Instruments of data collection

1. Conducting interview
 Talking to somebody is a very easy task yet conducting an
interview require a skill.
 An interview is a social interaction and therefore the
interviewer has to create an atmosphere of friendship with
the informant.
 As a interviewer, you must begin by making an appointment
at a date and time convienient to respondent so that she/he
can give you honest open answers.
 Sometimes speaking to an informant before the actual
interview may help create an atmosphere of friendship.

2. Conducting interview cont.
 While carrying out the interview, avoid being
judgmental, giving clues and showing expressions of
approval or disapproval.
 The interviewer must not direct the respondent answers
through his/her tone of voice or through the way he/she
phrases a question, e.g. 'You agree with us that this is
right, don't you?

3. Interview
Advantages
 You can use an interview with
people who cannot read or write.
 It provides immediate answers
 It is flexible and allows you to
make changes where necessary
 An interview gives you a chance
to observe the respondent
 The respondent can be asked to
clarify unclear answers and can
follow up on interesting answers
Disadvantages
 The respondent may not feel
free to give certain answers
in your presence.
 The respondent may try to
please you by giving you
misleading answers that
she/he thinks are the
answers you are expecting.

4. Questionnaire
 A questionnaire is a list of questions each with a range
of answers from which the respondent can choose.
 The questionnaire can either be structure or
unstructured.
 However, most of the questionnaire are designed in a
structured manner, where the respondent is given
alternatives from which to choose.

5. Questionnaire
 Usually, using Likert scale which allows the respondent to
evaluate idea or attitude statements along four or five point
scale.
 For example Strongly
agree_____ Agree_____disagree_____ Strongly
agree_____
 The open ended questions allow the respondent to answer
the questions in their own way.
 For example, Foreign Aid always has strings attached.
 The respondent will freely express his opinion about the
assertion made.

6. Questionnaire
Advantages
 Data to be gathered is in a standardised
format
 The questionnaire is easy to design
 Data collected is ready for analysis
 The questionnaire is good for gathering
information from a large population or
cases
 The questionnaire can easily be
answered
 If the data is gathered from statistical
sample, the findings may be generalized.
Disadvantages
 The questionnaire has a problem of high
rate of non return.In other words most
the researcher will only receive 60
percent of questionnaire distributed which
may result in a biased sample
 Gives the researcher only limited access
to in-depth experience and feelings
 It provides a limited chances for
respondent to answer questions in their
own way
 It is mostly effective in a large sample
 The questionnaire may exclude some
groups of people

7. Observation sheet
 Observation is the collection of data by watching somethings
happen in real life situation and do the recording as the events
unfold.
 The use tally marks is very important and one should make a tally
whenever the observed behaviour occurs.
 The observation can be divided into simple
observation and participant observation.
 In simple observation, the observer is not part of the process that
is being researched, but an objective outsider.
 Simple observation collects data as it unfolds, while in participant
observation the observer is involved in a group of people who are
subject of research.

8. Observation
Advantages
 Takes place in the real world
 Can provide a clear picture of the
social phenomena observed
 Information collected through
observation is reliable and
accurate
 Data collected through participant
is loaded and detailed
 Observation does not need the
skill of communication
Disadvantages
 It can be difficult to decide
what to observe and record
 Observation is time-
consuming
 Researcher can become
bored and lose objectivity
 It is difficult to observe
everything
 In participant observation
people may pretentious in
their actions