Research

Instruments
Data Collection
Learning Objectives

• Explain different types of data

collections

• Explain different types of research

instruments
Introduction

• The underlying need for Data collection

is to capture quality evidence that
seeks to answer all the questions that
have been posed.

• Source
https://www.formpl.us/blog/data-
collection-method
Types of Data Collection

1.Primary Data Collection

2.Secondary Data Collection

 Primary Data Collection

• Primary data collection by definition is

the gathering of raw data collected at the
source.
• It could be further analyzed into two
segments;
1. qualitative research
2. quantitative data collection methods.
Qualitative Research
Method
The qualitative research methods of data
collection do not involve the collection of data
that involves numbers or a need to be deduced
through a mathematical calculation, rather it is
based on the non-quantifiable elements like
the feeling or emotion of the researcher.
An example of such a method is an open-
ended questionnaire.
Data Collection Tools
Quantitative Method

Quantitative methods are presented in

numbers and require a mathematical
calculation to deduce.
An example would be the use of a
questionnaire with close-ended questions to
arrive at figures to be calculated
Mathematically.
Also, methods of correlation and regression,
mean, mode and median.
Secondary Data Collection

• It is the process of collecting data that

is already existing, be it already
published books, journals, and/or
online portals. In terms of ease, it is
much less expensive and easier to
collect.
Importance of Data Collection

• Integrity of Research
• Reduce likelihood of errors
• Decision Making
Data Collection Instruments
Data collection tools refer to the
devices/instruments used to collect data, such
as a paper questionnaire or computer-assisted
interviewing system.
Case Studies, Checklists, Interviews,
Observation sometimes, and Surveys or
Questionnaires are all tools used to collect
data.
Data Collection Instruments

• Interviews
• Questionnaires
• Observation
• Focus Groups
Questionnaires

• This is the process of collecting data

through an instrument consisting of a
series of questions and prompts to
receive a response from individuals it is
administered to.
• Questionnaires are designed to collect
data from a group.
1. Questionnaire

• A written list of questions, the

answers to which are
furnished/provided by the
respondent
1.Questionnaire

• Can be administered in two main

ways:
– Self administered
• Drop and pick
• email
• Online
– Interviewer administered
• Structured personal interview
• Telephone interview
Questionnaire design
• A questionnaire must serve the
following functions:
1. Translate research objectives into
specific questions that the respondent
can answer
2. Motivate the respondent to co-operate
so as to furnish the information correctly
Questionnaire design
(guide)
1. Be clear on what information is being
sought
questionnaires should help you collect
data that will meet research objectives as
well as meet the purpose for which the
findings are intended.
Do a search on existing questions – you
can adopt questions from similar studies
Questionnaire design
(guide)
2. Type of questionnaire administration
will it be used in a face to face interview,
telephone interview, a mailed
questionnaire, online questionnaire etc.
This helps determine the questions to
ask, their order and sequence of the of
the questions
 Visit: http://www.surveymonkey.com/ to try &
design an online questionnaire
Questionnaire design
(guide)
3. Question wording
Questions should be simple,
unambiguous,
Avoid leading questions (questions
that elicit a certain expected response)
 E.g. do you agree that the MOH vaccine
sensetization was a success (yes /no)
Avoid double-barreled questions
 e.g. How do you like hot and crispy pizza
 Avoid presumptuous questions
Questionnaire design
(guide)
4. Content of the questions
 in designing the questionnaire the
researcher must think of the what will
be contained in the questions
whether they will be several questions
on a certain issue
whether the question will be applicable
to the all respondents
Questionnaire design
(guide)
4. Content of the questions
whether the respondent will have the
desired information
how much effort the respondent will
need to find the desired information
whether the respondent will be in a
position to provide the desired
information
Questionnaire design
(guide)
5.Type of questions
open ended or closed ended
 may depend on what information the
researcher intend to gather, how it will be
analysed and what use the findings will be
put to.
Questionnaire design
(guide)
6. Sequencing of questions
affects the results obtained
use simple interesting questions as
openers
consider influence of the questions on
succeeding parts
arrange in a logical order
as much as possible pre-code the
questionnaires, ask sensitive questions
later when a rapport as been established
Questionnaire design
(guide)
7. Layout
affects securing acceptance of the
questionnaire by respondents and makes
questionnaire easy to control and handle
Have a professional look, quality paper
and print
brevity of the questionnaire is desirable,
Questionnaire design
(guide)
7. Layout
booklet format makes analysis easer and
prevents loss of pages, number questions
for ease of processing data,
 number questionnaires (serially) because
the respondent may does not enter name
Questionnaire design
(guide)
8. Pre-testing under field conditions
important to check that the questions
are understood i.e. no ambiguity exists,
that the length of the questionnaire is
acceptable, sequencing of the
questions is properly done, that the
questionnaire can be analyzed
The questionnaire can then be revised
Discuss five advantages and five
disadvantages of using
questionnaires
2. Interviews

