data collection - is the process by which the researcher collects the information needed to answer the research problem.
data in research is a form of evidence. It justifies how researchers reach a decision
research instruments are basic tools researcher used to gather data for specific research problems.
Factors that need to be decided before constructing a research instrument:
type of instrument
reasonsforchoosing the type
description and conceptual definition of its parts
characteristics of a good research instrument:
concise
sequential
validandreliable
easily tabulated
ways in developing research instrument:
adopting an instrument from previous related studies
modifying an existing instrument
make own instrument that corresponds to the current study
common scales used in quantitative research:
likertscale
semantic differential
likert scale - this is the most common scale used in quantitative research. Respondents were asked to rate or rank statements according to the scale provided.
semantic differential - a series of bipolar adjectives will be related by the respondents. This scale seems to be more advantageous since it is more flexible and easy to construct