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• Data collection


  Vital part in conducting a research study, needed for analysis and formulation of conclusion
• Importance of data collection

  • Researchers must be able to collect data properly and correctly
• Data collection methods and techniques

  • Observation
  • Interview
  • Survey questionnaire
• Observation


  A technique of gathering data whereby you personally watch, interact, or communicate with the subjects of your research
• Types of observation


  • Participant observation
  • Non-participant or structured observation
• Participant observation


  The observer, who is the researcher, takes part in the activities of the individual or group being observed
• Non-participant or structured observation


  The observer completely detaches from the target of observation, just watching and listening without participating
• Tips for observation


  • Obtain consent from people and community
  • Inform community about study and allow opt-out
  • Get written permission
• Interview


  A method for collecting information about people - their thoughts, opinions, concerns, experiences, or aspirations
• Types of interviews


  • Structured interviews
  • Unstructured interviews
  • Semi-structured interviews
• Structured interviews


  Rigid in form and content, interviewer asks questions and takes respondents' answers as they are
• Unstructured interviews


  More flexible, information arises from the interview and interaction with the informant
• Semi-structured interviews


  Midpoint between structured and unstructured, researchers have guide questions but can be flexible
• Focus group discussion


  Interview with a group of people, to gain a broad range of views on a research topic
• Tips for interviews


  • Obtain permission and inform participants in writing
  • Explain project in person for non-literate participants
  • Avoid requiring signatures if participants are afraid
• Questionnaire


  A written list of open-ended or close-ended questions from the researcher, which the respondent fills out or answers and gives back
• Advantages of questionnaires


  • More efficient and less expensive than interviews
  • Provides greater anonymity
• Disadvantages of questionnaires


  • Low response rate
  • Self-selection bias
• Ethical considerations in data collection

  • Obtaining research approval
  • Maintaining confidentiality
  • Informed consent
  • Consent for recording voices and images
  • Debriefing
• Data analysis


  Examining, categorizing, tabulating, or otherwise recombining the evidence to address the initial prepositions of a study
• Approaches to data analysis

  • Content analysis
  • Thematic analysis
  • Narrative analysis
  • Discourse analysis
  • Grounded theory
  • Conversation analysis
• Content analysis


  Used to analyze and interpret verbal data, or behavioral data, can be descriptive or interpretative
• Thematic analysis


  Grouping data according to themes, either from research questions or emerging naturally
• Narrative analysis


  Analyzing text from various sources like interviews, diaries, field notes, to reformulate stories
• Discourse analysis


  Analyzing naturally occurring spoken interactions and written text, focused on social context
• Grounded theory


  Developing causal explanations of a phenomenon from one or more cases, explanations altered as more cases are studied
• Conversation analysis


  Examining the use of language by people as a type of action or skilled accomplishment, focused on turn-taking