RESEARCH METHOD

METHODS OF COLLECTING DATA

GROUP II
ZELIA VITALINA PEREIRA SARMENTO (1601542029)
ANDI YASHINTA (1601542032)
GITA MAHARANI KRISTINA KATTU (1601542036)
JUITA HERETRENGGI (1601542041)

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF ARTS
UNIVERSITY OF UDAYANA
2018
 A. Data Collection

Data collection is a process of collecting information from all the relevant sources to find
answers to the research problem, test the hypothesis and evaluate the outcomes. Data collection
methods can be divided into two categories: secondary methods of data collection and primary
methods of data collection.

 Secondary Data Collection Methods

Secondary data is a type of data that has already been published in books, newspapers,
magazines, journals, online portals etc.

 Primary data collection methods can be divided into two groups: quantitative and
qualitative.

o Quantitative data collection methods are based in mathematical calculations in

various formats. Methods of quantitative data collection and analysis include
questionnaires with closed-ended questions, methods of correlation and regression,
mean, mode and median and others. Quantitative methods are cheaper to apply and
they can be applied within shorter duration of time compared to qualitative
methods. Moreover, due to a high level of standardization of quantitative methods,
it is easy to make comparisons of findings.

o Qualitative research methods, on the contrary, do not involve numbers or

mathematical calculations. Qualitative research is closely associated with words,
sounds, feeling, emotions, colours and other elements that are non-quantifiable.
Qualitative studies aim to ensure greater level of depth of understanding and
qualitative data collection methods include interviews, questionnaires with open-
ended questions, focus groups, observation, game or role-playing, case studies etc.

 There are a few techniques of collecting data. This summary is only focused on gathering
a primary data.
 Listed below are some of the most common data collection techniques.

1. Observation
Observation is a method of data collection in which researchers observe within a
specific research field. It is sometimes referred to as an unobtrusive method. Participant
observation involves the observer being a member of the setting in which they are
collecting data –there are quite a few variations of this definition. As an ethnographic
research method, observation has a long history. The value of observation is that it
permits researchers to study people in their native environment in order to understand
“things” from their perspective. Observation requires the researcher to spend
considerable time in the field with the possibility of adopting various roles in order to
gain a more comprehensive understanding of the people being studied.

Key Facts:
 Allows for the study of the dynamics of a situation, frequency counts of
target behaviors, or other behaviors as indicated by needs of the evaluation
 Good source for providing additional information about a particular group,
can use video to provide documentation
 Can produce qualitative (e.g., narrative data) and quantitative data (e.g.,
frequency counts, mean length of interactions, and instructional time).

Example: Site visits to an after-school program to document the interaction between youth
and staff within the program.

2. Survey

2.1 Survey research is used: “to answer questions that have been raised, to solve problems that
have been posed or observed, to assess needs and set goals, to determine whether or not specific
objectives have been met, to establish baselines against which future comparisons can be made, to
analyze trends across time, and generally, to describe what exists, in what amount, and in what
context.” (Isaac & Michael, 1997, p. 136)
 Kraemer (1991) identified three distinguishing characteristics of survey research (p. xiii).
First, survey research is used to quantitatively describe specific aspects of a given population.
These aspects often involve examining the relationships among variables. Second, the data
required for survey research are collected from people and are, therefore, subjective. Finally,
survey research uses a selected portion of the population from which the findings can later be
generalized back to the population. In survey research, a survey is simply a data collection tool for
carrying out survey research. Pinsonneault and Kraemer (1993) defined a survey as a “means for
gathering information about the characteristics, actions, or opinions of a large group of people” (p.
77). Surveys can also be used to assess needs, evaluate demand, and examine impact (Salant &
Dillman, 1994, p. 2). The term survey instrument is often used to distinguish the survey tool from
the survey research that it is designed to support.

2.2 Questionnaires

A questionnaire is a data collection instrument consistant of a series of questions and other

prompts for the purpose of gathering information from respondents. The questionnaire was
invented by Sir Francis Galton. Questionnaires are a useful option to consider when conducting a
postal survey. They can be cheaper than personal interviewing and quicker if the sample is large
and widely dispersed. For any postal survey regardless of the sample size you must allow at least
six weeks for the first wave of questionnaires to be returned, and another four weeks for each
successive mailing. As with telephone interviewing, a postal survey is useful if your respondents
are widely distributed. However, due to the lack of personal contact between the respondent and
the researcher, the design and layout of the questionnaire is all important.

Key Facts:
 Responses can be analyzed with quantitative methods by assigning numerical
values to Likert-type scales
 Results are generally easier (than qualitative techniques) to analyze
 Pretest/Posttest can be compared and analyzed.

3. Interviews

According to Kvale (1996: 174) an interview is “a conversation, whose purpose is to gather

descriptions of the [life-world] of the interviewee” with respect to interpretation of the meanings
of the ‘described phenomena’. In a similar vein, Schostak, (2006: 54) adds that an interview is an
extendable conversation between partners that aims at having an ‘in-depth information’ about a
certain topic or subject, and through which a phenomenon could be interpreted in terms of the
meanings interviewees bring to it.

Interviews can be also defined as a qualitative research technique which involves

“conducting intensive individual interviews with a small number of respondents to explore their
perspectives on a particular idea, program or situation.

Key Facts:
 Interviews can be conducted in person or over the telephone
 Interviews can be done formally (structured), semi-structured, or informally
 Questions should be focused, clear, and encourage open-ended responses
 Interviews are mainly qualitative in nature.

4. Documentation
This collecting method is secondary data collection method as we collect the data
needed for the research by gathering the document that we need and record it
systematically.
The document that can be used are publication of government, technical and trade journal,
report of various business, public records, statistical or historical document.

QUESTIONS:
1. Are there any other techniques or methods that Researcher can use for collecting data other
than survey, interview, documentation, and observation?
2. In your opinion, which method is the most important out of all the methods you have
mention?
3. Is there particular order that we have to follow when using the collecting data method or
we can use them randomly when collecting data? If there’s an order please explain, and if
not why?
 References
Alshenqeeti, H. (2014). Interviewing as a Data Collection Method: A Critical Review. Sciedu
Press.

Baker, L. M. (2006). Observation: A Complex Research Method. Library Trends Vol. 55, No. 1,
Summer 2006, 171-189.

Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research Design Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Method

Approaches, third edition. SAGE Publication, Inc.

Glasgow, P. A. (2005). Fundamental of Survey Research Methodology. Wangshinton: Mitre.

Nigel Mathers, N. F. (2009). Surveys and Questionnaires . The NIHR RDS for the East Midlands
/ Yorkshire & the Humber.