Tools And Method Of Data Collection.
Question 1. Define Data Collection. List The Sources Of Data Collection. Explain Any One Method Of Data Collection In Detail.
Answer:
Data Collection Definition:
- “Data are the observable and measurable facts that provide information about the phenomenon under study.
- In research studies, two types of data are collected; those are primary and secondary data.”
- “Data is any information that has been collected, observed, generated or created to validate original research findings.
- Although usually digital, research data also includes non-digital formats such as laboratory notebooks and diaries.”
Read And Learn More: BSc Nursing 3rd Year Nursing Research And Statistics Previous year Question And Answers
The sources of data collection are generally categorized into two broad categories, they are as follows:
- Primary sources
- Secondary sources
1. Primary sources:
- Primary data are directly collected from the research units, which may be individuals, objects, programmes, or institutions.
- Primary sources provide the first-hand information collected by the researcher directly from the respondents or the situations, which may be collected through interviews, questioning, observation, biochemical measurements, and psychosocial measurement scales.
2. Secondary sources:
- Secondary data are collected from either internal or external secondary sources. External sources involve existing materials, such as published or unpublished records.
- Published records may include journals, magazines, newspapers, government reports, statistical abstracts, census reports, constituents of mass communication, and commission reports.
- Unpublished records may include official records, patient records, thesis, dissertations, and reports.
- In addition, internal secondary sources also known as private documents include biographies, personal diaries, letters, memos, etc.
The methods of data collection are as follows:
- Interview
- Questioning
- Observation
- Biophysiologic methods
- Other methods
1. Interview Introduction:
- The interview is a process of communication or interaction in which the subjects or interviewer gives the needed information verbally in a face-to-face situation. Interviewing requires face-to-face contact or contact over the telephone and calls for interviewing skills.
- Interviews may be used either as a main method or as a supplementary one in a collection of research-related data.
Interview Definition:
“A method of data collection in which one person (interviewer) asks the questions from another person (respondent) conducted either face-to-face or telephonically.”
Characteristics of interview:
- The participants, the interviewer, and the respondent are strangers.
- The relationship between the participants is a transitory one.
- The interview is a mode of obtaining verbal answers to questions put verbally.
- The interaction between the interviewer and the respondent need not necessarily be face-to-face because interviews can be conducted over the telephone.
Benefits of interview:
- Provide in-depth and detailed information.
- Permits greater depth of response.
- Data from illiterate subjects.
- Higher response.
- Help to gather other supplementary information.
Types of Interviews:
1. Structured Interview:
- A structured interview is a means of data collection in which the interviewer has an interview schedule in which the questions are listed in the order in which they are to be answered.
2. Unstructured Interview:
- These interviews are also known as nonstandardized interviews. An unstructured interview is a method wherein the questions can be changed to meet the respondent’s intelligence, understanding, and beliefs.
3. Semistructured Interview:
- A semi-structured interview is a flexible method that allows new questions to be brought up during the interview, depending upon the situation during the interview.
4. In-depth Interview:
- This is an intensive and investigative interview conducted and aimed at studying the respondent’s opinion and emotions on the basis of the interview guide.
5. Focused Group Interview:
- Group-focused interview is an unstructured group interview technique where 8-12 members are brought together under the guidance of a trained interviewer to focus on a specific phenomenon.
6. Telephone Interview:
- Telephone interviewing is a nonpersonal method of data collection. This method of collecting information consists of contacting respondents on the telephone itself.
- It is used widely in industrial surveys, particularly in developed regions.
The Interviewing process is as follows:
- Preparation for interview
- Pre-interview introduction.
- Developing rapport
- Carrying the interview forward.
- Recording the interview
- Closing the interview.
The data collection, sources of data collection and methods of data collection are given above.
Question 2. Enumerate the sources of data
Answer:
Data means information that is systematically collected in the courses of study.
Data Sources:
- Information collected from different research studies generally depends on various sources.
- However, a quality research study requires that highly reliable and valid data are collected; therefore diligence and application of the researcher can be of high importance.
