MONITORING & EVALUATION IN GLOBAL HEALTH
Data and Data Collection
Lecturer: Nami Kawakyu
Introduction
In this lecture we will discuss what data and data collection are.
Data
Before we begin talking about data collection, let’s talk about what we mean by data. Data,
very simply, is information.
Data can be quantitative or qualitative. While quantitative data are expressed as numbers and
can be measured or counted, qualitative data are descriptive and usually represented by text,
such as transcripts of audio or video recordings. Though less common, images, objects, or even
people’s non-verbal cues can be considered qualitative data too. For example, you might use
quantitative data to summarize, “there are 2 broken computers in the room,” and qualitative
data to describe that, “the laptop computers do not turn on and the monitors are cracked.”
Quantitative and qualitative data each serve unique purposes. Quantitative data are commonly
used to numerically summarize all the available data to give programs a quick snapshot of the
program and identify patterns. Quantitative data can also be used to make generalizations or
predictions about a population. Qualitative data are used to describe individual experiences,
relationships, group norms, and contextual factors.
M&E uses both quantitative and qualitative data to measure program progress and
effectiveness as well as to be able to understand and describe the experience represented by
these measures.
Data Collection
Now that we’ve defined data, let’s define what data collection is. Data collection is the process
of gathering data in a systematic way. Data collection is important in program M&E because it
allows us to systematically gather data that informs data-driven decisions about the program.
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There are many different data collection methods as you can see in this diagram. Some
methods only collect quantitative data, some only qualitative, and others can collect both a mix
of quantitative and qualitative data.
Some of these methods, like data abstraction and document review, involve collecting data
from already available data sources such as program reports, patient charts, and national policy
documents.
Some methods, like observations, involve collecting new data by observing and systematically
measuring and describing behaviors, events, and objects of interest.
Some methods, like surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions, involve collecting new
data directly from selected evaluation participants, either in-person, by phone, or by mail.
There are several important differences between quantitative and qualitative data collection
tools. Quantitative data are typically collected using structured tools that remain unchanged
throughout the data collection process. Questions are typically closed-ended with limited
response choices, such as “Yes/No,” “5 years,” and multiple-choice options such as, “Strongly
Agree,” “Agree,” “Neutral,” “Disagree,” and “Strongly Disagree.” This allows for numeric
summaries and comparison of responses across participants.
Qualitative data collection tools are generally more flexible than quantitative data collection
tools. Qualitative methods rely on open-ended questions that allow participants to respond
freely in their own words, rather than selecting from a list of options. For example, “Please
describe your experience at the clinic today” allows a person to respond in many different ways
and is an example of a question that elicits qualitative data. Additionally, questions may not
always be asked in the same exact way or order. How the participant responds can affect how
and which questions the data collector asks next. Sometimes the data collection tool is changed
while data is being collected according to what is learned and allow for a more back-and-forth
conversation between the data collector and respondent.
Closing
In this lecture we defined data and the differences between quantitative and qualitative data.
We also discussed some options for quantitative, qualitative, and mixed data collection
methods.
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