1. Data Collection Facilitator:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdul Hamid b. Hj. Mar Iman
Director
Centre for Real Estate Studies
Faculty of Engineering and Geoinformation Science
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Skudai, Johor

2. Objectives of Lecture Basic issues of data collection
Principles of data collection
Instrumentation
Sampling
What I will not do: To teach every bit and pieces of data collection

3. Basic Issues Main questions: * Study objectives?
* What is being investigated?
* Attributes & variables involved?
* Variable measurement?
* Method of data collection?
Main problems with data:
* Sufficient amount but irrelevant
* Relevant but insufficient
* Too much data, some useless
Implications:
* Waste of resources
* Loose analysis
* Non-fulfilling objectives
* Unresolved research questions
* Lack of quality thesis

4. Determining Data Research issue, objectives, hypotheses?
* Maintaining the “thesis”
* What are involved in maintaining your idea, testing
hypotheses, etc.
* What “answers” to be required
In what way research issue is to be operationalised?
* What cause-and-effect phenomenon to be explained?
* What variables are involved?
* What data required for the variables?
* How to measure them?
Types of data
* Primary
* Secondary

5. Principles of Data Collection
What types of data required?
Collect only relevant data
Determine methods of data collection
* Survey/questionnaire
* Observation, participatory
* Standard instruments
* Content analysis, etc
Where, who, how, and when to collect
* Research design
* Sampling procedure
* Prepare field work schedule/data plan
* Conduct preliminary investigation
Assess situation and prepare further strategies

6. Data plan Scope of data Type Method Source 1. Geography Secondary
MPJBT, UTM 2.
Jemaah
Primary
Sample
Mosque in Skudai 3.
Tenants
Residential area in Skudai 4.
Patrons
Shops in Skudai 5.
Public users
Public facilities in Skudai

7. Instrumentation
A process of selecting and developing research tool for the purpose of data collection
Examples of instrument:
* Questionnaire
* Interview checklist
* Observational form
* Attitude/view scale
* Content analysis form
* Researcher-designed achievement test
Depends on method of study

8. Method of Study and Instrument
Method of study
Descriptive
Correlation
Ex-post facto
Action
Evaluation
Questionnaire X
Interview schedule
Observation form
Attitude/opinion scale 
Content analysis form 
Researcher-designed achievement test
Standard achievement test 
Aptitude test 
Ability test
Interest inventory
Projection measurement

9. Important aspects of instrumentation
Reliability: can it produce consistent results?
Validity: can it fulfill the required function?
Feasibility: can it fulfill the need of the researcher→ Reliable? Valid?

10. Questionnaire
Crystallise research issue and objectives
List specific questions w.r.t. the issue & objectives
Identify & list key words and their relationships
Identify cause-and-effect explanation by relating all the keywords
Identify how to operationalise the issue
* define concepts
* identify variables
* variable measurement
Construct questionnaire table
* Related questions that address issue & objectives

11. Sampling
An important aspect of data collection
A requirement when the study attempts to make deduction about the population
A systematic process that post graduate researchers should be familiar with

12. Thank you!