- Sources of data collection in different research studies largely depend on several factors such as type of research study, phenomenon under study, purpose of the study, etc.
However, basically, sources of data are generally categorized into two broad categories, namely primary and secondary sources as discussed below:
Primary sources: Primary data are directly collected from the research units, which may be individuals, objects, programmes, or institutions.
Primary sources provide the first-hand information that is collected by the researcher directly from the respondents or the situations, which may be collected through interviews, questioning, observation, biochemical measurements, and psychosocial measurement scales.
Secondary sources:
- Secondary data are collected from either internal or external secondary sources. External sources involve existing material such as published or unpublished records.
- Published records may include journals, magazines, newspapers, government reports, statistical abstracts, census reports, constituents of mass communication, and commission reports. Unpublished records may include official records, patient records, thesis, dissertations, and reports.
- In addition, internal secondary sources also known as private documents may include biographies, personal diaries, letters, memos, etc.
Question 3. Methods of Data Collections.
Answer:
Data means information that is systematically collected in the courses of study.
Methods Of Collecting Primary Data:
- Primary data are directly collected by the researcher from their original sources.
- In this case, the researcher can collect the required data precisely according to his research needs, he can collect them when he wants them and in the form he needs them. However, the collection of primary data is costly and time-consuming.
- Yet, for several types of social science research required data are not available from secondary sources and they have to be directly gathered from primary sources.
- In such cases where the available data are inappropriate, inadequate or obsolete, primary data have to be gathered.
- They include socio-economic surveys, social anthropological studies of rural communities and tribal communities, sociological studies of social problems and social institutions, nursing research, leadership studies, opinion polls, attitudinal surveys, readership, radio listening and T.V. viewing surveys, knowledge-awareness practice (KAP) studies, nursing management studies, hospital management studies, etc.
- There are various methods of data collection. A ‘Method’ is different from a ‘Tool.’ While a method refers to the way or mode of gathering data, a tool is an instrument used for the method.
For example, a schedule is used for interviewing. The important methods are
- Observation,
- Interviewing,
- Mail Survey,
- Experimentation,
- Simulation
- Projective technique.
To collect primary data during the course of doing experiments in experimental research but in case we do research of the descriptive type and perform surveys, whether sample surveys or census surveys, then we can obtain primary data either through observation or through direct communication with respondents in one form or another or through personal interviews.
This, in other words, means that there are several methods of collecting primary data, particularly in surveys and descriptive research.
Important ones are:
- Observation Method,
- Interview Method,
- Through Questionnaires,
- Through Schedules And
- Other Methods Which Include
- Warranty Cards;
- Distributor Audits;
- Pantry Audits;
- Consumer Panels;
- Using Mechanical Devices;
- Through Projective Techniques
- Depth Interviews, And
- Content analysis.
- Observations involve gathering data relating to the selected research by viewing and or listening.
- Interviewing involves a face-to-face conversation between the investigator and the respondent.
- Mailing is used for collecting data by getting questionnaires completed by respondents.
- Experimentation involves the study of independent variables under controlled conditions.
- Experiments may be conducted in a laboratory or in the field in a natural setting. Simulation involves the creation of an artificial situation similar to the actual life situation.
- Projective methods aim at drawing inferences on the characteristics of respondents by presenting to them stimuli.
- Even the method has its advantages and disadvantages.
Question 4. Discuss on advantages and disadvantages of observation as a method of data collection.
Answer:
Method of Data Collection Observations:
- Observation is a way of gathering data by watching behaviour, and events, or noting physical characteristics in their natural setting.
- Observation is a method of data collection that can be used to gather such information as characteristics and conditions of individuals, verbal and nonverbal communication, etc.
- The observation method of data collection is particularly well suited to nursing research.
- There are several situations that require nurses to use the observation method for data collection such as the behaviour and attributes of the patients, their families, hospital staff, and so on.
- Observations can be overt (everyone knows they are being observed) or covert (they do not know that they are being observed and the observer is concealed).
- The benefit of covert observation is that people are more likely to behave naturally if they do not know that they are being observed.
