Data Collection Methods Used in Research
Research methods are specific procedures for obtaining data. They are integral to the research design hence, it is pertinent to choose and use the right methods to achieve your research objectives. The choice of the methods to use in a study depends on the research philosophy underpinning your research, research approach, and the type of data needed to answer the research questions. If you are not sure of the most appropriate research method for your study, you can discuss it with your supervisor or consult a research methodology expert from our firm.
Common Research Methods
Interviews
Interviews are the most widely used methods for collecting qualitative data on the views, feelings, and experiences of respondents in research. This data collection technique involves asking open-ended questions to converse with the participants with the aim of garnering information on a subject of research interest. Interviews are conducted to understand the opinions of respondents using a well-planned and executed series of questions. The level of structure in interviews varies and can be structured, semi-structured, and unstructured. The format that is commonly used by researchers is semi-structured interviews. However, interviews are not particularly good tools for gathering information from a large number of people since they take a lot of time to execute and analyze the gathered data. Therefore, one should pay careful attention when selecting participants who have the necessary knowledge or experience needed to answer the research question. Read more on how to conduct research interviews.
Focus Groups
Focus groups are a qualitative method used to collect data through interaction with a group of participants. A focus group comprises of a small number of participants, usually 6-10 individuals, who are purposively selected to discuss a given topic. They are similar to interviews in that they are conducted with the aim of uncovering people’s perceptions and values. However, they are different with regard to the role of the researcher and the relationship with the participants. In interviews, the researcher adopts the role of an “investigator” and discusses with one individual at a time. The researcher takes the center-stage role and asks questions, controls the discussion, and engages in dialogue with a specific respondent at a time. In contrast, the researcher in a focus group adopts the role of a “moderator” or “facilitator.” Thus, the researcher assumes a peripheral role and moderates or facilitates the discussion between a group of participants and not between the researcher and participants. The researcher can interact with the group in person or via video-conferencing platforms. Focus groups are more expensive compared to other qualitative research methods and challenging to schedule appointments with all the participants. Read more on how to conduct a focus group discussion.
Surveys
Questionnaires are primarily used in surveys and include questions and other items needed to gather information. Surveys involve asking the same questions to a large number of people in a similar way and gathering a lot of responses. Questionnaires allow for the collection of standardized information from respondents. Therefore, they are well suited for studies that seek to measure some parameters of the population (such as characteristics, preferences, opinions, or beliefs) or make comparisons between different groups of people. The design and development of questionnaires require a great deal of care since there is no person to check misunderstandings or explain ambiguities to respondents while answering the questions. Questionnaires can be used to gather quantitative and/or qualitative data depending on the level of structure. The format of a questionnaire can be structured, semi-structured, or unstructured. Structured questionnaires include close-ended questions and collect only quantitative data. On the other hand, unstructured questionnaires consist of open-ended questions and gather qualitative data. Sometimes, not all questions can be designed with possible alternative answers and a researcher may need to include unstructured questions whose answers cannot be enumerated completely. Hence, one may have a questionnaire that consists of both close-ended and open-ended questions. Such a questionnaire is referred to as a semi-structured or quasi-structured questionnaire and collects both quantitative and qualitative data. Questionnaires can be administered via mail, online, or in person.
Observations
Observation is a useful method for collecting systematic information or data to understand something in its natural setting. Observations can form part of either qualitative or quantitative research and may generate both qualitative and quantitative data. The researcher may observe characteristics, behaviors, reactions, or numbers among others. However, observations raise various potential ethical concerns. For instance, do the individuals know they are being observed? Can they give consent? If some individuals are uncomfortable with being observed, is it possible to exclude them from the study while observing others around them?
Experiments
Experiments involve the manipulation of one or more independent variables and measuring their effects on one or more dependent variables. In experiments, the researcher creates a set of procedures to test a hypothesis. The research method is only applicable when it is possible to vary the independent variable and obtain results that are specific and testable. Also, the researcher is expected to make careful decisions on randomization of the subjects, applying experimental treatments, and controlling other variables that may influence the outcomes. Experiments gather only quantitative data and are used to test cause-and-effect relationships.
Secondary Data
Research methods such as interviews, surveys, and observation collect primary data, which is original data gathered for the purposes of answering research questions. Researchers may also use secondary data or information that has already been collected by other researchers, governments, or organizations. For instance, Statistica is a reliable source for obtaining secondary data about businesses. Other examples of secondary data include census data, companies’ financial databases, and national health surveys. Secondary data can also be obtained from existing documents (document review) such as government records, newspaper articles, and other media items like photographs, films, and websites. Some of these documents are available in the public domain and are freely accessible. However, others may not be available for public access because they are confidential or classified. When such documents are used in research, the researcher must first agree with the holder of the documents on how the contents can or cannot be used and how confidentiality will be maintained. Secondary data is preferred when one wants to analyze historical data, synthesize existing knowledge, and identify patterns on a large scale. The advantages of using secondary data are that it is easier to access and faster to collect. However, the research has no control over how the data was collected and thus, may need to process it further to ensure it works for the required analysis. Secondary data can either be quantitative or qualitative.