Field Research Instruments Explained
Translated by
ScribdTranslationsField Research Instruments Explained
Translated by
ScribdTranslationsFIELD RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS
The instruments for documentary and field research that most
used by scientists and researchers are questionnaires, interviews,
observation and document collection.
To choose correctly, the person who investigates must ask themselves a
a series of questions, such as 'what type of data would you like to obtain for
solve the problem: quantifiable or non-quantifiable?
Are the data needed to develop the research available?
among others.
If the researcher wants to obtain qualitative data, they will opt for the application of descriptive questionnaires. If what
qualitative data is needed, the application of an interview or qualitative questionnaires will be preferred.
If the data is only available at the place where the events occur, then the observation will take place.
field. On the contrary, if the data has been recorded in written or audiovisual sources, the implementation of the
documentary compilation.
These instruments are applied taking into account the hypotheses being worked on in the research, as well as the variables.
and the indicators that can affect this hypothesis.
List of main data collection instruments
1- Questionnaire
The questionnaire is a data collection instrument that allows obtaining information.
based on a series of questions that the object must answer.
This instrument is usually preferred when the sample to be studied is large, as it
several questionnaires can be applied at the same time.
The questionnaires can be made up of twotypes of questions: open and closed. The open ones are those that
They do not offer options, but rather allow the respondent to answer freely. These are used in questionnaires.
qualitative.
For its part, in the closed-ended questions the researcher creates a series of standard responses and gives the respondent the opportunity to
select one. These are used in descriptive questionnaires.
2- Interview
The interview is usually used inqualitative research, such as documentaries. Journalists and
Psychologists often resort to this method to obtain data.
Some researchers prefer interviews over questionnaires because it
prop provides freer responses.
The interview is classified as structured, unstructured, focused, and clinical.
Structured interview
It is one that follows a previously established format by the researcher. It
They prepare a series of guiding questions aimed at steering the conversation.
Unstructured or non-directed interview
In this, the researcher does not prepare questions, but rather engages the subject in a more or less informal conversation.
In thesocial sciencesand in psychiatry, this type of interview is often used to understand the opinion of the subject
study.
Focused interview
It is a type of structured interview. In this, all the questions focus on the same topic.
Clinical interview
This type of interview is used in themedicine, especially in psychiatry. What is sought with its application is
determine symptoms that the object suffers and establish patterns of behavior.
3- Observation
Observation is one of the data collection instruments that
preferred in scientific fields. It is mainly applied in the sciences
social sciences, such as anthropology, and in psychology.
This allows studying the object of interest up close, without intermediaries that
could interfere with the results obtained.
The application of this instrument does not consist solely of observing what
what is happening is not to analyze, synthesize and process the information
that is being collected.
The researcher can record the data obtained in:
Notebooks, which are quite informal records where the elements are noted down.
observer considers relevant.
Field diaries, which are more formal than the previous ones. Here, the researcher records their observations in a manner
systematic, taking into account the time and the date.
Recording devices, such as cell phones and audio and video cameras, which have become popular thanks to
technological advancements.
Photographs.
There are different types of observation, among which direct and indirect observation stand out.
4- Document collection
Documentary collection is a method used in any type of research, regardless of whether it is
qualitative or quantitative, documentary or field.
This is due to the research that is framed within thescientific methodThey consist of a theoretical framework.
This space presents all the information that supports the study being conducted: theories, backgrounds,
important concepts, among others.
Documentary collection is usually associated with secondary sources, which can be:
–Hemerographic, if it concerns magazines, newspapers, and other regular publications.
-Bibliographical, if the information is obtained from books and printed documents.
Cartographic, when the data is obtained from maps and charts. Field research often relies on these.
sources.