Method of Data Collection Definitions:
- Observation is a technique for collecting all the data or acquiring information through occurrences that can be observed through senses with or without mechanical devices.
- It is a two-part process to collect data for study that includes an observer (someone who is observing) and the observed (there is something to observe).
Advantages of Observation:
- Collect data on where and when an event or activity is occurring.
- Does not rely on people’s willingness or ability to provide information.
- Allows you to directly see what people do rather than relying on what people say they did.
Disadvantages of Observation:
- Susceptible to observer bias.
- Susceptible to the ‘Hawthorne effect’, that is, people usually perform better when they know they are being observed, although indirect observation may decrease this problem.
- Can be expensive and time-consuming compared to other data collection
- Does not increase understanding of why people behave as they do.
Question 5. Likert Scale
Answer:
- Likert scale was named after psychologist Rensis Likert, who developed it in 1932 as a psychological concept measurement scale.
- Likert scale is one of the most commonly used scaling techniques.
- It was developed to measure the attitudes, values, and feelings of people.
- Primarily original version of this scale was developed with a five-point scale (strongly agree, agree, uncertain, disagree, and strongly disagree) containing a mixture of positive and negative declarative statements regarding measuring variables.
- An example of 5 points Likert’s scale may be perused from Table
Likert Scale Definition:
- Likert scale is a composite measurement scale used to measure the attitude, value, and, feeling of people that involve summation of sources on the set of positive and negative declarative statements regarding measuring variables to which respondents are asked to indicate their degree of agreement or disagreement
Use Of Likert Scale:
- Use to measure the attitudes, values, and feelings of the people’s specific concepts, such as situations, people, places, objects
- Use to assess the opinions of respondents about a particular concept.
- It Collects The Opinion Of People With Various Attitude, Emotions And Feelings Toward A Particular Concept.
Characteristics Of the Likert Scale:
- Psychologic measurement tool: Is a psychologic measurement tool to assess the attitudes, and feelings of people about a specific concept.
- Neutral statements: This must contain neutral statements.
- Bipolar scaling method: This is composed of alternative positive and negative declarative statements so that the respondent’s response and bias can be eliminated. Here positive statement gets a high score with agreement and a negative score gets a high score with the statement.
- Measurement of a specific number of scaling categories: This scale was originally developed with five scaling categories; but later scale even developed with four, six and seven scaling categories.
Scoring Of The Likert Scale:
- Scoring of the Likert scale is done on the bias of the type of statement and level of respondents’ agreement with the statement. For positive statements, respondents get a higher score if there is agreement with the statement. However, in the case of a negative statement, the respondent gets a higher score if there is a disagreement with the statement.
Advantages Of the Likert Scale:
- It’s relatively easy to construct this scale.
- It is considered a more reliable and valid tool to measure the psychosocial variables.
- It is easy to administer since respondents only have to tick in the space provided against each statement
- It is less time-consuming during construction and administration.
Disadvantages Of the Likert Scale:
- In this scale, respondents may feel forced to answer the question against all preplanned items and their categories.
- The feelings of the respondent were not fully assessed.
- Difficulty in justifying the selection of the number of categories.
- Difficult to treat neutral opinions as neither agree or disagree.
Question 5. Rating Scale
Answer:
- Rating is the term used to express the opinion or judgement regarding some performance of a person, object, situation, or character.
- The rating scale involves the qualitative description of a limited number of aspects of a thing or traits of a person.
- When we use rating scales we judge an object in absolute terms against some specified criteria, i.e. we judge properties of objects without reference to other similar objects.
Rating Scale Definitions:
- The Nursing Research and Statistics Rating scale refers to a scale with a set of opinions, that describes the varying degrees of the dimensions of an attitude being observed.
- The rating scale is a device by which judgements may be qualified or an opinion concerning a trait can be systematized.
- The rating scale is a tool in which one person simply checks off another person’s level of performance.
- The rating scale could be a 3-point, 5-point, or 7-point rating scale.
Types of the Rating Scales:
1. Graphic rating scale:
- In this scale, the performance is printed horizontally at various points from lowest to highest. It includes the numerical points on the scale.