• Question and answer session between

the interviewer (researcher) and
interviewee(respondent)
2. Types of Interviews

Structured
Rigidity –i.e.. The content,
structure and questions are
predetermined and fixed

Unstructured
Flexibility–i.e.. The content,
structure and questions not
necessarily predetermined
and fixed
2. Types of Interviews
• Semi-structured – have some level
of flexibility but may have
predetermined The content, structure
and questions are fixed
2. Interview
Focus group interviews
• undertaken within a group people
who have some experience in
common with regard to the situation
at hand
– e.g. If you want to explore of the
effectiveness of the IEBC voter
education program using a focus group
interview, you will need individuals who
have been part of the process
Guidelines for Conducting Interviews
Eliciting for the interviewees corporation
1. Appearance
2. Introduction-who you are and whom
you represent
3. Tell them what you doing in a way that
will elicit their interest and corporation
4. Tell them how they were chosen
5. Adapt to the situation
6. Create a rapport
Guidelines for Conducting Interviews

Asking questions
1. If using a questionnaire try to follow it.
This can be can informally
2. Be formal but relaxed in approach
3. Do not quiz or cross-examine
4. Do not finish sentences for the
respondent
5. Adapt your approach to the situation
 Discuss five advantages and five
disadvantages of using interviews
3. Observation

• A purposeful, systematic and selective

way of watching and listening to an
interaction or phenomenon as it takes
place
• Systematic process of recording
behavioral patterns of people, objects
and occurrences without questioning or
communicating your intention with
them
3. Observation

Types:
1. Participant observation
2. Non-participant observation
Challenges in
Observation
1. Hawthorne effect -when those being
observed become aware and change
behavior which may alter the findings
2. Observer bias that makes it difficult to
verify his/her observations and inferences
drawn
3. Interpretations from observations vary from
observer to observer
4. Incomplete observation and/ or recording
which varies with the method
Discuss five advantages and five
disadvantages of using
observation
Considerations when choosing a
data collection instrument
1. Validity – must provide data that will
measure what you want to measure
and provide a valid answer to
research questions
2. Reliability – must provide data with
consistent results, especially if the
study is repeated
3. Appropriateness – in context of
objectives
Considerations…cont
4. Amount of data – must provide
enough quality data for sufficient
analysis
5. Flexibility – should match the
flexibility you require in terms of
informational needs
6. Time constraints – should allow you
to gather data, analyse it, interpret
findings and write a report in the
given time frame
Considerations ….cont
7. Cost – should not cost you more that
you can afford
8. Potential errors – you should
exhaust all possible sources of error
with view to minimize them
9. Researcher’s ability – should be
within one’s ability to complete
Review Questions

1. During the data collection stage of

research, data can be collected from
2 main sources: primary and
secondary
a. Giving examples, differentiate between
these two sources of data
b. Explain 4 issues/problems encountered
when using data from secondary sources
c. Explain 3 benefits of secondary data
Review Questions
2. Research must be carried out with
ethical considerations in the mind of
the researcher. What ethical
concerns may arise during the data
collection stage of research?
Discuss

Read more on ethical concerns

References:

• Kothari, C.R. (1990). Research

Methodology Methods & Techniques,
(2nd ed). New Delhi: New Age
• Kumar, R. (2005). Research
Methodology, 2nd ed). London: Sage
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