Data Collecting

Methods
• Questionnaires.
• Interviews.
• Focus groups.
• Observations.
• Documents and records.
• Oral histories
Type according to existence
• Data
• Data are observations obtained on particular interest. e.g. height
• Primary data
• Primary data are the data you collect as first hand experience.
• You need to design and develop data collecting methods and materials
• Secondary data
• The data which have been already experienced by someone else.
• Available in literature.
• Qualitative data
• By nature data are qualitative. e.g. height
• Quantitative data
• Quantified qualities. In other words measurements
• To quantify, we develop measuring instrument to translate qualities into quantities.
• e.g. Scoring rubric
E-Government Readiness Survey objectives
• What are the objectives of government organization
• What are the services of organizations
• What are the requirements for E-Government Readiness
• To what extent the organization is ready for the eGovernment
Questionnaire
• A printed material for collecting data contains questions to respond to
a set of oral or written questions.
• Postal support
• Enumerators
• Selection type responses
• Supply type responses
• Online questionnaires
• Payments for respondants
Advantages of Questionnaire
• Low cost.
• Quick
• Time saving
• Practical
• Large set of participants
• Comprehensive
• Anonymity
Disadvantages of Questionnaire
• Reliability issues
• Not answering
• Reluctance to write long answers
• Not responding – Response rate
• Language issues
• Inability to capture emotions
Interviews
• An interview is a face-to-face conversation.
• Structured Interviews
• Everything is preplanned (Protocol)
• Semi-structured Interviews
• Main areas are decided, but some freedom to get extra information
• Unstructured Interviews
• Only main themes are decided
• Telephone interviews
• Recording
• Transcribing
Advantages of Interviews
• Easy verification
• Development of relationship: further data
• Selection of suitable participants
• Reliability
• Sufficient information
• Time-saving
• Less cost
• Increasing knowledge
Disadvantages of Interviews
• Embarrassment
• Objections to record
• Attention issues
• Need of prior appointments
• Time consuming
• Biases of interviewer
• Cost
• Practice
Focus groups interview
• A group of divers brains
Advantages Focus groups interview
• Efficiency – a lot in shorter time
• Effectiveness – A rich data set
• Collaboration
Disadvantages of Focus groups interview
• Dominance of some participants
• Reluctance to be open in public
Observations.
• Systematically selecting, watching, listening, reading, touching, and
recording behaviour and characteristics of living beings, objects, or
phenomena
• Classroom observation
• Participatory observation – Prof Nandasena Ratnapala
• Technology based observation
• Direct videoing
Advantages and disadvantages of Observations.
• Natural setting
• High reliability
• Difficulties and obstacles
• Privacy
• Legal issues
• Artificial environment
Documents and records.
• Categorise , investigate, interpret and identify the limitations of
physical sources, most commonly written documents
• Syllabi
• Circulars
• Diaries
• Reflective journals
• Biographies
• Content analysis
Advantages of documents and records.
• High reliability
• Effort
Material development
• Brainstorming
• Drafting
• Reviewing - Expert
• Editing
• Revision