Collecting Data in Research

One of the main part of conducting a research is data collection. Credible data gives reliable results and conclusions.

Study the PDF bellow (for academic uses only)

What is data? (Datum)

Data are the individual pieces of recorded facts and figures.

What is Research Data?

Systematically recorded factual materials commonly accepted in the scientific community as necessary to validate research findings.

Research Data can be in many forms:

Documents, Spreadsheets

Lab Notebooks, field notebooks, diaries (observational data)

Answered questionnaires, survey results, transcripts of marks

Experimental data

Photographs, Films, audio, video tapes/files

Focus group recordings, interview notes. Etc.

Kinds of Data

Quantitative Data is any data that is in numerical form.

They include numerical values such as measurements, cost, weight, frequency etc.

Qualitative Data is expressed in words, signs, images, videos; and analysed through interpretations and categorisations.

If the researchers aim is to explore ideas, understand experiences, or gain detailed insights into a specific context, she must collect qualitative data.

Primary Data: Data directly collected by the researcher for the purpose of analysing and arriving at conclusions.

Secondary Data: Data which has already been collected and documented somewhere.

The use of census data, use of hospital records

Data collected from sources such as articles, journals, magazines, books etc.

Data Collection Methods

Experiments: Manipulate variables and measure their effects on others, in order to test causal relationship.

Surveys: Distribute a questionnaire to a sample online, in person or over-the-phone to gather their opinions and trends.

Interviews/Focus group: Verbally ask questions in individual interviews or focus group interviews, to gain in-depth understanding.

Observation: Measure of survey a sample without trying to involve them, in order to understand something in a natural setting.

Ethnography: Join and participate in a community and record your observations and reflections.

Archival Research: Access manuscripts, documents or records from libraries, depositories or the internet.

Secondary Data Collection: Find existing datasets that have already been collected, from sources such as government agencies or research organisations.

Data Collection

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