CHAPTER 11

DATA COLLECTION
Melissa Dean, RN, BSN-BC
 OBJECTIVES
• Contrast a researcher’s decision to use accessible data
versus new data
• Distinguish various forms of data collection processes
 METHODS AND
SOURCES
• Generalizability
• Fundamental
• Data collection “source”
• Data collection “instruments”
 MAJOR
METHODS

• Tests
• Questionnaires
• Interviews
• Focus groups
• Observations
• Biophysiological data
• Existing or secondary
data
• Systematic analysis
 DATA TYPES
• Accessible Data • Novel Data
• Cons • Pros
• Biases may exist • Data is specific to the research
• Pros • Cons
• Eliminates • Cost
• time-consuming • Time
• costly processes
• Foundation for evidence-based
practice (EBP)
 SOURCES

• Secondary data from national • Public comments

surveys • Informant groups
• Other secondary data sources such • Questionnaire/interview survey
as Medicaid
• Screenings
• Demographic indicators • Epidemiology surveys
• Nonclinical program data
• Clinical program data
 TEST METHODS
• Synonyms • Appraise
• Tool • Characteristics
• Instruments • Aptitude
• Standardized test • Accomplishments
• Ascertain • Performance
• Explicit intelligence • Key benefits
• Talents • Directness
• Behaviors • Versatility
• Cognitive endeavors
 CREATING TESTS

• Step one, develop your plan

• Have your plan reviewed
• Revise the plan in light of the review.
• Write items based on the plan
• Have the items reviewed
• Revise the items in light of the review
• Pilot test the instrument
 PROS AND CONS
• Strengths • Limitations
• Consistency • Cost
• Valid and reliable data • Biases
• Repeated usage increases validity • open-ended, probing type of
and reliability questions
• Group setting • Incomplete returned tools
• time, costs, and energy • Psychometric data
• Assortment of tests
• Practicality
 QUESTIONNAIRES
• Survey process
• Gather knowledge
• Self-reporting device
• Tenets for questionnaires
• Types of questions
 QUESTIONNAIRES
• Strengths • Limitations
• Cost • Size of the questionnaire
• Anonymity • Shorter the better
• Time • Longer is cumbersome
• Data quality • Incompleteness
• Validity and reliability • Time-consuming
INTERVIEWS
• Personal touch
• Trust and rapport
• Skewed data
• Environment
• Order of questions
 INTERVIEW
• Strengths • Limitations
• Information • Expense
• Abundant • Time consuming
• Powerful • Hawthorne effect
• Open-ended questions • Data analysis
• Less-structure • Bias
• Verbal and non verbal
• Literacy concerns
FOCUS GROUP
• Similar to interview
• Homogenous group
• 1–3 hours
• Leader
• Opinions and experiences
• Environment
• Recordings
 FOCUS GROUP
• Strengths • Limitations
• Open and revealing manner • Sizing
• Explore • Group dynamics
• Ideas • Extroverts
• Concepts • Moderator
• Nonverbal communication • Cost
• Group interaction
 OBSERVATION
• Data Collection • Diverse Roles of Observation
• Descriptive • Complete participant
• Behavior • Participant-as-observer
• Observation • Observer-as-participant
• Complete observer
• Behavioral information
• Data
• Quantitative
• Qualitative
• Variables
 OBSERVATION
• Strengths • Limitations
• Detailed information • Time
• Everyday life • Labor-intensive
• Significant contextual dynamics • Expensive
• Participants • Interrater reliability
• Literate • Biases
• Educate
• Verbal
SECONDARY DATA
• Preexisting data
• Can be:
• Documents
• Physical data
• Archived research data
• Research questions
 SECONDARY DATA
• Strengths • Limitations
• Non intrusive • Restrictiveness
• Time • Unanswered questions
• Alternative conclusions • Old data
• Evaluation • Restriction
• Cost • Sampling process
• Insufficient

• Objective data • Types
• Alone or combination
• Specialized equipment
• Research designs
• Experimental
• Quasi-experimental
BIOPHYSIOLOGICAL
• In vivo
• Requires the use of some apparatus
• Examples
• Blood pressure measurements
• Electrocardiograms
• Temperatures
• Muscular activity
• Respiratory rates
• Rhythms
• In vitro
• Extraction of physiological materials
• Examples
• Bacterial counts and identifications
• tissue biopsies
• glucose levels
 BIOPHYSIOLOGICAL
• Strengths • Limitations
• Objectivity • Cost
• Precision • Specialized equipment
• Sensitivity • Training
• Independence • Research assistants
• biases • Participant reluctance
• subjectivity • Informed consent
• Value of the data
 SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS
• Two names • Five steps
• Systematic reviews • Establish question
• Process • Search the literature
• Identifying • Assess the studies found
• Selecting
• Appraise critically
• Assessing
• Synthesizing
• Compile summary of findings
• Meta-analysis reviews
• Merges outcomes
• Multiple studies
 CONSIDERATIONS
• Data Collection Strategy • EBP
• Consider • Principal aspect
• Research purpose • Process quality
• Research design • Data itself
• Sampling method • Choices
• Cost considerations • Sensible judgments
• Time restrictions • Rationales
• Multiple methods
• Consider
• Strengths
• Limitations
 SUMMARY POINTS
• Data • Consistency
• Numerous methodologies • With participants
• Sources • Multiple data collectors
• Tools • Tests purpose
• Data collection measures
• Tests
• Questionnaires
• Interviews
• Focus groups
• Observations
• Biophysiological data
• Existing (secondary) data
SUMMARY POINTS
• Questionnaire/survey
• Interviews
• Environmental aspects
• Observation
• Ethical issues
• Secondary data
• Systematic reviews