CHAPTER-2

• Compilation and interpretation of primary and secondary sources of information.

• The integration of different sources will consolidate the write up of the report.

DATA COLLECTION METHODS

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Primary SourcePrimary Source•Data is collected by

researcher himself

•Data is gathered through questionnaire,

interviews,observations etc.

Secondary SourceSecondary Source•Data collected,

compiled or written by other

researchers eg. books, journals, newspapers•Any reference must

be acknowledged

STEPS TO COLLECT DATA

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATIONDATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

  

    

REVIEW & COMPILE SECONDARY SOURCE INFORMATIONREVIEW & COMPILE SECONDARY SOURCE INFORMATION(Referred to in the BACKGROUND/ INTRODUCTION section of report)

REVIEW & COMPILE SECONDARY SOURCE INFORMATIONREVIEW & COMPILE SECONDARY SOURCE INFORMATION(Referred to in the BACKGROUND/ INTRODUCTION section of report)

PLAN & DESIGN DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS PLAN & DESIGN DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS TO GATHER PRIMARY INFORMATIONTO GATHER PRIMARY INFORMATION

(Referred to in the FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS sections of report)

PLAN & DESIGN DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS PLAN & DESIGN DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS TO GATHER PRIMARY INFORMATIONTO GATHER PRIMARY INFORMATION

(Referred to in the FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS sections of report)

DATA COLLECTIONDATA COLLECTIONDATA COLLECTIONDATA COLLECTION

METHODS USED TO COLLECT

PRIMARY SOURCE DATA

1. Interviews2. Questionnaires3. Survey4. Experimentation5. Case Study6. Observation

However, for a small-scale study, the most commonly used methods are interviews, survey questionnaires and observations.

Effective way of gathering information

INTERVIEW

Involves verbal and non-verbal communications

Can be conducted face to face, by telephone,

online or through mail

Steps To An Effective Interview

Prepare your interview schedule

Select your subjects/ key informants

Conduct the interview

Analyze and interpret data collected from the interview

The most common data collection instrument

SurveyQuestionnaire

Useful to collect quantitative and qualitative

information

Should contain 3 elements:1. Introduction – to explain the objectives

2. Instructions – must be clear, simple language & short3. User-friendly – avoid difficult or ambiguous questions

2 Basic Types of survey questions:

1. Open-ended Questions– Free-response

(Text Open End)

– Fill-in relevant information

2. Close-ended Questions– Dichotomous question

– Multiple-choice

– Rank

– Scale

– Categorical

– Numerical

Note: For specific examples and students’ activities on each question style, please refer to the notes on Data Collection in the e-learning.

Steps To An Effective Survey QuestionnairePrepare your survey questions

(Formulate & choose types of questions, order them, write instructions, make copies)

Select your respondents/samplingRandom/Selected

Administer the survey questionnaire(date, venue, time )

Analyze and interpret data collected

Tabulate data collected (Statistical analysis-frequency/mean/correlation/% )

A sample of complete survey questionnairehttp://www.custominsight.com/demo/form_widgets.rtf

Observe verbal & non-verbal communication, surrounding atmosphere,

culture & situation

Observations

Need to keep meticulous records of

the observations

Can be done through discussions,observations of habits, rituals,

review of documentation,experiments

Steps To An Effective ObservationDetermine what needs to be observed

(Plan, prepare checklist, how to record data)

Select your participantsRandom/Selected

Conduct the observation(venue, duration, recording materials, take photographs )

Analyze and interpret data collected

Compile data collected

DATA ANALYSIS

3. In a small scale study, the most common forms of statistical analysis presented are:

•Frequency•Mean•Percentage

1. To analyse data from interviews and observation, use

Summary sheet

Checklist

2. To analyse data from questionnaires, use

Manually

SPSS

DATA INTERPRETATION

1. It involves 2 terms• ‘Results’ – presentation of data/findings (statistics)• ‘Discussion’ – interpretation of data/findings

2. Things to consider when interpreting your data:• Interpret findings based on the purpose and objectives of your study• Relate the findings to real life context• Use persuasive language to convince your readers to see the research from your point of view.• Order your interpretation to highlight the most important findings• Include limitations to your research.• Use simple, clear language

Field work plan• "Fieldwork is most effective when

it is deliberately structured to be engaging and meaningful" Nundy, 1999

• However, like other educational experiences, a successful and enjoyable fieldwork activity is often one that involves the Researcher in identifying issues, making decisions and taking responsibility for their learning.

Issues based fieldworkThe approach to structuring a local fieldwork episode is

threefold:• Qualitative. Identify a local issue of relevance to the

students – through, for example, emotional mapping• Quantitative. Determine a quantitative approach to data

collection in order to investigate the issue, using primary and secondary data sources

• Action. Agree on a way forward- how can we make a difference to our local area through addressing this issue?

Survey administration method

Survey administration means the way in which a questionnaire is presented to a respondent. There are three traditional methods of survey administration:

• mailed,

• telephone and

• face-to-face surveys.

1. Mailed surveys are usually self-administered; that is, the respondents fill in the questionnaires themselves.

2. Telephone and

3. face-to-face surveys are administered by another person.

Choosing one of these methods depends upon several factors: the availability of time and funds, the sample population and the amount and kind of information you want to collect.

Training field investigatorA field investigator conducts investigations in the field on behalf of an employer.

• Field investigators can work in a number of different industries, ranging from law enforcement to insurance.

• These professionals have good people skills and deductive logic abilities, working with other field investigators and office staff to gather as much information as possible about a person or situation.

• In the law enforcement community, field investigators are a very important part of the investigative team.

• They gather information from scenes of crimes, witnesses, and references who may have useful information, preparing a report which can be combined with analysis of physical evidence to draw conclusions about the circumstances of a crime and who may be responsible.

• Field investigators can work for national security agencies conducting investigations into suspected security threats, along with a variety of law enforcement organizations doing everything from investigating animal cruelty accusations to solving murders.