- It is anchored by two extremes presented to respondents for evaluation of a concept or object. Graphic rating scale
For example: How much are you satisfied with noise control in your ward?
2. Descriptive rating scales: This type of rating scale does not use number, but divide the assessment into a series of verbal phrases to indicate the level of performance.
For example Q. Judge the level of performance of nursing personnel in the Medical ICU
3. Numerical rating scale: It divides the evaluation criteria into a fixed number of points, but defines only numbers at the extremes.
In these scales, each statement is generally assigned a numerical score ranging from 1 to 10 or even more.
For example: Pain assessment numerical scale.
4. Comparative rating scale:
- In this type of rating scale, the researcher makes a judgement about an attribute of a person by comparing it with that of a similar person(s).
- For example, Mr. Ram’s decision-making abilities closely resemble those of Mr. Shyam and Mr. Gopal.
- In this type of rating scale, a researcher must have hands-on knowledge about the selected attributes of the people with whom the subjects are supposed to be compared.
Rating Scale Definitions
- Rating scale refers to a scale with a set of opinions, which describes varying degrees of the dimensions of an attitude being observed.
- Rating scale is a device by which judgements may be qualified or an opinion concerning a trait can be systematized.
Types of the Rating Scale:
1. Graphic rating scale.
- In this scale, the performance is printed horizontally at various points from lowest to highest.
- It includes the numerical points on the scale. It is anchored by two extremes presented to respondents for evaluation of a concept or object.
2. Descriptive rating scales:
This type of rating scale do not use number, but divide the assessment into a series of verbal phrases to indicate the level of performance.
3. Numerical rating scale:
- It divides the evaluation criteria into a fixed number of points but defines only numbers at the extremes.
- In these scales, each statement is generally assigned a numerical score ranging from 1 to 10, or even more.
4. Comparative rating scale.
- In this type of rating scale, the researcher makes a judgement about an attribute of a person by comparing it with that of a similar person(s) For example, Mr Ram’s decision-making abilities closely resemble those of Mr. Shyam and Mr. Gopal.
- In this type of rating scale, the researcher must have hands-on knowledge about the selected attributes of the people with whom the subjects are supposed to be compared
Characteristics of Rating Scale:
- The rating scale is the judgement of one person by another
- It is a directed observation
- It is the opinion of some object, situation or character
- It Systemizes The Expression Of Opinion Concerning A Trait.
- A Systematic Procedure For Obtaining, Recording And Reporting Observer’s Judgements.
- It Is A Subjective Method Through Which We Can Find Out Opinions About A Particular Person.
- Similar To A Check List But With Finer Discriminations.
- It may be filled during or immediately after or much later after the observation is made.
- Ratings Are Done By Parents, Guardians, Teachers, Students Themselves, Friends, A Board Of Interviewers, Judges, And The Self As Well.
- Each Statement Constructed In the Rating Scale Must Be Unique In Itself So That Attributes Can Be Judged Appropriately.
Advantages Of Rating Scale:
- Easy To Administer And Score The Measured Attributes.
- Rating Scales Have A Wide Range Of Applications in Nursing Research
- Graphic Rating Scale Is Easier To Make And Requires Less Time.
- Rating Scales Can Be Easily Used For A Large Group.
- It Is Also Used For Quantitative Methods.
- It May Also Be Used For The Assessment Of Interests, Attitudes, And Personnel Characteristics.
- Used To Evaluate Performance, Skills, And Product Outcomes.
- Rating scales are adaptable and flexible research instruments.
Disadvantages Of Rating Scale:
- It Is Difficult Or Dangerous To Fix Up Rating About Many Aspects Of An Individual.
- Misuse Can Result In a Decrease In Objectivity.
- There Are Chances Of Subjective Evaluation, and the Scales May Become Unscientific And Unreliable.
- Limited Reliability
- May Be Substantial Variations Among Informants
- Do Not Assess Sources Of Behavior Problems
- Ease Of Use – Unqualified Users May Use And Interpret These Scales.
- Not suitable for sophisticated treatment planning
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