Research Methodology
DATA COLLECTION METHODS
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Data collection
2
The process of gathering raw facts or evidence about a
subject of interest in a systematic way, that enables one
to answer stated research questions and evaluate
outcomes.
It can also be defined as gathering of information (figures,
words or responses) that describes some situation from
which conclusions can be drawn.
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Data collection methods
3
Data-collection methods allow us to systematically
collect information about our objects of study (people,
objects) and about the settings in which they occur.
Data collection tools are instruments that are used hand
in hand with the data collection methods to
collect/retrieve data.
To avoid confusion in the use of terms, the following table
points out the distinction between techniques and tools
applied in data collection.
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Data collection techniques and tools
Techniques Tools
• Administering written • Questionnaire.
questionnaires.
• Interviewing • Interview guide, checklist, tape
recorder.
• Observation • Eyes and other senses,
pen/paper, microscope.
• Using available information • Check lists, data compilation
forms.
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Approaches to data collection
There are two major approaches to gathering information about
a situation, person, problem or phenomenon.
Sometimes, information required is already available and need
only to be extracted.
However, there are times when the information must be
collected fresh from field.
Based upon these two broad approaches to information
gathering, data in scientific research are categorized as;
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Types of data
Secondary data
Primary data
Secondary data: Data that previously may have been collected for
other purposes but can be used in the immediate study.
Examples of secondary sources include the use of population
census data to obtain information on age-sex structure of a
population, use of organizations‘ records, use of hospitals records,
and collection of data from sources such as journals, magazines,
books and other periodicals.
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Primary data
Primary data: Raw data that has been originally collected
by the researcher specifically for the study at hand.
Examples of information from primary sources include;
interviewing community inhabitants to find out their attitudes
towards health services, using questionnaires to determine the
level of job satisfaction of employees in an organization,
observing students behaviors in class etc
In conclusion, primary sources provide first hand data and
secondary sources provide second hand data.
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To do …
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of;
Primarydata
Secondary data
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Data collection methods
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The questionnaire
A questionnaire is a written list of questions, the answers to
which are recorded by respondents.
In questionnaire respondents read the question, interpret what is
expected and the write down the answers.
Unlike an interview guide in which the researcher may explain the
meaning of some questions, in the case of questionnaire, there is
no one to explain the meaning of questions to respondents.
Therefore questions in a questionnaire must be clear and easy to
understand.
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Ways of administering a questionnaire
A questionnaire can be administered in different ways..
A mailed questionnaire – one approach to collecting information
is to send the questionnaire to prospective respondents by mail.
Obviously, this method presupposes that u have access to their
address. One of the major problem with this approach is the low
response rate.
Collective administration – one of the best ways of
administering questionnaires is to obtain a captive audience such
as students in a class room, people attending a function, or people
assembled in one place. This ensures a high response rate as you
will find very few people refusing to participate in your study.
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Contents of a questionnaire cover letter
It is essential that you write a cover letter to accompany your
questionnaire. It should very briefly:
Introduce you and the institution you are representing.
Describe in two or three lines the main objective of the study.
Convey any general instructions.
Assure respondents of the anonymity of the information provided by
them.
Provide a contact number incase they have questions.
Give them a return address for the questionnaire and a deadline for
its return.
Thank them for their participation.
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Questionnaires…
Advantages Disadvantages
•Less expensive to administer mostly •Limited application.
if the collective method is used.
•Able to collect information from a •Lack of opportunity to clarify issues.
larger sample
• it offers greater anonymity. •Low response rate.
•It is possible to consult others.
• Spontaneous responses may not be
possible mostly if it’s a mailed
questionnaire.
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Forms of questions in a questionnaire
In a questionnaires, questions may be formulated as;
Closed ended or
Open ended
In a closed-ended question, the possible answers are set out in
the questionnaire and the respondent ticks the category that
best describes the respondents answer. E.g.
Please tick the type of research you would love to undertake.
Applied research Basic Research descriptive research quantitative
In open ended questions, the possible responses are not given.
The respondent writes down the answers in his/her words. E.g.
Please explain why you opted for a Bachelors degree in Information technology?
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Considerations in formulating questions
The wording and the tone of your question is important because
the information and its quality largely depend upon these factors.
It is therefore important to be careful about the way you
formulate questions.
Some considerations to keep in mind when formulating questions
are as follows;
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Considerations in formulating questions
Always use simple and everyday language. Take extra care to use
words that your respondents will understand as you may no
have the opportunity to explain questions to them. Words like;
“is your family a dipsomaniac” may be hard for respondents to
interpret.
Do not ask double barrelled questions. A double barrelled question
is a question within a question. E.g. “How often and how much
time do you spend in the computer lab”?
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Considerations in formulating questions
Do not ask leading questions – these are questions in which, by their
nature, contents, structure or wording leads a respondent to answer
in a certain direction. E.g. “unemployment is increasing at a very
high rate isn’t it” or “smoking is bad isn’t it?”
The order of questions also matters. Questions should follow a logical
progression based upon the objectives of the study.
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When to use a questionnaire?
When resources and money are limited.
When it is necessary to protect the privacy of the participants.
When you want to collect data from a relatively bigger population.
Etc..
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2nd Course-work (Individual)
1 a) Define observation as a primary method of collecting data.
b) Types of observation
c) Problems associated with observation as a method of data collection.
d) Under what circumstances may observation as a method of data collection
be used?
2 a) Define Interview as a primary method of collecting data.
b) Interview classification
c) What criteria should a researcher base on to choose between an interview
schedule and a questionnaire
3 Explain the ethical issues that should be considered by a researcher while
collecting data. 5/15/2025
Course-work specifications
Font size - 12
Font style - Times New Roman
Line Spacing – 1.5
Maximum number of pages – 6
All the work should be justified.
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