1. Collecting Data Online
Holly A. Clayton, MA
PSYC 6135

3. Why collect data online?
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

4. Decision map:
Should I collect online, or manually?

6. Online Data Collection
Advantages
Disadvantages
Reduced response time
Lowered cost
Data entry is easy
Control over format
Technology
People like it
Get info on the process
Can find “at risk” subjects
Representativeness of sample
Response rates
Measurement errors?
Technical difficulties
Concerns around identity
Granello & Wheaton (2004)

7. Steps in online data collection
Determine population to be measured
Decide between an or web survey
Develop the layout and question format(s)
Write the questions
Make sure layout is simple, consistent, and easy –to-read.
Address informed consent and include your contact info
Determine how data will be entered into the computer
Do a couple practice runs yourself.
Include error detection variables in anonymous web surveys
Do a pilot run with a subset of the target population.
Determine schedule for initial contact with participants.
Download the data frequently.
Granello & Wheaton (2004)

9. Dynamic methods for online research
Created a reusable database of survey questions.
Can apply this system to other studies /questions.
Software creates data tables of responses .
User-friendly and automatically validates entries.
Calculates statistics automatically.
Generates SAS and SPSS program files for advanced analysis.
All of the code for this process is open-source.
A great option for someone with limited funding.
Cooper et al. (2006)

11. Online data collection (Qualitative)

12. Online qualitative research
Flanagan et al. (2015)

13. Resources http://methods.sagepub.com/book/internet-data-collection
pdf
_2015_Article_1018.pdf
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