Week 11 Data Collection Techniques Research Methods Week 11 Data Collection Techniques

Review – Sampling Techniques Systemic sampling – every 5th person Stratified sampling – every 5th person from subgroups Cluster sampling – samples of samples – every 5th person from every 5th village Multi-stage sampling Sampling proportionate to size

Data collection Primary data – data you collect Secondary data – data available from other sources

Primary Data collection Primary Techniques Observations Interviews Questionnaires/Surveys Case studies

Observations Observation is planned and recorded. Information is gathered by the investigator’s own direct observation without asking any thing from the observed. This method is independent of respondents’ willingness to respond.

Observations Limitations- 1 - it is an expensive method (time needs are great). 2 - the information provided by this method is very limited (we cannot see motivations for actions). 3 - factors may interfere with the observations. Some people (or actions) are rarely accessible to direct observation 4- person being observed may change behavior because of the observation

Defining Observations structured observation - Time is selected, and particular actions counted. unstructured observation – no advanced characteristics sought participant observation – observer makes himself part of the group non-participant observation – observer not part of group disguised observation – observer not visible to group Uncontrolled – observation done in natural setting Controlled – special environment created

Conducting Observations How would we set up a structured observation if we wished to determine how a student was using a website?

Conducting Observations How would we gather participant observations if we wanted to evaluate leadership in an IT work group? –

Conducting Observations How might we prepare for an observation of project management techniques? Which technique would you use? structured observation unstructured observation – participant observation – non-participant observation – disguised observation – Uncontrolled – Controlled

Interviews Personal interview – The interviewer asks questions face-to-face with the interviewee. structured interviews - use a set of predetermined questions and of highly standardized techniques of recording non-structured interviews- , the interviewer is allowed to ask supplementary questions, omit certain questions, or change the sequence of questions

Interviews Focused interview – generally unstructured but meant to focus on respondent experience. Can discuss reasons and motives. clinical interview – concerned with broad underlying feelings or motivations or with the course of individual’s life experience. non-directive interview, the interviewer’s function is simply to encourage the respondent to talk about the given topic with a bare minimum of direct questioning.

Advantage of Interviews More information can be obtained. The interviewer can overcome the resistance of the respondents There is greater flexibility under this method restructure questions Observations can be made during the interview. The interviewer can usually control which person(s) will answer the questions. (This is not possible in mailed questionnaires) Group discussions can be held.

Advantage of Interviews The interviewer may observe spontaneous reactions. The language of the interview can be adopted to the ability or educational level of the person interviewed and avoid misinterpretations of questions. The interviewer can collect supplementary information about the respondent’s personal characteristics and environment.

Problems with Interviews It is a very expensive method, especially if travel is involved There can be interviewer bias – leading the answers Certain types of respondents such as important officials or people in high income groups may not be easily approachable Organization is required for selecting, training and supervising the field-staff Effective interviews require proper rapport with respondents. This requires particular interviewer skill.

Interview Techniques Every effort should be made to create friendly atmosphere of trust and confidence, so that respondents may feel at ease The interviewer must ask questions properly and must record the responses accurately and completely. The interviewer must answer legitimate question(s), if any, asked by the respondent and must clear any doubt that the latter has. The interviewer should not show surprise or disapproval of a respondent’s answer The interviewer must discourage irrelevant conversation and keep the respondent on the subject.

Interview Examples What questions might you ask a university student about a course website? How might you start a non-structured interview about project management skills? You finish a ten minute interview with 3 pages of notes. Now what?

Telephone Interviews Advantages: It is faster than other methods i.e., a quick way of obtaining information. It is cheaper than personal interviewing method Recall is easy; callbacks are simple and economical. There is a higher rate of response than what we have in mailing method Replies can be recorded without causing embarrassment to respondents. Access can be gained to respondents who otherwise cannot be contacted for one reason or the other. A wider distribution of sample is possible.

Email Interviews Advantages: It is faster than other methods i.e., a quick way of obtaining information. It is cheaper than personal interviewing method Email itself provides a transcript of the “conversation.” There is a higher rate of response than what we have in mailing method Access can be gained to respondents who otherwise cannot be contacted for one reason or the other. Caution – requires multiple contacts often over more than one day. Not all respondents are willing to commit. And a growing number of individuals are unwilling to provide business data via email.