Data collection process in quantitative research also the methods and tools in the data collection process.

1. DATA COLLECTION PROCESS
Mr. Sushil Humane MSN, RN.

2. Concepts
• Data: the observable and measurable facts that provide information
about the phenomenon under study.
• Ex. Physical growth of the infant
• Data: physical growth in the form of weight, height, chest and head
circumference etc.

3. Data sources
• Primary source: collection of information directly from the
informant/sample ex. Interview, observation, questioning
• Secondary source: already publish papers or work of other author

4. Types of methods and tools
• Interview: interview schedule, opinionnaire
• Questioning(self report) : questionnaire, opinionnaire, attitude
scale/composite scale, visual analogue scale
• Observation: rating scale, checklists, anecdotes, videotapes/films
closed circuit TV.
• Biophysiological method: in-vivo, in-vitro
• Other: projective technique, Q-sorts, vignettes

5. Interview
• A method of data collection in which one person(interviewer) asks the
questions from another person conducted either face-to-face or
telephonically .
Types:
• Structured interviews(directive interview)
• Unstructured interviews(nondirective interview)
• Semi-structured interviews
• In-depth interviews
• Focused group interviews
• Telephonic interviews

6. Questionnaire
• A questionnaire is a structured instrument of a series of questions
prepared by researcher that a research subject is asked to complete.
Types:
• open format questions
• Closed-format questions: subtypes
• Dichotomus: yes/no type
• Multiple choice: more than 2 response ulternatives
• Cafeteria: response that closely corresponds to their views

7. Questionnaire
• Rank order questions: rank their responses from most favorable to
less favorable
• Contingency: if and elaborate
• Rating: rate on the scale or responses in scale
• Likert: how strongly you agree ?
• Matrix: weekly schedule

8. Attitude/composite scale
• Device designed to assign a numeric score to people to place them on
a continuum with respect to attributes being measured
• Likert scale: positive to negative scale,
• Somatic differential scale: bipolar adjectives with scale of points
• Visual analogous scale: for feelings and sensations ex. Pain
• Observation: structured, unstructured, participant, nonparticipant
• Rating scale: set of opinions, attitudes
• Checklist: yes/no with number of items

9. Biophysiological method
• In-vivo: performed directly to measure processes occurring internally
with in living organisms through medical or surgical instruments. Ex.
TPR, BP
• In-vitro: physiological processes are measured and analysis is done
outside the organism. Ex. Urine test

10. Projective techniques
These are methods for measuring psychologic attributes( value,
attitude, and personality) by providing respondents with unstructured
stimuli to which they respond
Types:
• Association techniques
• Completion: sentence completion, story completion
• Construction technique:

11. Q-sorts
• Participants are presented with the cards arrangement
• The participants are provided prewritten cards with words, phrases or
statements, and are asked to arrange the cards in specific bipolar
dimension.
• 60-100 cards sorted out in 9-11 pilles

12. vignettes
• It is a method that can elicit perception, opinions, belief and attitudes
from responses or comments to stories depicting scenarios and
situation.
• A short scenario in written or pictorial form

13. Validity of the research tool
Validity refers to an instrument or test actually testing what it is
supposed to be testing.
Types:
• Face validity: overall look for its appropriateness
• Content validity: scope of coverage of content
• Criterion validity: relationship between measurements of the
instrument with some external criterion.
• Construct validity: measurement issue

14. Reliability of research tool
• The degree of consistency and accuracy with which an instrument
measures the attribute for which it is designed to measure.
• How to measure reliability of tool ?
• Stability: instrument provide the same result for number of times. Ex.
test-retest
• Internal consistency: homogeneity, all the subparts must measure the
same characteristics. Ex. Split half
• Equivalence: Two different observer to observe simultaneously but
independently.

15. Pilot study
• AKA feasibility study, trial study carried out before a research design is
finalized to assist in defining the research question or to test the
feasibility, reliability, and validity of the proposed study design.
• It is conducted on 10% of total sample

16. References
• Suresh k. sharma. nursing research and statistics. 2nd edition.
• Polit, D.F. & Beck, C.T. (2017). Nursing research: Generating and
assessing evidence for nursing practice.