTION

TOOLS
What is Data Collection?
Qualitative data.
Quantitative data.
Types of Data Collection?
Primary data collection?
Secondary data collection?
What is a Data Collection Tool?

Data Collection
Data collection is one of the most important stages in conducting a research. Data collection is the process of gathering
and measuring information on variables of interest, in an established systematic fashion that enables one to answer
stated research questions, test hypotheses, and evaluate outcomes. Regardless of the field of study or preference for
defining data (quantitative, qualitative), accurate data collection is essential to maintaining the integrity of research.

BsEnglishLiteratureNotes.
Lecture by UFFAQ ZAHRA
YouTube channel URL( https://www.youtube.com/c/BsEnglishliteraturenotes) For More Notes.
Both the selection of appropriate data collection instruments (existing, modified, or newly developed) and clearly
delineated instructions for their correct use reduce the likelihood of errors occurring.
Data Collection Tools
Quintin L. Burrell opines:
“Data are the basic individual item numeric or other information garnered through observation but in
themselves they are devoid of information.”
The devices which are used to collect data in a research process are called data collection tools.
Types of Data:
Data are organized into two broad categories: qualitative and quantitative.
Qualitative Data:
Qualitative data are mostly non-numerical and usually descriptive or nominal in nature.
. This means the data collected are in the form of words and sentences. Often (not always), such data captures feelings,
emotions, or subjective perceptions of something. Qualitative data collection methods play an important role in impact
evaluation by providing information useful to understand the processes behind observed results and assess changes in
people’s perceptions of their well-being.
Quantitative Data:
Quantitative data is numerical in nature and can be mathematically computed.
Quantitative data measure uses different scales, which can be classified as nominal scale, ordinal scale, interval scale
and ratio scale.
Tools:
The way, method or source used to approach data in a research process is a tool of research.
Data is described in two ways on the basis of tools applied for it these are given next:
Data
Primary
Data
Secondary
Data
Primary Data Tools

In primary data collection, the data is collected by the researcher himself using qualitative and quantitative methods.
The key point here is that the data collected is unique to him and research, until publishing, no one else has access to it.
There are many methods of collecting primary data.
Tools:
 Questionnaires
 Interviews
 Focus Group Interviews
 Observation
 Survey
 Case-studies
 Diaries
 Activity Sampling Technique
 Memo Motion Study
 Process Analysis
 Link Analysis
 Time and Motion Study
 Experimental Method
 Statistical Method etc.
 Questionnaire:
A questionnaire is a research instrument consisting of a series of questions and other prompts for the purpose of
gathering information from respondents.
The questionnaire was invented by Sir Francis Galton (1822 - 1911).
Questionnaires have advantages over some other types of surveys in that they are cheap, do not require as much effort
from the question as verbal or telephone surveys, and often have standardized answers that make it simple to compile
data. As a type of survey, questionnaires also have many of the same problems relating to question construction and
wording that exist in other types of opinion polls.
Basic Rules for Questionnaire Item Construction: The basic rules are:
 Use statements which are interpreted in the same way by members of different subpopulations of the population
of interest.
 Use statements where persons that have different opinions or traits will give different answers.
 Think of having an ‘open’ answer category after a list of possible answers.
 Use only one aspect of the construct you are interested in per item.
 Use positive statements and avoid negatives or double negatives.
 Do not make assumptions about the respondent.
 Use clear and comprehensible wording, easily understandable for all educational levels.
 Use correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
 Avoid items that contain more than one question per item (e.g. Do you like strawberries and potatoes?).
 Question should not be biased or even leading the participant towards an answer.
 Interview:
Interviewing involves asking questions and getting answers from participants in a study. Interviewing has a
variety of forms including: individual, face-to-face interviews and face-to-face group interviewing.
Ways to do an Interview:
Ways of Structured Interview

