7. selecting a data collection method

KNOWLEDGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF HUMANITYKNOWLEDGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF HUMANITY

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY (HFS4343)

SELECTING A DATA COLLECTION METHOD

Dr. Dr. MohdMohd RazifRazif ShahrilShahril

School of Nutrition & Dietetics School of Nutrition & Dietetics

Faculty of Health SciencesFaculty of Health Sciences

UniversitiUniversiti Sultan Sultan ZainalZainal AbidinAbidin

1

S C H O O L O F N U T R I T I O N A N D D I E T E T I C S • U N I V E R S I T I S U L T A N Z A I N A L A B I D I N

Topic Learning Outcomes At the end of this lecture, students should be able to;

• identify differences in method of data collection in

quantitative and qualitative research

• describe major approaches to information gathering

• explain data collection methods using primary sources

• explain data collection methods using secondary

sources

2


Differences in methods of data collection

• What philosophical epistemology is underpinning your approach to research enquiry?

• How was the information collected? Structured or unstructured/flexible format?

• Were the questions or issues discussed during data collection predetermined or developed during data collection?

• How was the information you gathered recorded? Descriptive, narrative, categorical, quantitative form or on a scale?

• How was the information analysed? Descriptive, categorical or numerical analysis?

• How do you propose to communicate the findings? Descriptive or analytical manner?

3


Differences in methods of data collection

4


Information gathering

5

11 11 22 22


Information gathering

• Primary data

– Primary sources e.g. measured, observed,

interviewed, questionnaire

• Secondary data

– Secondary sources e.g. Census Bureau Data, public

health data, economic data, historical search, medical

records etc

6


Collecting data using primary sources

• Methods for collecting data using primary sources

7

OBSERVATION INTERVIEWING QUESTIONNAIRE


Observation

• Purposeful, systematic and selective way of watching

and listening to an interaction or phenomenon as it takes

place

• Most appropriate when;

– you are more interested in the behaviour than in the

perceptions of individuals,

– subjects are so involved in the interaction that they

are unable to provide objective information about it

8


Types of observation

• Participant observation

– Researcher participate in activities of the group being

observed in the same manner

• Non-participant observation

– researcher do not get involved in the activities of the

group but remain a passive observer, watching and

listening to its activities and drawing conclusions from

this

9


Problems with using ‘observation’

• Hawthorne effect – individuals or groups become aware

that they are being observed and change their behaviour

– What is observed may not represent their normal behaviour

• Possibility of observer bias

• Interpretation drawn from observation varies between

observer

• Possibility of incomplete observation and/or recording

10


Situation where we can ‘observe’

• Natural observation

– Observing a group in its natural operation rather than

intervening in its activities

• Controlled observation

– Introducing stimulus to the group for it to react to and

observing the reaction

11


Recording observation

• Narrative recording

• Using scales

• Categorical recording

• Recording on electronic devices

12

What are the advantages and disadvantages of each What are the advantages and disadvantages of each

recording observation method?

Lets shout some ideas at:

http://padlet.com/razifshahril/recordingobservation




The interview

• Any person-to-person interaction, either face to face or

otherwise, between two or more individuals with a

specific purpose in mind is called an interview.

13


Types of interview

• Ensure

14


Unstructured interview

• The researcher is free to order these in whatever

sequence they wish.

• Have complete freedom in terms of the wording they use

and the way they explain questions to their respondents.

• The researcher may formulate questions and raise

issues on the spur of the moment, depending upon what

occurs to them in the context of the discussion.

• Common in qualitative research.

15


Structured interview

• the researcher asks a predetermined set of questions,

using the same wording and order of questions as

specified in the interview schedule.

– A written list of questions, open ended or closed, prepared for

use by an interviewer in a person-to-person interaction

– Note that an interview schedule is a research tool/instrument for

collecting data, whereas interviewing is a method of data

collection.

• One of the main advantages of the structured interview

is that it provides uniform information, which assures the

comparability of data.

16


17


The questionnaire

• Written list of questions, the answers to which are

recorded by respondents.

• Respondents read the questions, interpret what is

expected and then write down the answers.

18

Interview schedule Interview schedule Questionnaire Questionnaire

interviewer who asks the questions (and if necessary, explains them)

and records the respondent’s replies

replies are recorded by the respondents themselves.


Qualities of a good questionnaire

• Questions clear and easy to understand

• Layout easy to read and pleasant to eyes

• Sequence should be easy to follow

• Developed in interactive style – respondents should feel

as if someone is talking to them

• Sensitive questions prefaced by an interactive statement

(different fonts) explaining the relevance of the questions

19


Methods of administering a questionnaire

• Mailed questionnaire

– send the questionnaire to prospective respondents by mail.

