This document discusses various methods and tools for data collection. It describes primary and secondary data collection methods. For primary methods, it covers qualitative self-reports like interviews and questionnaires, as well as observational methods and bio-physiological measurements. It provides details on different types of interviews, questionnaires, scales, checklists, and bio-physiological equipment. It also discusses the advantages and disadvantages of these various data collection methods and tools.

1. Methods & tools of
data collection
By: Tamrat S.
Module VI

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published or unpublished data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

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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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10. 10/26/2023
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Qualitative Self-
Reports

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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14. Transcriptions, translation?
 When to do transcription ?
 Verbatism?
 Translation?
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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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18. 10/26/2023
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Quantitative Self-Reports

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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23. Questionnaire: Types of
Questions
• Closed-ended questions
 Dichotomous Questions
 Multiple-choice Questions
 Rank-order Questions
 Rating Questions
 Likert Questions
 Matrix Questions
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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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25. Scales: Types/ Reading assignment
Likert Scale
Semantic
Differential Scale
Visual Analogue
Scale
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26. OBSERVATION
Participant Vs. Non.
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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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29. Observation
Observation/tools to be used
Checklist
Video Recording
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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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32. BIO-PHYSIOLOGICAL METHODS
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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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37. 37
Which method
would be best to
use in data collection?

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

43. 43
Thank You