This document discusses various methods and tools for collecting data in empirical research. It describes primary and secondary data sources and different types of data collection methods including interviews, questionnaires, observation, and biophysical measurements. Specifically, it provides details on structured, unstructured, and semi-structured interviews. It also explains different types of questions that can be used in questionnaires such as open-ended, closed-ended, rating scales, and Likert scales. Advantages and disadvantages of interviews and questionnaires as data collection methods are highlighted.

1. DATACOLLECTION METHOD

2. INTRODUCTION:
Data are the observation and measurable facts that provide information about
the phenomenon under study. A systematic collection and analysis of data are
most vital to any empirical research. It is most essential for a research to have
appropriate methods of data collection so that planned study variables can be
adequately measured and accurate conclusion can be drawn.

3. Data sources
In research studies two types of data are collected; those are primary and
secondary data. Data are numerical facts/information. They are figures
collected in a systematic manner for a pre determined purpose.
1.Primary sources:
Primary data are those which are collected for the first time and are
original in character.
2.Secondary sources:
Secondary data are those which have already been collected by someone
else and which have through some statistical analysis

4. Data Sources
Primary Secondary
People
Objects
Programmes External Internal
Biographs
Dairies, Letters.
Unpublished Published
Journals Magazines Thesis
News Paper Dissert
Government Report Official Repot
Census Report

5. Types of methods and tools of data collection.
Types of methods/techniques Tools for data collection
1.INTERVIEW Interview schedule
opinionnaire.
2. QUESTIONING Questionnarie
opinionnaire.
Attitude scale
visual analogue scale
3. OBSERVATION Rating scale, check list,
anecdotes, videotapes/ films.
4.BIOPHYSIOLOGIC In-vivo bio physiologic
measurements
In-vitro bio physiologic
measurements.
5. OTHERS Projective technique
Q-sorts, Vignettes

6. 1. Interview
The interview is a process of communication or interaction in which the subjects or interview
gives the needed information verbally in a face to face situation.
Interviewing is a popular way of gathering information in qualitative a research. Interview
provides a wide range of data. Its provides information about person’s feeling, perception, and
opinions. Interview is used effectively to collect useful information about individual in many
research situations.
Types:
• Structured interview
• Unstructured interview
• Semi structured
• In-depth interview
• Focused group interview

7. 1. Structured interview :
in which interviewer has an interview scheduled in which questions are listed in
the order in which they are to be answered, it is also known as standardized
interviews. Same questions are put to all the respondents and in the same order, not
permitted to change wording of interview schedule.
Ex:
2. Unstructured interview :
Is method wherein the questions can be changed to meet the respondent
intelligence, understanding, and beliefs. The interviewer encourages the respondent
to talk freely about given topic, no preplanned scheduled is used. It is not
formalized and has open ended questions, useful for gathering information on
sensitive topics.
Eg: like divorse , social discrimination , drug addiction and etc
3. Semi structured interview:
is a flexible method that allows new questions to be brought up during the
interview, depending upon the situation during the interview.
Interview Guide,
Features Informal List Of Topics And Questions,
Different Method For Different Participants
4. In-depth group interview:
It is aimed at studying the respondents opinion and emotions on the basis of
interview guide. This required more training and interpersonal skills than
structured interview.

8. 5. Focused group interview:
Is an unstructured group interview technique where 8-12 members are
brought together under the guidance of trained interviewer to focus on a specific
phenomenon.
Its purpose is to gain insight from the appropriate sample or target population. The
researcher tries to focus his/her attention on a particular aspect of a problem. It is a
carefully planned discussion where the interviewer guides discussion according to
written set of questions or topics to be covered.
Characteristics:
 It consists of 8-12 members homogeneous in term of demographic and
socioeconomic characteristics.
 Duration of interview is 1.5-2 hours.
 All information including facial expression and language is recorded.
 It has moderator to lead the discussion .
 It free from inflexibility of formal methods.

9. Steps For An Effective Interview
Prepare interview schedule
Select subjects/ key Respondant Conduct the
Interview
Analyze and interpret data collected from the interview

10. Advantages:
• Wide range of information is collected.
• It stimulates new idea and creative concepts.
• Participants feel more comfortable
• It involves many participants at one time.
Disadvantages:
• It is an expensive Method
• Interviewer bias
• Respondent bias
• Time consuming

11. 2. Questionnaire.
Questionnaire is most popular methods of conducting research. They provide a convenient way of gathering
information from target population. They are cost effective and easy to construct and analyze. It is a planned
self reported from designed to elicit information though written or verbal responses of the subjects.
KEY POINT:
• Should be short and simple
• Follow a sequence of questions from easy to difficult one
• Technical terms should be avoided
• Should provide adequate space for answers in questionnaire
• Directions regarding the filling of questionnaire should be given Physical Appearance –
Quality of paper, Color
• Sequence must be clear

