DATA COLLECTION

METHODS:

Now that you have chosen your samples,

it is time to gather data. How? These methods
will help you collect the necessary needed for
your research:
• Data Collection

• Research Instrument

• Data Collection Methods for Quantitative Research

• Data Collection Methods for Qualitative Research

• Data collection is a methodical process of
gathering and analyzing specific information to
proffer solutions to relevant questions and
evaluate the results. It focuses on finding out all
there is to a particular subject matter.
• Data analysis is the collecting and organizing of
data so a researcher can conclude.
• Data analysis allows one to answer questions,
solve problems, and derive important
information.
 Importance
of
Data Collection:
1. Integrity of the Research:

A key reason for collecting data, be it through

quantitative or qualitative methods is to ensure
that the integrity of the research question is indeed
maintained.
2. Reduce the likelihood of errors:

The correct use of appropriate data collection

methods reduces the likelihood of errors
consistent with the results.
3. Decision Making:

To minimize the risk of errors in decision-

making, accurate data must be collected so that
the researcher doesn't make uninformed decisions.
4. Save Cost and Time:
• Data collection saves the researcher time and
funds that would otherwise be misspent without a
deeper understanding of the topic or subject
matter.
 RESEARCH
INSTRUMENT
(Data Collection Tool)
 Data collection tools refer to the
devices/instruments used to collect data, such as a
paper questionnaire or computer-assisted
interviewing system.
 Case Studies, Checklists, Interviews,
Observation sometimes, and Surveys or
Questionnaires are all tools used to collect data.
 It is important to decide the tools for data
collection because research is carried out in
different ways and for different purposes.
 The objective behind data collection is to
capture quality evidence that allows analysis to
lead to the formulation of convincing and credible
answers to the questions that have been posed.
 Characteristics
of a Good
Data-collection instrument
Must be concise yet able to elicit the needed data

Seeks information that cannot be obtained from

other sources

Questions must be arranged in sequence

Should pass validity and reliability tests

Must easily be tabulated and interpreted

DATA COLLECTION METHODS FOR
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
(Jovancic, 2019)
• Quantitative data is everything about figures and
numbers.

• As a researcher, you do have the option to opt

either for data collection online or use traditional
data collection methods via appropriate research.
 Researchers often rely on quantitative data
when they intend to quantify attributes, attitudes,
behaviors, and other defined variables with a
motive
 to either back or oppose the hypothesis of a
specific phenomenon by contextualizing the data
obtained via surveying or interviewing the study
sample.
 However, you will need computational,
statistical, and mathematical tools to derive results
from the collected quantitative data.
 A data that can be counted or expressed in
numerical constitute quantitative data. It is
commonly used to study the events or levels of
concurrence. And is collected through a
structured questionnaire asking questions
starting with “how much” or “how many.”
 Discrete and Continuous are the two major
categories of quantitative data where discreet data
have finite numbers and the constant data values
falling on a range possessing the possibility to have
fractions or decimals.
 Any traditional or online data collection
method that helps in gathering numerical data is a
proven method of collecting quantitative data.
1. CLOSED-ENDED SURVEY
• Instrument/ Tool Used: Structured Questionnaires

(a list of planned, written questions about a particular

topic, with spaces provided for the response to each
question); Checklist, Rating Scales
 The survey is the process of questioning a
selected sample of individuals to obtain data about
something or about the interest of the study .
 Surveys collect information from targeted
respondents or groups of people about their
knowledge, opinions, or behavior.
 What’s really good about survey is that it can
obtain data even if the sample size is large. Using
the right tool, it can provide accurate information
which is useful in data analysis.
 Surveys are done using a set of ready-made
questions called as questionnaire. The responses
from the questionnaire can help the researcher
extract data to answer the research problem
a. Closed-ended survey:

Are based on questions that give respondents

predefined answer options to opt for. There are
two main types of closed-ended surveys – those
based on categorical and those based on
interval/ratio questions.
• Categorical survey questions can be further
classified into dichotomous (‘yes/no’), multiple-
choice questions, or checkbox questions and can
be answered with a simple “yes” or “no” or a
specific piece of predefined information .
• o Interval/ratio questions, on the other hand, can
consist of rating-scale, Likert-scale, or matrix
questions and involve a set of predefined values
to choose from on a fixed scale.
 These types of data collection methods are a
great choice when looking to get simple and easily
analyzable counts, such as “85% of respondents
said surveys are an effective means of data
collection” or “56% of men and 61% of women
have taken a survey this year” (disclaimer: made-
up stats).
Advantages:

• It can collect data from a large sample size.

