Lecture 3 - Data Collection Methods1

8/2/2019 Lecture 3 - Data Collection Methods1

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Compiled by

Mohmad Mohd Derus


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Available data collectionmethods Questionnaire survey

Face-to-face interview

Telephone

Focus group

Document Review

Observation, participatory


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Questionnaire survey

It is distributed - or made accessible ifonline - to a predetermined selection ofindividuals.

Individuals complete and return thequestionnaire or submit online.

Offer confidentiality / anonymity

Approach surface mail or a faxed questionnaire

survey

e-mail or web page questionnaire survey


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Use a surface mail or a faxedquestionnaire survey when:

The target population is large (for example, greaterthan 200).

You require a large amount of categorical data.

You want or require quantitative data and statisticalanalyses.

You want to examine the responses of designatedsubgroups, such as male and female.

The target population is geographically dispersed.

You want to clarify your teams objectives byinvolving team members in a questionnairedevelopment exercise.

You have access to people who can process andanalyze this type of data accurately.


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Use an e-mail or web page questionnairewhen the foregoing conditions are metand:

You have the appropriate software andknowledge of this method.

Your respondents have the technological

capabilities to receive, read and returnthe questionnaire.

Time is of the essence.

You want to provide the option of typinglong answers to questions.


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Face-to-face interview

Interviewer asks questions, usuallyfollowing a guide or protocol.

Interviewer records answers.


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Face-to-face interview: use

when.

You need to incorporate the views of keypeople (key informant interview).

The target population is small (for

example, less than 50).

Your information needs call for depthrather than breadth.

You have reason to believe that peoplewill not return a questionnaire..


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Telephone interview

Interviewer asks questions, usuallyfollowing a guide or protocol.

Interviewer records responses.


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Telephone interview: use when

The target population is geographicallydispersed.

Telephone interviews are feasible.

G h i (i i


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Group techniques (interview,facilitated workshop, focus

group) This involves group discussion ofpredetermined issue or topic in person orthrough teleconferencing.

Group members share certain commoncharacteristics.

Facilitator or moderator leads the group,assistant moderator usually recordsresponses.


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Group techniques (interview,facilitated workshop, focus group):Use when. You need rich description to understand client

needs.

You believe that group synergy is necessary touncover underlying feelings.

You have access to a skilled facilitator and datarecorder.

You want to learn what the stakeholders wantthrough the power of group observation (one-waymirror or video).


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Document review

Researchers review documents, andidentify relevant information.

They keep track of the informationretrieved from documents.


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Document review: Use

when

The relevant documents exist and areaccessible.

You need a historical perspective on theissue.

You are not familiar with theorganizations history.

You need hard data on selectedelements of the organization.


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Observation

Observation relies on the researchers

ability to gather data though theirsenses - and allows researchers to

document actual behaviour rather thanresponses related to behaviour

However, the observed can act

differently when surveilled, andobservations can be tainted by aresearchers worldview.


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Observation

Observation can range from

non-participant to participant

candid to covert

from structured to unstructured


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Triangulation Methods


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Documents

Lecture 3 - Data Collection Methods1