12. Types of questions
Open format questions: are those questions that provide opportunity to
the respondents to express their opinions and answer in their own way.
Example: state yours opinion about the about the quality of health care
services in Gujarat.
Closed format questions: these questions offer respondents a number of
alternative replies from which the subjects must choose the that most
likely matches the appropriate answer.
Subtypes of closed format questions:
a. Dichotmous : these requires the respondent to make a choice between
two responses, such as Yes/No or Male/Female.
Example: Have you ever been hospitalized.
(a)Yes (b)No

13. b. Multiple choice questions: in this a respondents to make a choice
between more than two response alternatives.
Example: which of the following disease is sexually transmitted?
a) DM b) HTN c)hypothyroidism d) syphilis
c. Cafeteria questions: is special type of multiple choice questions that
task respondents to select a response that closely corresponds to there
views.
Example : what do you think about hormone replacement?
a)It is dangerous , should be avoided.
b)One should be cautious while using it.
c)I am uncertain about my views.
d)It is beneficial, should be promoted

14. .
d. Rank order questions: these questions ask respondents to rank
their responses from most favorable to least favorable.
Example: what according to you is most important for your life?
a.Money b. education c. family. d. health.
e. Contingency questions : a questions that is asked further only if
the respondent gives a particular responses to a previous questions.
Example: Q. Are you stressed?
a.No b. Yes. If yes, what are the reasons?.
f. Rating questions: These questions ask respondents to judge
something along an ordered dimension. Respondent is generally
required to provide rating to a specific element on a scale selecting
among the points from poor to good. They may provide a number of
choices.
Example: how you rank the primary education in India.
1 2 3 4
Good Fair Poor Very poor

15. g. Importance questions: in this, respondents are asked to rate the
important of a particular issues on a rating scale of 1-5. this helps to
know the things/issues that are importance to a respondent.
Example: exercising every day is………. For the health.
h. Likert questions: Likert questions help to know how strongly he
respondent agree with a particular statement. These questions help to
assess how respondent feels towards a certain issues/services.
Example: Is this community a good place to raise children?
1 2 3 4 5
Extremely
important
Very
important
Somewhat
important
Not very important Not at all
important
1 2 3 4 5
Strongly agree Agree uncertain Disagree Strongly agree

16. i. Bipolar questions: bipolar questions are questions that have two
extreme answer. Respondent has to mark his/her responses two opposite
ends of the scale.
Example: what is your balance of preference her?
I like going for walk ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) I like watching
movie .
j. Matrix questions: matrix questions include multiple questions, and
identical response categories are assigned. Questions are placed one
under another, forming a matrix. Response categories are placed along
the top and a list of questions down the side.
Example: please let us know your weekly schedule of the following.
Weekly schedule Mon Tue Wed Thu Sat Sun
Gym
Weight training
Aerobics
Diet
Drink

17. Advantages :
• Low cost –even when the universe is large and is widespread
• Free from interviewer bias
• Respondents have adequate time to think through the answers.
• Respondents who are not easily approachable, can also be reached
conveniently.
• Large samples can be used.
Disadvantages:
• Time consuming
• The respondents need to be educated and cooperative
• This method is slow
• Possibility of unclear replies

18. Likert scale
Likert scale was named after a psychologist Rensis likert. Its also known as
Summated rating scale. Likert, is extremely popular for measuring
attitudes, because, the method is simple to administer. With the Likert
scale, the respondents indicate their own attitudes by checking how
strongly they agree or disagree with carefully worded statements that range
from very positive to very negative towards the attitudinal
• Respondents generally choose from five alternatives (say strongly agree,
agree, neither agree nor disagree, disagree, strongly disagree).
Uses :
• Basically it is used to measure the attitude values, and feelings of the
people about specific concepts such as people, places, objects,
practices polices and so on.
• It have quantified measurement of the qualitative attributes of people.

20. Semantic Differential Scale
This is a seven point rating scale with end points associated with bipolar
labels (such as good and bad, complex and simple) that have semantic
meaning. It can be used to find whether a respondent has a positive or
negative attitude towards an object. It has been widely used in comparing
brands, products and company images. It has also been used to develop
advertising and promotion strategies and in a new product development
study.

21. • Example:
HIV/AIDS
CURE [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] DEATH
NO PUNICHEMENT [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6] PUNISHMENT
NORMAL LIFE [1 ] [2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] MISERABLE LIFE

22. Visual analogous scale:
It is a widely used psychomotor responses scale, which is a measurement
instrument for subjective characteristics or attitudes that can not be directly
measured. This has 10cm lines and the ends mark semantic opposites. (ex
alert-drowsy)
Uses: To measures
• Level of pain, anxiety, mood.
• Alertness, quality of sleep, severity of clinical symptoms, and functional
ability.
• Drug effect, quality team work.
• For example no pain worst pain ever

23. 3. Observation
Observation method is a method under which data from the field is
collected with the help of observation by the observer or by personally
going to the field. Is way gathering the data by watching behavior,
events or noting physical characteristics in their natural setting.
In the words of P.VYoung
“Observation may be defined as systematic viewing, coupled with
consideration of seen phenomenon.”

