1. Data Collection Methods

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Interviews:
Face to face
Telephone interview

8. Types of interviews:
Structured
Unstructured
Semi structured

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. Psychological tests: personality inventories

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

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

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. 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.