2. Content
Data Collection methods/qualitative Vs.
Quan.
Tools for data collection – types,
characteristics and their development
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3. Data collection
Data- is any information that has been
collected, observed, generated or created
to validate original research findings
Data Collection method: The process by
which the researcher collects the
information needed to answer the research
problem
Data : -is raw material that is to be
processed
Information:- is the processed data
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4. Data Collection
The 5 W’s of data collection are:
1. What data is to be collected?
2. From whom data is to be collected?
3. Who will collect data?
4. From where the data will be collected?
5. When is the data collected?
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5. Data Collection Method
• Involves data collection directly from
the subjects by the researcher or
trained data collector.
• Data collected are specifically for the
purpose of research e.g. Surveys,
Interview, Observations etc
Primary Data
collection
method
• It involves of use of the data that were
collected for various purposes other
than current research.
• Eg., diaries, nurses notes, care plans,
patient medication record, statistical
abstracts, census reports neither
published or unpublished data
Secondary
Data
collection
method
NB: Both do have their own pros and cons
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6. Tools for Data Collection
A device/instrument used by the researcher to collect data
(to measure the concept of interest)
Self report:
Questionnaire, attitude scale, semantic differential scale, visual
analogue scale.
Observation :
Check list, Process recording video tapes etc.,
Bio physiological :
In-vitro
In-vivo
Checklists – used for observation and record review
Interview guide – used in unstructured interviews
Questionnaire – used for interviewing and self-administered questionnaire
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7. Types of Data Collection
Methods
1. Self reports
Interview
Unstructured
Semi structured
Structured
questionnaire
SAQ
2. Observational method
3. Bio-physiologic
measurements
4. Psychometric
measurements
5. Other - projective
technique
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• Various steps or strategies used for gathering
and analyzing data in a research
8. 10/26/2023
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The selection method for collecting data
depends on:
Availability of resources
Credibility
Analysis and reporting_
The skill of the evaluator/researcher
9. Self - Reports
It is a method in which information is
gathered by questioning people.
By questioning, good amount of
information can be gathered.
Self – Reports/2/
Interview methods
Self administered questionnaire (SAQ)
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11. Interview
Most common method in qualitative and
descriptive studies.
Investigator collect data directly from the
participants by having face to face contact, to
obtain factual data about opinion, attitude etc.
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12. Interview: Benefits
Provides in–depth and detailed information
Data from illiterate subjects
Higher Response
Clarify mis-understanding
Ask questions at several levels
Helps to gather supplementary information
Use of special devices
Accuracy can be checked
Flexible and adaptable 10/26/2023
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13. In-depth interview
In-depth interview is a technique designed
to elicit a vivid picture of the participants’
perspective on the research topic on
individual basis.
Key informant interview?
Applied for more knowledgeable people
about local issues, study theme, more
expert, give more depth and breadth
information.
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15. Focus – Group
In this interviews, homogenous group of 6-10
people whose opinions and experiences are
solicited simultaneously.
The interviewer/ researcher guide the
discussion according to written set of questions
or topics.
It is a planned discussion.
Duration of the discussion ranges from 1.5-2
hours.
All the verbal & non-verbal information is
recorded
Ample opportunity is given to respondents to
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16. Focus – Group Interviews
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• Advantages
1. Efficient and can
generate a lot of
information.
2. Stimulates new ideas
and creative concepts
3. Involves many
participants at one time.
4. Participants may feel
comfortable to answer in
a group with similar
interests.
• Disadvantages
1. Chances of client or
researcher’s bias.
2. May be difficult to
moderate by one
person.
3. Data difficult to code,
analyze and interpret.
4. Focus group may not be
representative of entire
population.
17. For further reading/additional types qual self
reports
Joint Interviews
Life Histories
Critical Incidents
Diaries and Journals
Photo- Elicitation Interviews
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19. Questioning
This method allows the researcher to
gather information by asking the questions
orally (interview) or by means of a formal,
written document (questionnaire).
Questionnaire - is a structured instrument
consisting of a series of questions
prepared by researcher on a paper and
that a subject is asked to complete either
through pencil or through a computer and
is used to gather data r/t phenomenon
under study. 10/26/2023
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20. Questioning
• The instrument is called a SAQ when
respondents complete the instrument
themselves, usually in a paper & pencil format.
• SAQ also known as ‘survey’
• NB: How To prepare the SAQ?
• Methods of Questionnaire Administration:
1. Direct Administration-Researcher will distribute
the questionnaire and respondent answer items
by writing or checking against correct response.
2. Post or e-mail including all electronic means
(Mailed questionnaire)
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21. Questionnaire: Types of
Questions
• Open-ended questions
• Provide opportunity to the respondents to
express their opinions and answers in their
own way. No predetermined set of
responses.
• Provide true, insightful and unexpected
suggestions.
Example:
• What did you do when you discovered you
had AIDS? 10/26/2023
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22. Questionnaire: Types of
Questions
• Closed-ended questions
• Closed–ended questions or fixed-
alternative questions- Response
alternatives are pre-specified by the
researcher.
• Facilitate easy statistical analysis.
• Can be asked to different groups at
different intervals.
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24. Scales
Scale is a device designed to assign a
numeric score to people to place them on
a continuum with respect to attributes
being measured.
Used to measure subjective variables
objectively
Measuring the score between two opposite
concepts tells about the attitude of a
subject towards the direction of positive or
negative attitude in a scale.
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27. Observation
• It is a technique of collecting all the data
or acquiring information through
occurrences that can be observed
through senses, with or without
mechanical devices.
