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Lecture 2 (BBC 24)

The lecture focuses on various methods of data collection, emphasizing the importance of selecting appropriate techniques based on research objectives. It covers different data collection methods such as observation, interviews, and questionnaires, detailing their types and considerations for effective design. Additionally, it highlights challenges in data gathering and the steps involved in creating a questionnaire.

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hasnain rabbani
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7 views47 pages

Lecture 2 (BBC 24)

The lecture focuses on various methods of data collection, emphasizing the importance of selecting appropriate techniques based on research objectives. It covers different data collection methods such as observation, interviews, and questionnaires, detailing their types and considerations for effective design. Additionally, it highlights challenges in data gathering and the steps involved in creating a questionnaire.

Uploaded by

hasnain rabbani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Lecture # 2

Methods of Data collection:

1
Methods of Data
collection:

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
AT T H E E N D O F T H I S L E C T U R E , S T U D E N T S W I L L B E A B L E
TO:
 learn about the data collection methods and their selection
criteria.
 classify data collection methods.
 take decision for the most appropriate data collection method to
achieve their research objective
 define the purpose of selecting and implementing any data
collection method
Data Collection Methods

Data collection techniques allow us to


systematically collect data about our
objects of study (people, objects, and
phenomena) and about the setting in
which they occur.
If data are collected haphazardly, it will be
difficult to answer our research questions
in a conclusive way.
Continued . . .

• Observation
• Face-to-face and self-administered
interviews
data collection • Postal or mail method and
techniques telephone interviews
• Using available information
• Focus group discussions (FGD)
• Other data collection techniques
Observation

1. Behaviors of people
2. Other phenomena
din
3. Aspects of the setting reco
g

 simple visual observations


to the use of high level
machines and watching
measurements,
 sophisticated equipment or
facilities, such as selection
radiographic, biochemical,
X-ray machines, microscope,
 clinical examinations,
 microbiological
examinations.
Interviews and self-administered questionnaire

These are probably


the most commonly
used research data
collection techniques.
Therefore, designing
good “questioning
tools” forms an
important and time
consuming phase in
the development of
most research
proposals.
Continued .. .

The following questions should be considered


before designing our tools:
 What ?
 How?
 Who? Which method?
 Do we understand the topic sufficiently to
design a questionnaire, or do we need some
loosely structured interviews with key
informants or a focus group discussion first
to orient ourselves?
Continued...

 Are our informants mainly literate or illiterate?


 If illiterate, the use of self-administered
questionnaires is not an option.
 How large is the sample that will be
interviewed?

Studies with many respondents often use shorter,


highly structured questionnaires, whereas
smaller studies allow more flexibility and may use
questionnaires with a number of open-ended
questions.
Questionnaire types?

Open-ended

Structured

Close-ended

Questionnaire
Open-ended

Unstructure
Close-ended
d

Other
Un-structured Questionnaire?

Unstructured interview are:


 Flexible having variable:

 Content
 Wording
Not pre-decided
 Order
 Only idea of what?
 Do not decide in advance, how?, by which

method?, and in what order??


 Characteristic of qualitative (non-quantitative)

research
Structured Questionnaire?

More standardized technique,


 Wording
 Content
Pre-decided
 Order

questions are asked orderly,


or a self administered questionnaire,
 the respondent reads the questions and fill in the

answers
usually preferred in community medicine
research, since they provide more assurance
that the data will be reproducible.
Questionnaire types

Face-to-face and telephonic interviews


Mailed Questionnaire Method
Use of documentary sources
Types of Questions

Depending on how questions are asked and


recorded we can distinguish two major
possibilities
1. Open –ended questions
2. closed questions
Open-ended questions?

Open-ended questions permit:


 free responses that should be recorded in the

respondent’s own words.


 The respondent is not given any possible answers to

choose from.
Such questions are useful to obtain
information on:
 Facts with which the researcher is not very familiar,
 Opinions, attitudes, and suggestions of informants, or
 Sensitive issues.
Closed Questions?

Closed questions offer a list of possible


options or answers from which the
respondents must choose.
When designing closed questions one should
try to:
 Offer a list of options that are exhaustive and mutually
exclusive
 Keep the number of options as few as possible
Continued…

Closed questions are useful if the range of


possible responses is known.
For example
 “What is your marital status?
 1. Single
 2. Married/living together
 3. Separated/divorced/widowed
“Have you ever gone to the local village
health worker for treatment?
 1. Yes
 2. No
Problems in gathering data

Common problems might include:


 Language barriers
 Lack of adequate time
 Expense
 Inadequately trained and experienced staff
 Invasion of privacy
 Suspicion
 Bias (spatial, project, person, season, diplomatic,

professional)
 Cultural norms (e.g. which may preclude men

interviewing women)
Choosing a Method of Data Collection

Decision-makers need information


that is:
Relevant

Timely

Accurate

Usable
Cost-
effective
Continued…

The selection of the method of data collection


is also based on practical considerations, such
as:
Personnel, Skills, Equipment, etc. or
Urgency of results

Acceptability of the procedures

Probability of a good coverage!


Requirements of questions

Must have
face
validity

Must be
Sensitive clear and
questions unambiguo
us

The
questions Must not be
should be offensive
fair
Steps in Designing a Questionnaire

Step1: CONTENT

Step 2: FORMULATING
QUESTIONS

Step 3: SEQUENCING OF
QUESTIONS

Step 4: FORMATTING THE


QUESTIONNAIRE

Step 5: TRANSLATION
Continued…

Step1: CONTENT
 Take your objectives and variables as your starting point

Step 2: FORMULATING QUESTIONS


 Formulate one or more questions that will provide the

information needed for each variable


 Check whether each question measures one thing at a

time.
 Avoid leading questions

Step 3: SEQUENCING OF QUESTIONS


 Design your interview schedule or questionnaire to be

“consumer friendly.”
Step 4: FORMATTING THE QUESTIONNAIRE
 When you finalize your questionnaire, be sure that:
 Heading
 Space to insert the number,
 Data
 Location
 Layout
 Sufficient space to answer Open-ended questions, if any?
 Boxes must be consistent
 Your questionnaire should not only be consumer but also
user friendly!

Step 5: TRANSLATION
any examples from your side???
Let’s get to practice it!!

Create an idea or research question


Select a method of data collection
Collect primary data by preparing a short
(possibly up to 3 questions) questionnaire
for your class fellows and gather data to
address your idea
OR
Collect a secondary data from published
articles (at least 3 articles) related with
your research question
Now write questions!!
Class Activity: (30 min.)

PRE-DATA COLLECTION STEPS:


PREPARATION OF QUESTIONNAIRE
FOR DATA COLLECTION
Any
Questions??????
Class Activity: (30 min.)

PRE-DATA COLLECTION STEPS:


PREPARATION OF QUESTIONNAIRE
FOR DATA COLLECTION
THANK YOU FOR
YOUR PATIENCE.

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