Data Collection Methods

Methods of data collection: Questionnaires Interviews Observations Physiological and psychological measures

Questionnaires: Is a paper and pencil, self report instrument Purposes: to measure knowledge levels, opinions, attitudes, beliefs, ideas, feelings, and perceptions and factual information about respondents

The overall appearance Language and reading level of questions A questionnaire in influenced by: The overall appearance Language and reading level of questions Length of questionnaire and questions

Advantages/disadvantages of questionnaires Mailing may be costly Quick and inexpensive May provide socially acceptable answers Less time consuming than interviews and observation Low response rate Can obtain data from geographically widespread areas May fail to respond to some items Easiest to test for reliability and validity of instrument

Advantages/disadvantages of questionnaires No opportunity to clarify misunderstood items Anonymity of participants Need literate respondents Provide honest answers because of its anonymity Respondents must have no physical disabilities Respondents may not be representative of population

Interviews: Face to face Telephone interview

Types of interviews: Structured Unstructured Semi structured

In experimental research it is called experimental effect Influence of interviewers on respondents: In face to face interviews, non experimental research it is called Rosenthal effect In experimental research it is called experimental effect

Advantages/disadvantages of interviews Need training for interviewers Reponses can be obtained from a wide range of subjects Time consuming and expensive Response rate is high Need arrangement Data obtained is usable Respondents may produce socially acceptable responses Provide In-depth responses

Advantages/disadvantages of interviews Subjects may be anxious/ due to recording Non verbal and verbal mannerisms can be observed Subjects may be influenced by interviewers characteristics Interviewers may misinterpret nonverbal behavior

Gathering data through visual observation Observation Methods: Gathering data through visual observation Structured (Checklist) and unstructured observations Interrater reliability

Non participant observer- overt Non participant observer- covert Relationship between observer and subjects: Non participant observer- overt Non participant observer- covert Participant observer- overt Participant observer- covert

Physiologic measures: collection of physical data from subjects They are more objective and accurate Example: measuring BP , ECG

Attitude scales: Self report data collection instruments that ask respondents to report their attitudes or feelings on a continuum Types: Likert scale: SD D U A SA Semantic: Friendly ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- unfriendly

Psychological tests: personality inventories

Visual Analog Scale: A straight line that represent extremes of a phenomenon Pain 0-------------------------------------100mm Can be a horizontal or vertical line

Pre existing data; Using data that is available and that has not been collected for research purposes, patients’ records

close-ended questions attitude scales Self-report data collection instruments that ask respondents to report their attitudes or feelings on a continuum. close-ended questions Questions that require respondents to choose from given alternatives. contingency questions Questions that are relevant for some respondents and not for others.

Delphi technique A data collection method that uses several rounds of questions to seek a consensus on a particular topic from a group of experts on the topic. demographic questions Questions that gather data on characteristics of the subjects (see demographic variables). demographic variables Subject characteristics such as age, educational levels, and marital status. double-barreled questions Questions that ask two questions in one.

nonparticipant observer-covert Likert scale An attitude scale named after its developer, Rensis Likert. These scales usually contain five or seven responses for each item, ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree." nonparticipant observer-covert Research observer does not identify herself or himself to the subjects who are being observed. nonparticipant observer-overt Research observer openly identifies that she or he is conducting research and provides subjects with information about the type of data that will be collected.

participant observer-covert observation research A data-collection method in which data are collected through visual observations. open-ended questions Questions that allow respondents to answer in their own words. participant observer-covert Research observer interacts with subjects and observes their behavior without their knowledge. participant observer-overt Research observer interacts with subjects openly and with the full awareness of those people who will be observed.

personality inventories Self-report measures used to assess the differences in personality traits, needs, or values of people. preexisting data Existing information that has not been collected for research purposes. probes Prompting questions that encourage the respondent to elaborate on the topic that is being discussed.

Projective technique Self-report measure in which a subject is asked to respond to stimuli that are designed to be ambiguous or to have no definite meaning. The responses reflect the internal feelings of the subject that are projected on the external stimuli. Q-sort (Q methodology) A data-collection method in which subjects are asked to sort statements into categories according to their attitudes toward, or rating of, the statements.

questionnaire A paper-and-pencil, self-report instrument used to gather data from subjects. semantic differential Attitude scale that asks subjects to indicate their position or attitude about some concept along a continuum between two adjectives or phrases that are presented in relation to the concept that is being measured.

semi structured interviews Interviewers ask a certain number of specific questions, but additional questions or probes are used at the discretion of the interviewer. structured interviews Interviewers ask the same questions in the same manner of all respondents. structured observations The researcher makes the determination of behaviors to be observed before data collection. Usually some kind of checklist is used to record behaviors.

telephone interviews Data are collected from subjects through the use of phone calls rather than in face-to-face encounters. unstructured interviews The interviewer is given a great deal of freedom to direct the course of the interview; the interviewer's main goal is to encourage the respondent to talk freely about the topic that is being explored.

unstructured observations The researcher describes behaviors as they are viewed, with no preconceived ideas of what will be seen. visual analogue scale Subjects are presented with a straight line that is anchored on each end with words or phrases that represent the extremes of some phenomenon, such as pain. Subjects are asked to make a mark on the line at the point that corresponds to their experience of the phenomenon.