RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: DATA COLLECTION

INTRODUCTION

The concerning link to the world reality for the researcher

An integral part of the research activity and is relevant for analysis in a meaningful manner

An act performed by the researcher that provides a deeper understanding and exploration of live experiences and reality from real world (Strauss & Corbin, 1998)

AIM AND PURPOSE OF DATA COLLECTION

To gather real descriptions of related field in order to produce clear and accurate descriptions of a particular aspect of human experiences (Creswell, 2011; Singh, 2007; Tashakkori & Teddle, 1998).

To explore the personal sense, facts, understanding and central themes with reflection on the respondents’ views.

NO ONE BEST WAY

Decision Depends On: What you need to know

numbers or stories Where the data reside

environment, files, people

Resources and time available Complexity of the data to be collected Frequency of data collection

DATA COLLECTION GENERAL RULES

Use available data if they already exist If using available data, be sure to find out how they:

collected the data defined the variables ensured accuracy of the data

If you must collect original data: establish procedures and follow them maintain accurate records of definitions and coding pre-test, pre-test, pre-test verify accuracy of coding, data input

WHICH DATA?

If you: Then Use:

-want to do statistical analysis- know exactly what you want to measure-want to cover a large group

Quantitative

-want anecdotes or in-depth information-are not sure what you want to measure-do not need to quantify

Qualitative

HOW TO DECIDE ON DATA COLLECTION APPROACH

Choice depends on the situation Each technique is more appropriate in some situations

than others Caution: All techniques are subject to bias Combinations

Can use a variety of data collection approaches to answer different questions or for multiple sources

Triangulation: collect same information using different approaches

DATA AND ITS TYPES

The building block of any research The values collected through record-keeping or polling,

observing measuring Different forms of data- numbers, transcripts of

interviews, maps, photographs, videotapes of social interaction

Categories of data Subjective vs objective Qualitative vs quantitative Primary vs secondary

DATA AND ITS TYPES

Collected or expressed in two forms: Facts and opinions

Facts: usually describe tangible things Example: 18 students in this class

Opinions: a view or judgment formed in the mind about a particular matter; a belief stronger than impression and less stronger than positive knowledge Example: In my view “loktantra le janata lai kehi soche jasto

paribartan diyen”

DATA, INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE

Operational or transactional data Such as sales, cost, inventory, payroll, and accounting

Non-operational data Such as industry sales, forecast data, economic or political

indicators, agricultural statistics, and macroeconomic trends Meta data

Such as logical database designs

SOURCES OF DATA

Secondary sources Primary sources

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR DATA COLLECTION

Cost Implementation time Availability of sample Response rate Technology available Sensitive questions Size and complexity

SECONDARY SOURCES

Secondary Data

Documents and recordsWritten documents-original records, notice and publications-websites and internets-Committee reports-books, journal, newspaper and research reportsNon-written records-CD-ROMs, Films, tape interviews-TV and radio recordings-Picture and drawings

Surveys Censuses -population-land holding-industrial-employment-agriculturalRegular and occasional surveys-price index-family income and spending-labor market-import and export-organizational surveys-international indexes- attitude surveys-occupational surveys

PRIMARY DATA: SOURCES AND METHODS

Original data gathered by the researcher expressly to solve the problem under consideration at the time

QUESTIONNAIRE

Questionnaire is a device for securing answer to questions using a form which respondent fills in himself/herself

A means of gathering information by having the respondents fill in answer to printed questions

A set of questions, which the researcher seeks from respondents in order to gain knowledge about certain specific matters.

Close-ended Questionnaire When there is a provision of answering ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or

choosing one of the alternatives, it is closed-ended questionnaire.

Open-ended Questionnaire When there is a provision of inviting free response of the

respondents, it is called open-ended questionnaire. The respondents are free to send his ideas in such

questionnaire.Pictorial Questionnaire When the questions and their answers of the

questionnaire are presented in the form of pictures, it is known as pictorial questionnaire.

Commonly used for less educated or uneducated people.