– usually it is a good idea to send a prepaid, self-addressed envelope with the questionnaire.

– must be accompanied by a covering letter

– major problems - low response rate.

20



• Collective administration

– captive audience - people assembled in one place.

– ensures a high response rate

– can explain the purpose, relevance and importance of

the study and clarify any questions that respondents

may have

21



• Administration in a public area

– administer a questionnaire in a public place such as a

shopping centre, health centre, hospital, school or pub.

– depends upon the type of study population you are

looking for and where it is likely to be found.

– slightly more time consuming

22


Interview or questionnaire??

• The choice should be based on;

– The nature of investigation

• Sensitive issues? Anonymity?

– The geographical distribution of the study population

• population scattered or stays in one place

– The type of study population

• Age, physical and mental abilities

23


Advantages and disadvantages of a

questionnaire

24

AdvantagesAdvantages Disadvantages Disadvantages

• Less expensive • Offers greater anonymity

• Application is limited • Low response rate • Self-selecting bias • Opportunity to clarify issues is

lacking • Spontaneous responses are not

allowed for • Response to a question may be

influenced by the response to other questions

• It is possible to consult others (mailed questionnaire)


Advantages and disadvantages of the

interview

25

AdvantagesAdvantages Disadvantages Disadvantages

• More appropriate for complex situation

• Useful for collecting in-depth information

• Information can be supplemented • Questions can be explained • Interviewing has a wider application

• Time consuming • Quality of data depends upon the

quality of the interaction • Quality of data depends upon the

quality of the interviewer • Quality of data depends vary when

many interviewer are used • The researcher may introduce

his/her bias


Contents of the covering letter

• Introduce you and the institution you are representing

• Describe the main objectives of the study

• Explain the relevance of the study

• Convey any general instructions

• Indicate that participation in the study is voluntary

• Assure respondents of the anonymity of the information

provided by them

• Provide a contact number in case they have any questions;

• Give a return address for the questionnaire and a deadline for

its return;

• Thank them for their participation in the study.

26


Forms of question

• Open ended questions

– Possible responses are not given.

– respondents write down the answers in his/her words.

– investigators records the answers either verbatim or

in a summary

• Closed questions

– possible answers are set out and the respondent or

the investigator ticks the category that best describes

the respondent’s answer

– category ‘Other/please explain’ to accommodate any

response not listed 27


Open-ended questions

28

What are the advantages and disadvantages? What are the advantages and disadvantages?


Closed questions

29 What are the advantages and disadvantages? What are the advantages and disadvantages?


Closed questions

30


Formulating effective questions

• Always use simple and everyday language

• Do not use ambiguous (more than one meaning)

questions

• Do not ask double-barrelled (a question within a

question) questions

• Dot not ask leading questions (e.g. Smoking is bad,

isn’t?)

• Do not ask questions based on presumptions (e.g.

Everyone is asked on how many cigarettes do they

smoke in a day) – assuming everyone is a smoker

31


Other qualities of a good question

• Will answer the research questions

• Written at a 5th grade language

• Ask for an answer on only one dimension

• Nonthreatening

• Does not imply a certain type of answer

• Avoid words that might create a negative reaction in

some people regardless of the content of the statement

32


Constructing a research instrument in

quantitative research

33

• Clearly define study objectives, research questions or hypothesis

Step 1

• For each study objectives, research questions or hypothesis, list all associated questions you want to answer in your study

Step 2


Constructing a research instrument in

quantitative research (cont.)

34

• Take each questions that you identified in Step 2 and list the information required to answer it

Step 3

• Formulate questions that you want to ask your respondents to obtain the required information

Step 4


35


Methods of data collection in qualitative

research

• Unstructured interviews

– In-depth interviews

– Focus group interviews

– Narratives

– Oral histories

• Participant observation

• Secondary sources

36


Collecting data using secondary sources

• Both qualitative and quantitative research studies use secondary sources as a method of data collection.

– In quantitative research the information extracted is categorical or numerical.

– In qualitative research you usually extract descriptive (historical and current) and narrative information.

• Categories of secondary sources;

– Government or semi-government publications

– Earlier research

– Personal records

– Mass media

37


Problems with using data from

secondary sources

• Validity and reliability

• Personal bias

• Availability of data

• Format

38

Thank YouThank You

39

7. selecting a data collection method

Health & Medicine