SADC Course in Statistics Choosing appropriate methods for data collection

To put your footer here go to View > Header and Footer 2 Study objectives The key to choosing an appropriate method for data collection is to have well specified study objectives. There is a clear and direct relationship between what you want to do and how do you do it!

SADC Course in Statistics A simple typology of objectives

To put your footer here go to View > Header and Footer 4 Simple Factual Easy to measure Estimation Need control Complex Subjective Difficult to measure Comparison Do not need control A simple typology of objectives Simple Factual Easy to measure Estimation Need control Complex Subjective Difficult to measure Comparison Do not need control

SADC Course in Statistics Other considerations for choosing a method for data collection

To put your footer here go to View > Header and Footer 6 What is the population of interest? How big is it? Do we need a full enumeration? How difficult is it to access it?

To put your footer here go to View > Header and Footer 7 These have a bearing on Definition of study units Method of selection Organisation of field work Decisions about what to measure The strategy for analysis of data Duration of study Composition of teams Ethical considerations

To put your footer here go to View > Header and Footer 8 Simple what is the proportion of male and female drivers involved in traffic accidents in the country

To put your footer here go to View > Header and Footer 9 Complex An HIV/AIDS awareness programme is concerned about the cultural acceptability of a series of messages that have been broadcasted to the rural population of a SADC country. How they are received by people of different ages and sex, and what information is perceived as important in rural communities.

To put your footer here go to View > Header and Footer 10 Factual What is the number of people that live in an area? Based on the agreement of counting anyone who slept in the dwellings in the are in the night prior to the data collection day.

To put your footer here go to View > Header and Footer 11 Subjective Whether communities consider that the method of targeting food aid, based on the perceived poverty level of a household, is fair?

To put your footer here go to View > Header and Footer 12 Easy to measure What is weight to height ratio of children older than 5 years in a community?

To put your footer here go to View > Header and Footer 13 Difficult to measure What is the total production of cassava in a rural household in the country over the period of one year? What is the contribution of cassava production by smallholders to the food security of the country?

To put your footer here go to View > Header and Footer 14 Estimation What is the total number of adults who have a mobile phone in the country?

To put your footer here go to View > Header and Footer 15 Comparison Has the distribution of treated mosquito nets reduced the incidence of malaria in the district?

To put your footer here go to View > Header and Footer 16 Need control Can we prove that the introduction of supplementary feeding at primary schools has a beneficial impact on the school performance of the children?

To put your footer here go to View > Header and Footer 17 Do not need control What percentage of children that start primary school complete it?

To put your footer here go to View > Header and Footer 18