Chapter 9: What are the major methods of Data Collection?
Fundamental Principle of mixed research: To get high quality research, there must be thoughtful mixing of methods, procedures, & other paradigm characteristics
include types of mixing
intramethod mixing
mixing of other research ingredients
Intermethod mixing
is
2 or more methods of data collection are used
is
both quantitative & qualitative data are obtained through one method
is
sampling methods & data analysis methods
Questionnaires
Tests
used
to measure attitudes, personality, self-perceptions, aptitude, & performance of research participants; quantitative research
used
to self-report data tool as part of a study; used to obtain information about thoughts, feelings, attitudes, beliefs, values, etc.
Focus groups
Interviews
occurs
between interviewer and interviewee
Quantitative interviews
Qualitative interviews
consist of
interview protocol that includes the items, response categories, instructions, etc.
consist of
open-ended questions and provide qualitative data
Closed quantitative interviews - usually written on paper for in person interviews & shown on computer screen for telephone interviews
interview guide approach - specific topics and/or open-ended questions are asked in any order
standardized open-ended interview - open-ended questions asked in specific order & exactly as worded.
informal conversational interviews - spontaneous, loosely structured, often occur at unexpected times
are
group interview where moderator leads discussion with small group of individuals to examine how they feel about a topic
qualitative data collectors
composed of 6-12 participants
Observations
consist of
watching the behavioral patterns of people in certain situations
Environments
Naturalistic observation - done out in the real world where behavior naturally occurs
Laboratory observation - done in the lab or setting set up by researcher
Types
Quantitative observation
is
structured; involves standardization of each
When the observation takes place
What is observed
Where the observation takes place
Who is observed
How the observation are done
Results are counts, frequencies, or percentages
Techniques
Time-interval sampling
Event sampling
Qualitative observation
is
observing all potentially relevant phenomena & taking extensive field notes
Participant as observer
Observer-as-participant
Complete participant
Complete observer
Constructed, Secondary, or Existing Data
Constructed data - constructed by research participants; drawings, diaries, recordings, etc.
Secondary or existing data - data collected, recorded, or left behind at an earlier time.
Documents
personal documents - anything written, photographed, or recorded for private purposes
Official documents - written, photographed, or recorded by some type of public or private organization
Physical data - any physical trace left by people as they take part in activities
Archived research data - originally used for research purposes an then stored for potential use later