• Use to :
understand an ongoing process or
situation.
gather data on individual behaviors or
interactions between people.
know about physical setting.
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28. Observation……
Advantages:
Collect data where and when an event or
activity is occurring.
Does not rely on people’s willingness or ability
to provide information.
Validity of data is more.
Disadvantages:
Susceptible to observer’s biases
Expensive & Time consuming
Do not provide data about the rationale of
people’s activities
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30. Checklist
Checklists includes several items on a
topic and require same response format of
all items
It consists of a list of items with a place to
check or to mark “Yes or No”.
A checklist enables the observer to record
presence or absence of trait
It consists of a listing of steps, activities,
and behaviours which the observer
records when an incident occurs
Useful for evaluating skills, behaviour,
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31. Checklist: Example
Sr.
No
Behaviors Remarks
Yes No
1. Explains procedure
2. Arrange equipment for convenient use
3. Prepares patient
4. Washes hands
5. Maintains aseptic techniques
6. Removes dressing
7. Observes condition of wound
8. Cleans wound
9. Applies dressing
10. Makes patient comfortable
11. Complete charting
To evaluate student’s performance during surgical
dressing
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33. Bio-Physiological Methods
• It involves the collection of bio-
physiological data from subjects by using
the specialized equipment to determine
physical and biological status of objects
• Purpose:
To study physiological outcome of care
To evaluate medical interventions
To study correlation of physiological
functioning in patients with health
problems 10/26/2023
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34. Bio-Physiological Methods: Types
In vivo
• Performed directly to measure
processes occurring internally within
living organisms through medical or
surgical instruments
• E.g. BP Monitoring
In vitro
• Physiological processes are measured
and analyses done outside the
organism
• E.g. Blood tests, X-Ray, CT- Scan,
MRI, PET Scan, Culture & Sensitivity
Tests etc.
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35. Bio-Physiological Methods
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Advantage
More accurate and error-
less
More objective in nature
Provide valid measures
for targeted variables
Disadvantage
Requires use of
expensive instruments
Requires significant
amount of training,
knowledge & experience
Use of instruments may
cause fear & anxiety
May have harmful effects
on participants such as
repeated X-Ray exposure
36. Quality of tools
• An ideal data collection procedure is one
that captures a construct in such a way
that is relevant, credible, accurate, truthful
and sensitive.
• Criteria for assessing quantitative tools are
Validity
Adopting from valid previous literatures
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38. Importance of Combining Different Data
Collection Techniques
Combined Different Data Collection Techniques:
complement each other for their advantages
and disadvantages
reduce the chance of bias
give a more comprehensive understanding of
the topic under study
Reading Ass’t: Bias in Data Collection
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39. Data collection process
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Permission to proceed
Obtaining consent from the relevant authorities,
individuals and the community in which the project
is to be carried out
Data collection
Logistics:
who will collect what,
when and
with what resources
40. Data collection…
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Quality control:
– Prepare a field work manual
– Select your research assistants
– Train research assistants
– Supervision
– Check for completeness and accuracy
Data handling
Number questionnaires
Identify the person responsible for storing data and
the place where it will be stored
41. Pre-test
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It refers to a small-scale trial of particular research
components
data-collection tools
clarity of language,
acceptability of questions,
accuracy of translation,
time needed to administer the questionnaire,
need to pre-categorize some answers,
need for additional instructions
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Availability and willingness of respondents
Sampling procedures
Procedures for data processing and analysis
work plan and budget for research activities
Transcribing is the procedure for producing a written version of the interview or discussion. It is a full "script" of the interview or discussion
Verbatim transcription: word by word script
Transcribing is a time consuming process. The estimated ratio of time required for transcribing interviews is about 5:1 hour
Transcribe audiotapes as soon as possible after the interview or discussion
Immediate recall is essential for capturing subtle nuances, verbal and nonverbal
Transcribe in original language and then translate?
• Transcriber, trying to stay as close as possible to the original meaning
Reliability: Consistency and accuracy of the measuring instrument.
Three aspect of reliability:
Stability
Internal consistency
Equivalence
Stability
It is the extent to which the similar result are obtained on two separate administration.
Test-retest reliability- Administration of same tool on same sample on two different occasion and then compare the scores by computing reliability coefficient (correlation coefficient between two scores)
Internal consistency
The extent that tool measure the same trait.
Split-half technique- Items are split in two group, usually odd and even items.
Tool is administered and two set of score (odd and even) is summed from each subjects.
Calculation of correlation coefficient between two set of score.
Equivalence:
Equal in value, amount between observer.
Inter-rater / inter-observer reliability: Two or more trained observer watch an event simultaneously and independently, and record data.
Ensure the delivery of the tool in same manner again and again.
Validity:- The degree to which an instrument measures what is supposed to measure.
Difficult to establish as compared to reliability
Face validity- Refers to whether instrument looks as though it is measuring the appropriate construct.
Content validity- Concern the degree to which an instrument has an appropriate sample of items of the construct being measured. Done by panel of experts.
Criterion related validity- determining the relationship between an instrument and external criterion.
Instrument is valid if the its score correlates highly with the score on the criteria .
Example: Nurses professionalism scale and no. of research publications (criterion).
Score was correlated with no. of research publications. More research articles ----more score on professionalism.
Sensitivity- Ability of the instrument to identify the case correctly. (True positive)
Specificity – Ability to identify non cases correctly. (True negatives)
Efficiency- Instruments which need less time and energy/training to measure the construct correctly