This document discusses various qualitative data collection methods used in descriptive research, including observations, interviews, questionnaires, surveys, and examining records. It provides details on how to conduct interviews and design questionnaires, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of different techniques. Specifically, it outlines steps for structured interviews, factors to consider in choosing data collection methods, and how to write questions to avoid biases and ensure understandability.

2. M.PHIL IN APPLIED LINGUISTICS (SESSION 2011-
2013)
DILSHAD HUSSAIN SHAH

3. DATA COLLECTION IN QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH

4.  Job analysis
 Critical components of survey
research
 Sound methodology
 Wording of questionnaire
 Advantages and disadvantages
of mailed questionnaires:
 Portfolio
 Introduction
 Significance of portfolio
 Interrelationship studies
 Case studies
 Developmental studies
 Growth studies
Contents.
 Qualitative data collection:
Definition and purpose:
 Methodologies in Descriptive
Research
 Data collection sources and
techniques
 Observing.
 Drawbacks of Observation
 Interviewing.
 Steps Involved in a structured
interview.
 Questionnaires.
 Examining records
 Survey
 School surveys

5. Qualitative data collection:
Definition and purpose:
1-Qualitative data collection, or field work,
involves spending considerable time in the
setting under study immersing oneself in this
setting and collecting relevant information un
obtrusively. Descriptive narrative and visual
data are collected to gain insights into the
phenomena of interest.
2-The type of data collected is largely
determined by the nature of the problem.

6. •
The most common ways to collect
information for descriptive research
Include:
Surveys
Interviews Observations
Portfolios. Interrelationship
studies
Developmental studies
Methodologies in Descriptive
Research.

7. Data collection sources and techniques
 Data collection sources and techniques
 Qualitative research includes data collected through
observations interviews , questionnaires , phone calls,
personal and official documents, photographs,
recordings, drawings, journals, e-mail messages and
responses, and informal conversations.
 In qualitative research the researcher is the primary
data collection instrument.

8. Observing.
 Observing.
 When qualitative researchers obtain data by watching
the participants, they are observing.
 A researcher who becomes a part of and a participant
in the situation under observation is called a
participant observer.
 A researcher can be an active participant observer; a
privileged, active observer; or a passive observer.

9. •A nonparticipant observer observes the
situation but does not participate in the
situation while observing it.
•Field notes are the records of what the
observer has seen or heard . Field notes
contain literal descriptions as well as personal
reactions and comments on what the observer
has experienced and thought about during an
observation session. Field notes may be
guided by a protocol developed prior to the
observation session.

10. Drawbacks of Observation
Some problems associated with observational
research include
Defining and developing coding schemes
Training observers
Experiencing technical errors

11. Interviewing.
•An interview is a purposeful interaction in
which one person obtains information from
another.
•The unstructured interview is like casual
conversation and allows the qualitative
researcher to inquire into something that has
presented itself as an opportunity to learn
about what is going on at the research
setting.

12. Steps Involved in a structured
interview.
• Decide type of information sought
• Decide on type of questioning
• Prepare 1st draft
• Seek suggestions/criticism from others;
revise if necessary
•Test interview on small "pilot" group
• Edit and revise based on results or
suggestions from pilot respondents.
• Prepare final version - decide on
procedures for distribution and for use.

13. Questionnaires.
•A questionnaire is a written collection of self
report questions to be answered by a selected
group of research participants.
•Developing and presenting questionnaires
takes presentation should be attractive.
Be sure to protect participants, confidential
information.
Examining records:
•Useful educational records include archival
documents, journals, maps, videotapes,
audiotapes, and artifacts.

14. These may be used singly or in various
combinations depending on the research
question to be addressed.
SURVEY
•Used in the simplest way, surveys may be used
to reveal summary statistics by
showing responses to all possible questionnaire
items. For instance, 30% of the
participants agreed, 50% disagreed, and 20% had
no opinion. Descriptive results of this
type are typical of survey research in education
and often provide leads in identifying
needed changes.

15. Survey data may also be used to explore
relationships between two
or more variables. Rather than limit their research to
one variable, researchers can
investigate relationships in the survey data and have
a more substantial research
contribution
•Survey Studies assess the characteristics
of whole populations of people or situations.

16. Some Types involved in surveys
are as under:
School Surveys
Used to gather data concerned with
internal or external characteristics of a
school system
Job Analysis
Used to gather information to be used in
structuring a training program for a
particular job

17. Documentary Analysis Closely akin to
historical research; deals with documenting
present situations
Public Opinion Surveys Used to enhance
the decision making process by government
officials
Community Surveys Used to gather data
concerned with internal or external
characteristics of a community

18. Critical Components of Survey
Research
• Sound Methodology
• Well designed Data Collection Instruments.
Sound Methodology
Data collection instruments should be
designed to collect information in a way that
will yield quantifiable results, and they should
be distributed to all subjects so that data can be
summarized and compared.

19. Surveys can be in the form of:
•Written questionnaires
•Personal interviews or Telephonic
interviews.
Factors to be considered in choosing a
data collection method

20. Or *written questionnaires include:
a) - Sampling
b) - Type of Population
c) - Question Form
d) - Question Content,
e) - Response Rates
f) - Costs
g) - Available Facilities
h) - Length of Data Collection
I) - Computer-Assisted Techniques for
data collection.

21. Wording of Questionnaire
Wording of questionnaire must be soft,
academic and understandable to every one.
following ambiguities should be avoided.
• Unclear phraseology?
• Jargon?
• Questions too long/complex?
• Unstated assumptions or unseen
implications?
• Biased or emotionally loaded terms?
Stereotypes?
• Objectionable wording?

22. Advantages of Mailed Questionnaires:
Ability to reach large numbers of people across
a wide geographic region.
Ease and low cost of distribution
Minimal amount of staff and facilities needed,
Ability of respondents to respond in their own
time frame.
Disadvantages
Lower response rate
Need to take design a survey instrument
with a simple format.

23. Core need of a mailed
questionnaire is that a letter of
transmittal should be accompanied it to
state the purpose and importance of the
research, the importance of
responding to the research, a time frame
to respond, a confidentiality statement,
an offer
to share results, and a thank-you to the
respondent.

24. Best results can only be obtained if good
questioning techniques are utilized.
They should use complete sentences and offer a
limited set of answers. Surveys should
be interesting and should be worded so that the
questions mean the same to everyone.
They should inform participants about the
kinds of answers that are appropriate and
should provide definitions for any terms that
might be confusing.

25. PORTFOLIO
Introduction
Portfolios consist of learner-created
products that reflect the processes of
learning and development over time.
Portfolios have been recommended as a
way to integrate learning and assessment
since portfolios offer students an
opportunity to learn about their own
learning while they require active student
responsibility and self assessment.

26. Significance of Portfolio
Portfolios serve as measures of student
progress. They can take many
forms such as game performances,
multimedia projects, artwork,
compositions, etc.

27. INTERELATIONSHIP STUDIES
Interrelationship Studies trace relationships
among the facts obtained to gain a deeper
insight into the situation. Some Types of This
Study Are as under;

28. Case Studies
Probes in depth into an
individual situation or personality with the
intent of diagnosing a particular condition
and recommending corrective measures

29. DEVELOPMENTAL STUDIES
Developmental studies are concerned
with the existing status and
interrelationships of phenomena and
changes that take place as a function
of time

30. Growth Studies
May be either longitudinal or
cross-sectional. The longitudinal
technique is the most satisfactory
for studying human development.
The cross-sectional technique is
more commonly used because it
is less expensive.