Data collection procedures

A – Observation

Observation is a method of data collection through the inspection of people or places, and in contrast to
quantitative research, qualitative research does not use tools developed by other researches; instead, it
uses forms of observation as a data collection method. It can be a useful tool when studying actual
behavior, as well as speech pathology. Observation requires good listening skills and attention to detail.
It can also be used in quantitative research as a data collection method, in which case it is known as
structured observation.

1 – Steps

1. Setting the objective of observation, which sets the procedures of observation

2. Identifying the behavior intended to be studied
3. Preparing the necessary tools to record behavior and attitudes to be observed, such as cameras
and audiovisual recorders.
4. Patient observation through tracking behavior, its consequences, and its relations with precision
and discipline.
5. Consecutiveness and hierarchy in tracking the behavior or phenomenon to be studied.
6. If the researcher sees that an observation is noteworthy, it can be recorded.

2 – Conditions

1. Honesty and objectivity: avoiding bias and subjectivity in observation, and being honest when
studying an observed phenomenon or behavior.
2. Observing important behavior that is relevant to the study with accuracy.
3. Ensuring the aptitude of the tools and means of recording used in observation.

3 – Advantages and disadvantages of observation

Among its advantages is its directness, as many aspects of human behavior cannot be studied to any
degree of satisfaction without it. It allows the researcher to document behavior as it is occurring in a
perfect behavioral situation. Its disadvantages include the fact that the people observed by the study may
behave artificially when they find that they are being studied; an unexpected event might occur while the
researcher is absent; weather may act as an extraneous variable. It is also bound by time constraints;
events may take a long time to occur, requiring pursuit, as well as other factors such as the researcher’s
inability to gather data and sufficient evidence.

B – Interviews

An interview is a process that occurs between the researcher and another person or group of people, in
which they are given questions, and their answers are recorded. Interviews are an important tool of data
collection, as it deals with the interviewee directly, especially in case studies. When it comes to the study
of cases or particular issues, data is hard to gather through questionnaires or measuring or tests, although
it may include them. An interview is a tool in which a verbal exchange takes place between the organizer
of the interview and an individual or a collective, with the aim of acquiring information relating to
opinions, stances, feelings, motivations, or behavior.

1 – Types

1. Survey interview: which aims to gather a specific amount of information about the phenomenon
being studied.
2. Clinical interview: used in counselling and therapy, with the aim of helping the receiver of
therapy to solve his/her issue. It is done in specific steps as follows:
a. Preliminary interview: which aims to get to know the patient and assure him/ her,
gaining his/ her trust
b. Diagnostic interview: where data is collected, and an accurate diagnosis of the issue is
found.
c. Clinical interview: where the patient is spoken to about the solution to his/her problem,
by discussing causes and giving the patient choice of solution without pressure.

2 – Steps

1. Choosing the interviewees.

2. Setting the goals and requirements of the interview.
3. Prior planning of the interview process, preparing questions to ask, and anticipating unexpected
responses and the manner by which to deal with them.
4. Preparing questions and tests to ask the interviewee, and helping tools such as recording
devices and paper.
5. Designating an appropriate time and place for the interview.
6. It is crucial that the researcher makes an effort to gain the trust of the respondent regarding
confidentiality of information in the preliminary interview.

3 – Advantages and disadvantages of interviews

Among its advantages is the fact that it offers rich and significant information of all aspects of the subject,
and that its information is accurate to a great extent; through the interview process, clarification,
explanation, and inquisition takes place, along with the evaluation of the interviewees’ characteristics and
judgment of their answers.

Its disadvantages include its cost of time, effort, and preparation; its success may depend on the
circumstances of the interviewer, his/her abilities, and appreciation of the importance of the interview
and its preparation using his/her skills. It also depends on the respondent’s willingness to cooperate and
answer question with candor and without shame. Individuals’ status, such as politicians, may present a
difficulty when using the interview tool.

C – Questionnaires
Questionnaires are a method of data collection; they can be used on a wide scope to include a nation or
a limited scope such as a school. It varies in length and complexity. The bulk of the effort in a questionnaire
is structuring good paragraphs and getting complete responses; it is crucial that the questions and
hypotheses of the study are clearly defined in order to build a proper paragraph structure. A questionnaire
is a collection of questions and varied, interrelated queries in a manner that accomplishes the researcher’s
goals. The questionnaire is one of the most widely used methods of scientific research through which data
and information are collected from the sample. It consists of a form containing a number of paragraphs
with the aim of providing questions to be answered by the respondent without help or intervention.

1 – Types

1. Closed-ended questionnaire:
Answers are restricted, as the participant must choose from a set of predefined answers by ticking
the box next to his/her choice. This can be an incentive to respondents because it requires little
time and effort; it can also aid in the process of data classification and statistical analysis.
However, it has the drawback of the respondent possibly not finding the desired answer among
the ones given.
2. Open-ended questionnaire:
Answering is free and open; the respondent is able to answer the questions in his/her own
language and style, as is the case in essay questions. One of its drawbacks is that it requires a lot
of effort, time, and thought of the respondent, disincentivizing him/her from answering.
3. Open and closed ended questionnaire:
It contains a set of questions with predefined answers, as well as a set of questions with free
answers or questions with predefined answers followed by a request to justify the choice, which
is considered to be better than the two previous types, as it doesn’t suffer from their drawbacks.
4. Visual questionnaire:
Questions are presented as graphics or images instead of writing; it is given to children or illiterate
people.

2 – Advantages and disadvantages of questionnaires

One of its advantages is low cost and ease of answering; it can help in acquiring sensitive or embarrassing
data, and can be applied to a large number of research targets.

Its drawbacks include its possible imprecise phrasing, and vagueness of content; it can also depend on
language ability; therefore, it is unsuitable for people without it unless it is a visual questionnaire. It can
be influenced by the researcher’s subjectivity as well, as he/she may be biased, and hard to generalize its
results when it lacks truthfulness; answers may be misinterpreted as well.

3 – Questionnaire design

The process of questionnaire goes through two main steps:

1. Pilot study: it includes long open interviews with people who possess crucial and valuable
information, as well as collecting material (articles, references).
2. Preliminary form of the questionnaire:
  Title page: which includes a title for the questionnaire, in which the main issues of the
questionnaire, the name of the researcher, the and supervising body of the research are
included.
 Cover letter: a short speech directed to the respondents by the researcher, in which
he/she explains the objectives of the questionnaire, the answering system, and assures
that opinions would be dealt with in complete confidentiality and used solely for scientific
purposes.
 Public data: the respondent is asked to mention his/her name (if he/she wants), gender,
qualifications, experience, place of work …etc.
 Questionnaire questions: closed or open-ended questions in the form of interrogative
sentences or declarative expressions asking the respondent to mention the degree of
importance of which and the extent to which he/she agrees.

4 – Choosing the appropriate tool

Data collection tools are usually dictated by the research methodology, as a researcher in historical and
documentary research, for example, uses written, printed, or electronic sources when collecting the
necessary data and information. As for the survey method, the researcher uses the questionnaire as a
primary tool of data collection, along with the interview. Concerning case studies, the researcher relies
heavily on observation as a primary tool of data collection.