PRINCIPLES OF QUESTIONNAIRE WRITING

Target the vocabulary and grammar to the population be surveyed

Avoid ambiguity, confusion and vagueness Determine the content of individual questions Avoid leading questions Avoid double-barreled questions Don’t assume the respondents are experts on themselves Avoid asking recall-dependent questions Be careful of inadequate alternatives

PRINCIPLES OF QUESTIONNAIRE WRITING

Ask for only one piece of information at a time Ensure those ask questions have necessary knowledge Sensitive issues End the questionnaire in a gentle and friendly manner

GUIDE TO QUESTIONNAIRE CONSTRUCTION

Identify the data needs Formulate questions Organize the questionnaire Pre-test the questionnaire Select paper and type carefully Send a letter of introduction with the questionnaire

RESEARCH INTERVIEW

A verbal method of securing data especially in the field of search connected with social problems

A two-way purposeful conversation initiated by and interviewer to obtain information that is relevant to research purpose

The process of interaction between interviewer and interviewee, in which interviewee provides information to the interviewer

The gestures, glances, facial expressions, pauses modulation of voice, intonation, rare of speech etc also a part of interview.

INTERVIEW-STEPS Preliminary Preparation

This step is undertaken to select the respondents for the collection of their addresses and so on.

An interviewer needs proper persons who can provide correct or reliable information.

It needs to select proper respondents as per the need of subject matter.

First VisitTo conduct the interview in a well way, it is better to contact the respondents firstly and explain them the purpose of our forthcoming visit.

Visit for InterviewThe researcher should visit the respondent on the proper date and time given to the respondents. This gives an impression that the researcher is sincere of the time of respondents.

Beginning of Interview The interviewer should begin asking questions in full seriousness. The researcher must patiently wait for and listen to the answers. In

addition, should conduct the interview with limited subject matter and without being bias.

EncouragementOnce the interview has begun, the respondents should be encouraged to provide answer of any enquiries of the researchers without any fear.

Concluding the Interview The interviewer should ask the respondents at the end if s/he has

anything more to tell. The respondents sometimes feel uneasy since they may think that they

have passed on some secret information of their private lives. Under such circumstances, the interviewee should be given a firm

assurance that the interview is strictly confidential. The respondents should be thanked at last for the time they have spared.

INTERVIEW-TYPES

Directive Interview Known as the structured interview. The responses are collected through well-structured

questions known as interview schedule. This helps the interviewers to confine themselves to

the topic only rather than asking about some irrelevant questions.

This type of interview is also useful to make careful tabulations and comparisons of the answers.

The main weakness of this interview technique is that it cannot be applied in all situations and the questions that are used may fail to drag the real opinions of the respondents

The Repeated Interview As its name, this type of interview is applied

repeatedly. It is very useful in an attempt to study the specific

development of social or psychological process i.e. progressive action.

Paul Lazarasfeld and his associates used this method to study the voting behavior of US people in American Presidential Election.

Although it is very useful to study the developmental side of an issue, it is an expensive in terms of time, energy and money.

Other types of interview Focused group interview Face to face interview Telephone interview Computer-assisted interview In-depth Interview

INTERNET DATA COLLECTION (IDC)

What is Internet Data Collection(IDC) Features of Internet Data Collection form

Save as draft function Validation checks Other checks Displayed information

IDC Respondent Role Advantages of Internet Data Collection System Requirement

Form design guidance Notification Verification Enumeration Incomplete Forms Confirmation

Security issue in handling IDC Security Threats Security of Data Transmission Authentication Encryption

DELPHI TECHNIQUE

Enables experts who live in different locations to engage in a dialogue

Experts asked specific questions Answers are returned to a central source for the evaluator

to summarize and feed it back to the experts for further comments

No one knows who said what so conflict is avoided Experts can agree or argue with others’ comments

ADVANTAGES AND CHALLENGESOF DELPHI TECHNIQUE

Advantages Inexpensive Conducive to independent thinking Allows sharing of information

Challenges Judgments of a selected group only Tendency to eliminate extreme positions Time consuming and requires skill in communication Requires adequate time and participant commitment