Randomization is also possible.

• Easier data analysis

• Can collect both qualitative and quantitative data

• Convenient data gathering

Disadvantages:

• Inflexible—responses depend only on the ready-

made questions

• Some respondents may have inaccurate answers

especially when the questionnaire is too long.
b. STRUCTURED OBSERVATION :
(Instrument/ Tool Used: Observation Checklist/ Observation Guide)

In this method, researchers collect quantitative data

through systematic observations by using techniques like
counting the number of people present at a specific event
at a particular time and a particular venue or number of
people attending the event in a designated place.
Naturalistic observation: is used to collect both
types of data; qualitative and quantitative.
However, structured observation is more used to
collect quantitative rather than qualitative data.
Structured observation: In this type of observation
method, the researcher has to make careful observations
of one or more specific behaviors in a more
comprehensive or structured setting compared to
naturalistic or participant observation.
In a structured observation:
• The researchers, rather than observing everything, focus only
on very specific behaviors of interest. It allows them to
quantify the behaviors they are observing.

• When the observations require a judgment on the part of the

observers – it is often described as coding, which requires a
clearly defining a set of target behaviors.
Advantages:

Can cater a large sample size depending on the accessibility.

Faster and convenient data collection.

Flexible—the observer has total control.

Can collect both qualitative and quantitative data

Disadvantages:

Some observed subjects may not be representative of the

sample

Observations or data are solely based on the

observer/researcher

Observer bias or error is possible

Presence of an observer may create an artificial situation

c. EXPERIMENTS:

By testing the effects of a variable between two or

more groups, experiments help researchers in finding
out the differences in the observed groups. This is the
most appropriate method for most scientific research
because it strictly adheres to the scientific method.
 There are more specific procedures done in every
experiment depending on the interest of the research.
Such procedures may require laboratory and analytical
techniques, standard measuring apparatus and
instruments, and careful observation.
 In an experiment, the two setups are needed: a
control and an experimental/ treatment setup. The
control group receives no treatment and the
experimental group receives the treatment in varied
amounts. The data collected from experiments are
generally quantitative in nature
d. DOCUMENT REVIEW:

Is a process used to collect data after reviewing the

existing documents. It is an efficient and effective way
of gathering data as documents are manageable and are
the practical resource to get qualified data from the past.
Three primary document types are being analyzed
for collecting supporting quantitative research
data
Public Records: Under this document review, official,
ongoing records of an organization are analyzed for
further research. For example, annual reports policy
manuals, student activities, game activities in the
university.
Personal Documents: In contrast to public documents,
this type of document review deals with individual
personal accounts of individuals’ actions, behavior,
health, physique, etc. For example, the height and
weight of the students, distance students are traveling to
attend the school, etc.
Physical Evidence: Physical evidence or physical
documents deal with previous achievements of an
individual or of an organization in terms of monetary
and scalable growth.
DATA COLLECTION METHODS FOR
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
(Jovancic, 2019)
• Qualitative data is descriptive in nature rather than
numerical.

• Qualitative data is usually not easily measurable as

quantitative and can be gained through observation or
open-ended survey or interview questions.

• Qualitative research is most likely to provide answers

to questions such as “why?” and “how?”
 Qualitative data is an excellent way to gain
insight into your audience’s thoughts and behavior
(maybe the ones you identified using quantitative
research, but wasn’t able to analyze in greater
detail).
 Data obtained using qualitative data collection
methods can be used to find new ideas, opportunities,
and problems, test their value and accuracy, formulate
predictions, explore a certain field in more detail, and
explain the numbers obtained using quantitative data
collection techniques.
 As quantitative data collection methods usually
do not involve numbers and mathematical calculations
but are rather concerned with words, sounds, thoughts,
feelings, and other non-quantifiable data, qualitative
data is often seen as more subjective, but at the same
time, it allows a greater depth of understanding.
1. OPEN-ENDED SURVEY :
(Instrument/ Tool Used: Unstructured/ Open-ended Questionnaires)

Opposite to closed-ended are open-ended surveys and

questionnaires. The main difference between the two is the
fact that closed-ended surveys offer predefined answer
options the respondent must choose from, whereas open-
ended surveys allow the respondents much more freedom
and flexibility when providing their answers.
 Here’s an
example
that best
illustrates
the
difference:
 When creating an open-ended survey, keep in mind
the length of your survey and the number and complexity
of questions. You need to carefully determine the optimal
number of questions, as answering open-ended questions
can be time-consuming and demanding, and you don’t
want to overwhelm your respondents.
2. INTERVIEW:
Instrument/ Tool Used: Interview Schedule, Interview Guide
(Open-ended questions)

