The methods of collecting data

Q.2. Describe the methods of collecting data.

There are different methods of data collection. Each method of data collection has its special concerns which need to be considered fully before doing the study. This is why pre-testing is so valuable, because it helps you to find and address potential problems before they enter your study and cause bigger problems. The plans for collecting data should be described carefully. In a field study, it is always more difficult to be precise, and you may need to make changes once you enter the field. Nevertheless, it is better to have a clear plan that can be changed as you move forward. For an experiment; data collection procedures can usually be described very precisely. This is also true of a survey. Surveys using mailed questionnaire tend to have multiple stages in the data collection procedure to increase the response rate. If you are using secondary data, you need to describe at this stage how you will collect the data. The quality of the outcome of research also depends on the quality of data itself. In turn, the quality of data is determined by the procedure of data collection. The indication of the quality of data lies in the dependability of the information collected from the sample.

Processing of the Data

Once the data are collected, they must be processed. If the responses are in qualitative terms you have to prepare a code book where you have to give numbers for the qualitative responses. This is very much essential if you wish to process your data through computer. If they are field notes, they must be organised and categorised. In the research proposal, a concise statement may be included to address this subject. It may describe what type of computer facilities is available, what possible sources  of assistance are available, and what efforts are being made to increase accuracy in the handling of the data. There are now some technological advances in data gathering which speed the process from data gathering to data entry. An example is the SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) now becoming quite common for social research.

Analysis and Interpretation of Data

You need to plan how you will analyze the data. It is advisable to prepare a plan of analysis of data spelling out the various applications of statistical tests carefully while the study is being designed. It is better to have a planned strategy that can be adapted than to end up with piles of data for which you have no organised plan. You are also required to explain how you are planning to compare or contrast different variables, for example, men with women, one rehabilitation program with another, length of time spent in an organisation by the attitude of employees towards the new incentive introduced recently? In addition, you need to consider which statistical tests you plan to apply to evaluate the association/differences between the variables. For example, if you propose to measure correlation between the variables to test whether there are significant correlations between them you have to select an appropriate test of correlation that could get the result you need.

Selection of Method and Tools of Data Collection

There are three primary methods of data collection, namely, observation, interview and questionnaire. Under these three methods are included several research instruments such as, psychological test, achievement tests, interview schedules, etc. You will learn about these methods in chapters 10,11,12. In these chapters the methods are explained in details so that you can use them to design and carry out a study based on questionnaires or interviews, and in field studies using different types of observation techniques. It also describes different forms of what might be called data collection procedures for using secondary data. It is important to note that the research instruments are for the measurement of variables. Every variable has certain attributes of its own, amenable to measurement by different types of scaling, namely, nominal, ordinal, ratio and interval.

Similarly, these are variables which are amenable only to rigorous standardised tests, like those of intelligence, reasoning ability, etc. There are others which can be measured through inventories or questionnaires. Then there are variables which necessitate the use of interviews with probing questions to be able to go into the details of a process. The common mistake in this area is the use of incompatible instruments vis-à-vis the variables being measured; for example, researchers may use a questionnaire to measure attitude. Similarly, in the name of a questionnaire, researchers may actually frame an opinionnaire. Sometimes researchers use questionnaires for conducting interviews as if a questionnaire is no different from an interview schedule. More often than not, interviewing is called for when a lead question to ‘Yes’ and/or ‘If no’ kind of situation. The points to be borne in mind while preparing a research proposal are the following:

 1) Whether the researcher has chosen a tool of data collection that can actually measure the variables.

2) Whether the tool of data collection has been picked up from an existing stock or has been constructed by the researcher. In case of the former, whether the researcher has checked its validity, and reliability. In case the researcher has used the tool of data collection on his/her own, has care been taken to check the attributes of the tool, a dependable tool of data collection, be it a questionnaire, inventory or an interview schedule.

 3) Whether the researcher has tested the feasibility of the use of the tool of data collection.

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