Semi Structured
interview Un- structured Interview
Informal Interviewing:
 The interviewer talks with people in the field informally, without use of a structured interview guide of any kind.
 The researcher tries to remember his/her conversations with informants, and uses jottings or brief notes taken in
the field to help in the recall and writing of notes from experiences in the field.
 Informal interviewing goes hand-in-hand with participant observation.
 While in the field as an observer, informal interviews are casual conversations one might have with the people
the researcher is observing.
Interviewing has a unique advantage in its specific form. Researchers can tailor the questions they ask to the respondent
in order to get rich, full stories and the information they need for their project. They can make it clear to the respondent
when they need more examples or explanations.
 Focus Group Discussion:
A focus group discussion (FGD) is an in-depth field method that brings together a small homogeneous group (usually
six to twelve persons) to discuss topics on a study agenda. The purpose of this discussion is to use the social dynamics
of the group, with the help of a moderator/ facilitator, to stimulate participants to reveal underlying opinions, attitudes,
and reasons for their behavior. The purpose of an FGD is to obtain in-depth information on concepts, perceptions, and
ideas of the group. An FGD aims to be more than a question-answer interaction.
 Observation:
Observation is a fundamental way of finding out about the world around us. As human beings, we are very well
equipped to pick up detailed information about our environment through our senses. However, as a method of data
collection for research purposes, observation is more than just looking or listening.
Types of Observation:
 Casual and Scientific Observation:

 Subjective and Objective Observation
 Direct and Indirect Observation
 Participant and Non Participant Observation
 Undisguised participant observation
 Structured and Unstructured Observation
 Covert and Overt Observation
 Survey:
A survey consists of a predetermined set of questions that is given to a sample. With a representative sample, that is,
one that is representative of the larger population of interest, one can describe the attitudes of the population from
which the sample was drawn. Surveys are a good way of gathering a large amount of data, providing a broad
perspective. Surveys can be administered electronically, by telephone, by mail or face to face. Mail and electronically
administered surveys have a wide reach, are relatively cheap to administer, information is standardized and privacy can
be maintained.
Types of Surveys:
 Self - completion Surveys

 Interviewer - based Surveys
 Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI)
 Diary:
A diary is a type of self-administered questionnaire often used to record frequent or contemporaneous events or
experiences. In diary surveys, respondents are given the self-administered form and asked to fill in
the required information when events occur (event-based diaries) or at specified times or time intervals (time-based
diaries). Data from diary studies can be used to make cross-sectional comparisons across people, track an individual
over time, or study processes within individuals or families. The main advantages of diary methods are that they allow
events to be recorded in their natural setting and, in theory, minimize the delay between the event and the time it is
recorded.
Diary Design and Format Diaries may be open format, allowing respondents to record activities and events in their own
words, or they can be highly structured where all activities are pre-categorized. An obvious advantage of the free format
is that it allows for greater opportunity to recode and analyze the data.
SECONDARY DATA
Data collected from a source that has already been published in any form is called as secondary data.
Secondary data can be less valid but its importance is still there. Sometimes it is difficult to obtain primary data; in
these cases getting information from secondary sources is easier and possible. Secondary data is often readily available.
After the expense of electronic media and internet the availability of secondary data has become much easier. For
examples, Census data being used to analyze the impact of education on career choice and earning.
Secondary
Data Tools
Books Data Archieve
Newspaper Internet Articles
Published Biographie Databu

Records Journals
censuses s ses
 Books: Books are available today on any topic that you want to research. The use of books starts before even you
have selected the topic. After selection of topics books provide insight on how much work has already been done on
the same topic and you can prepare your literature review. Books are secondary source but most authentic one in
secondary sources.
 Journals/periodicals: Journals and periodicals are becoming more important as far as data collection is concerned.
The reason is that journals provide up-to-date information which at times books cannot and secondly, journals can
give information on the very specific topic on which you are researching rather talking about more general topics.
 Magazines/Newspapers: Magazines are also effective but not very reliable. Newspapers on the other hand are more
reliable and in some cases the information can only be obtained from newspapers as in the case of some political
studies.
 Published Electronic Sources: As internet is becoming more advance, fast and reachable to the masses; it has been
seen that much information that is not available in printed form is available on internet. In the past the credibility of
internet was questionable but today it is not. The reason is that in the past journals and books were seldom published
on internet but today almost every journal and book is available online. Some are free and for others you have to pay
the price.
 General Websites: Generally websites do not contain very reliable information so their content should be checked
for the reliability before quoting from them.
 Weblogs: Weblogs are also becoming common. They are actually diaries written by different people. These diaries
are as reliable to use as personal written diaries.
Conclusion: In final analysis it can be said that, there is variety of tools which encompasses multifaceted approaches
that combine to capitalize on strengths and reduce weaknesses that stem from using a single research design, here some
prominent of them are discussed.

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DATA COLLECTION

Primary Data Tools

Ways of Structured Interview

 Casual and Scientific Observation:

 Self - completion Surveys

Books Data Archieve

Newspaper Internet Articles

Published Biographie Databu

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