Interviews are conversations that are designed to obtain specific

kinds of information. One-on-one (or face-to-face) interviews are one of
the most common types of data collection methods in qualitative
research. Here, the interviewer collects data directly from the
interviewee. Due to it being a very personal approach, this data collection
technique is perfect when you need to gather highly-personalized data.
 Types of Interviews:

1. Structured Interview:

2. Unstructured Interview:

3. Semi-structured Interview:
 Structured Interview: A structured interview is a
type of interview in which the interviewer asks a
particular set of predetermined questions. In structured
interviews, questions are planned and created in
advance, which means that all candidates are asked the
same questions in the same order.
 Unstructured Interview: An unstructured
interview is a type of interview in which the interviewer
asks questions that are not prepared in advance. In
unstructured interviews, questions arise spontaneously
in a free-flowing conversation, which means that
different candidates are asked different questions.
 Semi-structured Interview: A semi-structured
interview is a type of interview in which the interviewer
asks only a few predetermined questions while the rest of
the questions are not planned in advance. In semi-structured
interviews, some questions are predetermined and asked all
candidates, while others arise spontaneously in a free-
flowing conversation.
 Parts of an Interview Protocol
(Creswell, 2007)

1. Basic Information about the Interview. -It includes the time

and date of the interview, where the interview takes place,
and who the participants to be interviewed are.
2. Introduction - This provides instructions to the interviewer
which will serve as his/her guide in conducting the session.
It is a prerequisite that the interviewer introduce
himself/herself including the objectives of the research.
3. Opening Question. -This is about getting to know
participants so they will feel at ease. Questions related to their
work or activities are good opening questions. Very personal
questions must be avoided.

4. Content Questions - These are sub-questions based on the

central phenomenon being studied.

5. Closing Instructions -Thank the interviewee for his/her

time; Further instructions
Advantages:

 Interviewer can directly ask questions to the interviewee in a more flexible manner.

 Questions can be prepared beforehand; follow-up questions may be given during the
interview.

 It has a better response rate compared to written responses.

 It can be done face-to-face or online using virtual meeting platforms.

 It can help researcher obtain qualitative data which are more detailed and highly-
personalized
Disadvantages:

Not commonly used in experimental research.

Conducting interviews can be costly and time-consuming.

Some interviews may cause bias.

Limited sample size; doesn’t allow randomization.

Interview responses may differ based on the skill of the interviewer.

3. FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION (FGD)

Another method of data collection which is more

or less like an interview but differs in the size of
participants and in the manner of conduct is Focused
Group Discussion—or simply called as focus group.
 A focus group is similar to an interview but
instead of having a one-to-one conversation with
an interviewee, this is conducted with a group of
people with similar traits or experiences.
• The goal of a focus group is not just to share
first-hand experiences from the respondents but
also to observe their reactions when questions are
posed or when the discussion is ongoing.
• Ideally, a focus group should have 3-10 people
plus the moderator (interviewer) depending on
the goal of the research.
• The minimum requirement is that the members
of the focus group share something in common
based on what the study intends to find out.
For example:

You want to know the experiences of some students

who joined a science fair in order for you to map out the
current trends in research. By doing this, you would have
more idea in conceptualizing your own study. In this case, a
focus group is applicable and more appropriate than an
interview.
 A focused group discussion will help you
observe the reactions of the students as to which
part of the science fair has gained their interest
and more of their collective experiences.
Advantages:

It can measure not just opinions but also reactions.

More time-saving.

The moderator can be flexible in giving prompts for the

discussion.

Respondents can give more detailed insights into key

questions.
Disadvantages:

Responses may differ based on the skill of the moderator.

Some respondents may filter their responses due to the

presence of other people from the group.

There is a tendency for the group to think as one. The

researcher may not be able to obtain different opinions.
4. DIRECT OBSERVATION (Unstructured Observation)
(Instrument/ Tool Used: Observation Guide)

Direct observation is one of the most passive

qualitative data collection methods. Here, the data
collector takes a participatory stance, observing the setting
in which the subjects of their observation are while taking
down notes, video/audio recordings, photos, and so on.
 Due to its participatory nature, direct
observation can lead to bias in research, as the
participation may influence the attitudes and
opinions of the researcher, making it challenging
for them to remain objective.
 Plus, the fact that the researcher is a
participant too can affect the naturalness of the
actions and behaviors of subjects who know
they’re being observed.