Data Collection Methods
By: Kebebew L
1
Learning objectives
At the end of this session the student should be
able to:
Describe the various data collection techniques
State the advantage and limitations of each
data collection methods
Explain the importance of combining different
data collection techniques.
2
Data collection methods
Data-collection techniques allow us to
systematically collect information about our
objects of study (people, objects, phenomena)
and about the settings in which they occur.
In the collection of data we have to be
systematic. If data are collected haphazardly, it
will be difficult to answer our research questions
in a conclusive way.
Various data collection techniques can be used to
3
get valid and reliable information
Data collection….
Data collection techniques:
[Link] available information
[Link]
[Link] (face-to-face)
[Link] written questionnaires
[Link] group discussions
[Link] techniques, mapping, scaling
4
Research design….
[Link] available information (record review)
Involve use of data that has already been collected by
others.
Locating the available sources and retrieving the
information is a good starting point in any data
collection effort.
For example, analysis of the information routinely
collected by health facilities
useful for identifying problems in certain interventions
or in flows of drug supply, or for identifying increases
5 in the incidence of certain diseases.
[Link] review….
In order to retrieve the data from available
sources, the researcher will have to design an
instrument such as a checklist or
compilation sheet.
The checklist or data extraction sheet should
be designed in such a way that the items of
data can be transferred in the order in which
the items appear in the source document
6
[Link] review….
Advantage
Inexpensive
Disadvantage
Difficult to gain access to the records or
reports required
The data may not always be complete and
precise enough, or too disorganized.
7
2. Observation
Observation is a technique that involves systematically
selecting, watching and recording behaviour and
characteristics of living beings, objects or phenomena.
It is a much-used data collection technique to study
human behaviour . It can be undertaken in different
ways:
i. Participant observation
The observer takes part in the situation he or she observes.
[Link]-participant observation
The observer watches the situation, openly or concealed, but
8
does not participate.
2. Observation….
Advantage
More accurate information on behaviour of
people than interviews or questionnaires
On sensitive topics such as alcohol or drug
use, or stigmatizing diseases
Disadvantage
It is time consuming that most often used in
small-scale studies.
9
Hawthorn effect or observer bias
3. Interviewing
An Interview is a data-collection technique that
involves oral questioning of respondents, either
individually or as a group
Responses to the questions posed during an
interview can be recorded by writing them down or
by tape-recording, or by a combination of both.
Interviews can be conducted with varying degree
of flexibility
high degree of flexibility
10 low degree of flexibility
3. Interviewing….
i. high degree of flexibility
A flexible method of interviewing is useful;
if a researcher has as yet little understanding of the problem or
situation he is investigating, or
if the topic is sensitive
Interview guide: Unstructured or loosely structured
questions used for interviewing
The investigator may use a list of topics rather than fixed
questions.
It is frequently applied in exploratory studies. The
sequence of topics should be determined by the flow
11
3. Interviewing ….
ii. Low degree of flexibility
Less flexible methods of interviewing are useful
when the researcher is relatively knowledgeable
about expected answers or
when the number of respondents being
interviewed is relatively large.
Questionnaires may be used with a fixed list
of questions in a standard sequence, which
have mainly fixed or pre-categorized answers.
12
4. Administering written
questionnaires
Self-administered questionnaire is a data collection
tool in which written questions are presented that are
to be answered by the respondents in written form.
Ways of administering a written questionnaire:
Sending questionnaires by mail with clear instructions on how
to answer the questions and asking for mailed responses
Gathering all or part of the respondents in one place at one
time, giving oral or written instructions, and letting the
respondents fill out the questionnaires; or
Hand-delivering questionnaires to respondents and collecting
them later.
13
5. Focus group discussions (FGD)
A focus group discussion allows a group of 8 -
12 informants to freely discuss a certain
subject with the guidance of a facilitator or
reporter.
Facilitator
Note taker
Set up
Participants characteristics (composition &
14 management)
6. Projective techniques
When a researcher uses projective techniques, (s)he asks
an informant to react to some kind of visual or verbal
stimulus
Another example of a projective technique is the
presentation of a hypothetical question or an incomplete
sentence or case/study to an informant (‘story with a gap’).
A researcher may ask the informant to complete in writing
sentences such as:
If I were to discover that my neighbor had TB, I would . . .;
If my wife were to propose that I use condoms, I would . . .
15
6. Projective techniques….
(s)he may ask the informant: Suppose your
child suffered from diarrhea, what would you
do?
Such techniques can easily be combined with
semi-structured interviews or written
questionnaires.
They are also very useful in FGDs to get
people’s opinion on sensitive issues
16
7. Mapping and scaling
Reading assignment!!
17
Differences between data collection
techniques and data collection tools
Data collection Data collection tools
techniques
Using available Checklist; data compilation
information forms
Observation Eyes and other senses,
pen/paper, watch, scales,
microscope, tape recorder,
etc.
Interviewing Interview guide, checklist,
questionnaire, tape
recorder
Administering Questionnaire
Advantages and disadvantages
Technique Advantages Disadvantages
(constraints)
Using Is inexpensive, permits Data is not always easily
available observation of trends over accessible; ethical issues
information the past concerning confidentiality
may arise; information
may be imprecise or
incomplete
Observatio Gives more detailed & Ethical issues concerning
n context related confidentiality or privacy
information; permits may arise; observer bias
collection of information may occur; the presence
on facts not mentioned in of data collector can
an interview; permits influence the situation
tests of reliability of observed; thorough
responses to training of research
questionnaires assistances is required
Interviewin Is suitable for use with Presence of interviewer
g both literates & illiterates; can influence responses;
Technique Advantages Disadvantages
(constraints)
Small scale Permits collection of in- Interviewer may
flexible depth information & inadvertently influence
interview exploration of the respondents; analysis
spontaneous remarks by of open ended data is
respondents more difficult & time-
consuming
Large scale Is easy to analyze Important information
fixed may be missed b/c
interview spontaneous remarks by
respondents are usually
not recorded or explored
Administeri Is less expensive; permits Cannot be used with
ng written anonymity & may result illiterates; there is often
questionnai in more honest a low rate of response;
re responses; does not questions may be
require research misunderstood
assistants; eliminates
bias due to phrasing
questions differently with
collection
techniques
A skilful use of a combination of different
techniques can reduce the chance of bias
Combining different techniques will give a more
comprehensive understanding of the topic
under study.
Researchers often use a combination of flexible
and less flexible research techniques (i.e
Quantitative research techniques and
21
Qualitative research techniques)
Thanks u!
22