Data collection methods
Data
collection is the process of gathering and measuring
information on targeted variables in an established systematic fashion, which
then enables one to answer relevant questions and evaluate outcomes. The data
collection component of research is common to all fields of study including physical
and social sciences, humanities
and business.
It help us to collect the main points as gathered information. While methods
vary by discipline, the emphasis on ensuring accurate and honest collection
remains the same. The goal for all data collection is to capture quality
evidence that then translates to rich data analysis and allows the building of
a convincing and credible answer to questions that have been posed.
Observation
Observers can make direct
measurements on the fishing vessels, at landing sites, processing plants, or in
markets. The variables that enumerators can collect include catch (landing and
discards), effort, vessel/gears, operations, environmental variables (e.g. sea
state, temperature), biological variables (e.g. length, weight, age), the
values and quantities of landings and sales. In practice, observers do not only
make direct measurements (observations), but also conduct interviews and
surveys using questionnaires. They might also be involved in data processing
and analysis. The tasks of an observer are difficult and adequate training and
supervision are therefore essential. Clear decisions need to be made on the
nature and extent of data collected during any one trip. Often, the amount of
data and frequency of collection can be established analytically with
preliminary data.
The Quantitative
data collection methods, rely on random sampling and structured
data collection instruments that fit diverse experiences into predetermined
response categories. They produce results that are easy to summarize, compare,
and generalize.
Quantitative research is concerned
with testing hypotheses derived from theory and/or being able to estimate the
size of a phenomenon of interest.
Depending on the research question, participants may be randomly assigned
to different treatments. If this is not
feasible, the researcher may collect data on participant and situational
characteristics in order to statistically control for their influence on the
dependent, or outcome, variable. If the intent is to generalize from the
research participants to a larger population, the researcher will employ
probability sampling to select participants.
Interviews
In Quantitative research(survey
research),interviews are more structured than in Qualitative research.(http://www.stat.ncsu.edu/info/srms/survpamphlet.html
In a structured interview,the
researcher asks a standard set of questions and nothing more.(Leedy and Ormrod,
2001)
Face -to -face interviews
have a distinct advantage of enabling the researcher to establish rapport with
potential partiocipants and therefor gain their cooperation.These interviews
yield highest response rates in survey research.They also allow the researcher
to clarify ambiguous answers and when appropriate, seek follow-up information.
Disadvantages include impractical when large samples are involved time
consuming and expensive.(Leedy and Ormrod, 2001)
Telephone interviews
are less time consuming and less expensive and the researcher has ready access
to anyone on the planet who hasa telephone.Disadvantages are that the response
rate is not as high as the face-to- face interview but cosiderably higher than
the mailed questionnaire.The sample may be biased to the extent that people
without phones are part of the population about whom the researcher wants to
draw inferences.
Computer Assisted Personal
Interviewing (CAPI): is a form of personal interviewing, but instead of
completing a questionnaire, the interviewer brings along a laptop or hand-held
computer to enter the information directly into the database. This method saves
time involved in processing the data, as well as saving the interviewer from
carrying around hundreds of questionnaires. However, this type of data collection
method can be expensive to set up and requires that interviewers have computer
and typing skills.
Questionnaires
Paper-pencil-questionnaires
can be sent to a large number of people and saves the
researcher time and money. People are more truthful while responding to the
questionnaires regarding controversial issues in particular due to the fact
that their responses are anonymous. But they also have drawbacks. Majority of
the people who receive questionnaires don't return them and those who do might
not be representative of the originally selected sample.(Leedy and Ormrod,
2001)
Web based
questionnaires : A new and inevitably growing methodology is
the use of Internet based research. This would mean receiving an e-mail on
which you would click on an address that would take you to a secure web-site to
fill in a questionnaire. This type of research is often quicker and less
detailed. Some disadvantages of this method include the exclusion of people who
do not have a computer or are unable to access a computer. Also the validity of
such surveys are in question as people might be in a hurry to complete it and
so might not give accurate responses.
(http://www.statcan.ca/english/edu/power/ch2/methods/methods.htm)
Questionnaires often make use of
Checklist and rating scales.These devices help simplify and quantify people's
behaviors and attitudes. A checklist is a list of
behaviors, characteristics,or other entities that te researcher is looking for.
Either the researcher or survey participant simply checks whether each item on
the list is observed, present or true or vice versa. A rating
scale is more useful when a behavior needs to be evaluated on a
continuum. They are also known as Likert scales. (Leedy and Ormrod, 2001)
Qualitative data
collection methods play an important role in impact evaluation
by providing information useful to understand the processes behind observed
results and assess changes in people’s perceptions of their well-being.
Furthermore qualitative methods can be used to improve the quality of
survey-based quantitative evaluations by helping generate evaluation
hypothesis; strengthening the design of survey questionnaires and expanding or
clarifying quantitative evaluation findings. These methods are characterized by
the following attributes:
- they tend to be open-ended and have less structured protocols (i.e., researchers may change the data collection strategy by adding, refining, or dropping techniques or informants)
- they rely more heavily on interactive interviews; respondents may be interviewed several times to follow up on a particular issue, clarify concepts or check the reliability of data
- they use triangulation to increase the credibility of their findings (i.e., researchers rely on multiple data collection methods to check the authenticity of their results)
- generally their findings are not generalizable to any specific population, rather each case study produces a single piece of evidence that can be used to seek general patterns among different studies of the same issue
Regardless of the kinds of data
involved, data collection in a qualitative study takes a great deal of time.
The researcher needs to record any potentially useful data thoroughly,
accurately, and systematically, using field notes, sketches, audiotapes,
photographs and other suitable means. The data collection methods must observe
the ethical principles of research
References
National Science Foundation.
Curiosity creates
cures: The value and impact of basic research, National Institute of General Medical
Sciences, National Institutes of Health.
ICSU position statement:
The value of basic scientific research", International Council for Science
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