24. Uses :
• To understand an ongoing process or situation
• To gather data on individual behavior or interaction between people.
• To know about a physical setting.
• Data collection where other methods or not possible.
Types of observation:
Structured Observation: When the observation is characterized by a careful
definition of the units to be observed, the style of recording the observed
information, standardized conditions of observation and the selection of related
data of observation.
Eg: assessing ward management.
Unstructured Observation: When it takes place without the above characteristics.
Participant Observation: When the observer is member of the group which he is
observing then it is Participant Observation.
Non-Participant Observation: When observer is observing people without giving
any information to them then it is Non-Paricipant Observation.

25. Merits:
• Collect data so as to when and where an activity or event is
happening.
• Does not believe on people ability or willingness to give information.
• Directly allows you to notice what people do rather than checking wat
people tell that they did.
Demerits:
• Observer bias
• Hawthrone effect
• Time consuming

26. 3. BIOPHYSIOLOGIC METHODS
Biophysiologic method involves the collection of biophysiologic data from
subjects by using the specialized equipment to determine biological and
physical status of subjects.
Example blood pressure measurement by using special equipment, such as
sphygmomanometer and stethoscope.
Purposes:
• To study basic physiologic process
• To study physiologic outcome of nursing care
• To evaluate nursing intervention
• To study correlation of physiologic functioning in patient with health
problems.

27. Types of biophysiologic methods
1. In-vivo biophysiologic methods: performed directly to measure
processes occurring internally within living organisms through medical
or surgical instruments, Eg: TPR, BP Monitoring.
Example:
• blood pressure measurement by using special equipment, such as
sphygmomanometer and stethoscope.
• Measuring cardiac conduction using ECG machine.
• Measuring temperature using thermometer.
2. in-vitro biophysiologic method: physiologic processes are
measured and analysis is done outside the organism, eg blood test.
radiologic, biochemical, cytologic, microbiological measurement.

28. Advantages biophysiologic methods :
• Accurate and errorless
• Objective in nature
• Valid measurement
• Easily available instruments
Disadvantages biophysiologic methods :
• Very expensive
• Result may be affected by Environment.
• Fear and anxiety
• Health hazards

29. 5. Others
A. Projective technique: this involves a wide arrary of games and tasks
in which respondents need to participate during an interview or group is
to extend, facilitate, or enhance the discussion nature. Basically taken
in a psychotherapeutic setting and loosely based on differnent
approaches, some are called projectives technique.
Definition : these are methods for measuring psychologic
attributes(values, attitude, and personality) by providing respondents
with unstructured stimuli to which they respond.

30. METHODS
• word association test.
• Sentence completion test
• Story completion test
• Thematic apperception test(TAT)
• Horn picture arrangement test
• Expresive technique.

31. Q-SORTS
• Q-sorts are powerful tools in which the participants are presented
with card arrangement. In this technique, the participants are
provided prewritten cards with words, phrases, or statement, and are
asked to arrange these cards in an order along with a specific bipolar
dimension. Q-sorts idea ito inquire into the subjectivity of human
mind.
Examples: to analyse nurse –patient relationship in greater depth.
• We can utilize the Q method to evaluate whether attitudes or
perception of nurses following implementation

32. Vignettes
In order to explore peoples belief perception, and meaning about
some particular situations, vignettes act as a valuable and are
especially helpful for important inquiry areas that may not be promptly
Accessible through any other means.
Example:
1. It can be used in exploring the ethical frameworks by mentioning
the thinking of children regarding family issues.
2. research into postdivorce family life uses vignettes as a beneficial
method of exploring moral codes of young people and their
contigent status within various contexts.

33. Conclusion
Primary data are original in character because the researcher himself
collects the data. Secondary data are not original. They collected by
somebody else. The researcher only makes use of them.

34. References:
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hippin cott; sixth ed.
• Treece & Treece, Elements of Nursing Research
• Nieswiadomy, R.M. Foundations of Nursing Research. Appleton & Lange,
USA 2nd Ed.
• Kidder, L.H. & Judd, C.M. Research Methods in Social Relations, HRW
international Editions, CBS Publishing Japan Ltd. 5th Ed.
• Prrockopp D.Y. and Tolsma M.T. Hastings Fundamentals of Nursing
Research, Jones and Bart lett Publishers, Third Edition.
• Nancy Burn & Susan K. Grove. Understanding Nursing Research W.B.
Sannders Co. 1995
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Advancing the Humanistic Imperative. Lippincott, 2nd Ed.
• Polit D.F Essentials of Nursing Research J.B. Lippincott co, 2nd Ed.