1 Data Collection Techniques Fernando A.C.Ligot, MHPEd, CSP-PASP OPST Methods of Research 26 June 2009

2 Techniques/Methods of Data Collection l Using Available information / Medical Records Review (MRR) l Observing l Interviewing l Administering Written Questionnaires l Focus Group Discussions (FGD) l Projective techniques, mapping, scaling

3 Using Available Information (Medical Records Review) Utilizing documented or recorded,filed or archived, information that may or may have not been published or analyzed

4 “You don’t have to re-invent the wheel”

5 Using Available Information (Medical Records Review)  __________________are individuals who are knowledgeable about certain information that is pertinent to your research project  Community leaders  Health/medical staff at various levels  Members of your target population

6 Using Available Information (Medical Records Review)  Other publications  Newspapers  Published case histories  Global reports on various topics and issues  Institutional reports i.e. annual reports, medical information systems (MIS), financial records

7 Some Considerations in using MRR  Design a ___________or a compilation sheet  Devise a method of facilitating ____________of data from one format to another  Secure ______________before commencing  DO NOT __________ original storage method

8 Observing Involves systematically selecting, watching and recording behavior and characteristics of living beings, objects or phenomena

9 Observing  ___________________________- Observer participates in the situation being observed  _______________________________- Observer watches the situation, openly or concealed but does not participate

10 Observing _________- physical presence of observer in the subject situation ____________________- Observer is not known by the subject

11 Observing CAVEAT Observing human behaviors is time consuming

12 Interviewing  Involves oral questioning of respondents, either individually or a as a group  Allows for a direct contact with a subject or respondent  Allows for immediate response to questions

13 Interviewing  Allows for observation of non-speech behaviors i.e. facial expressions, body language, gestures, etc.  Allows for immediate documentation of response

14 Interviewing: Degrees of Flexibility  High degree  Useful if the researcher has very little knowledge of the situation or problem being investigated  Low structured sequence of questioning

15 Interviewing: Degrees of Flexibility  Low degree  Useful when the researcher is relatively knowledgeable about the topic or subject matter.  Used in big populations  Questions are fixed

16 Questionnaire (self-administered questionnaire)  A tool where written questions are presented and answered by the respondent in written form

17 Questionnaire (self-administered questionnaire)  Mailed questionnaires  Hand delivered questionnaires  Electronic questionnaires  On-the-spot surveys

18 Let us relieve our bladders! 5 minute break

19 Focus Group Discussions  A group of individuals  It is a qualitative method, the purpose of which is to obtain an in-depth information on certain concepts, perceptions and ideas of a group

20 Uses of a FGD  Focus research and develop relevant research hypotheses  Formulate appropriate questions larger scale surveys  Understand and solve unexpected problems in intervention

21 Uses of a FGD  Develop appropriate messages for health education programmes  Explore controversial topics

22 Strengths and Limitations  Provide significant information in a short period of time  Complements other data collection methods ie. survey,  Provide a wider scope of points of view/perspective from different participants  Hesitance on airing opinions

23 PROJECTIVE TECHNIQUES  When an informant is asked to react to a visual or verbal stimulus ie. Yorshack experiment; Picture naming tests  Presentation of a hypothetical situation ie. Complete the sentence questions  This method is very effective in determining people’s opinion on sensitive issues

24 MAPPING  Technique used in visually displaying relationships and resources SCALING  A technique that allows researchers through their respondents to categorize certain variables that they would not be able to rank themselves

25 Bias in Collecting Data

26  ___________ in collecting information is a distortion in the collected data so that it does not present reality

27 Sources of Bias  Defective _________  _______________ bias  Effect of the_______________________  _________________bias

28 Defective Instrument  Questionnaires with;  Fixed questions about less known topics  Unguided open ended questions  Vaguely phrased questions  Leading questions  Illogically arranged questions

29 Observer Bias  Records only information that he/she is interested in  “Loose” data collection methods  Absence of inter rater reliability

30 Effect of Interview  Informant _______answering questions  ____________on the investigator  Informant is __________information  ________________with interviewer or setting

31 Information Bias  Information itself shows weakness in terms of;  Records having ________________data  _________________entry/unintelligible hand writing  Informants ___________________- “memory bias”

32 Bias in information can threaten the validity and reliability of the research

33 Ethical Concerns in Data Collection

34 Data collection techniques can harm subjects by;  Posing sensitive questions  Observing subjects without their knowledge  Disseminating personal information without informants consent  Failing to observe cultural values, traditions and taboos valued by informants

35 How to avoid ethical pitfalls in data collection  ALWAYS obtain ___________ from informants  ___________ something about the values, traditions and beliefs of your subjects and respect it  _____________ confidentiality

36 It’s amazing how much tolerance you have! Thank you for listening

37 References Abramson JH (1990, 4th ed.) Survey Methods in Community Medicine. London: Churchill- Livingstone. (In particular Chapter 6) Moser CA, Kalton G (1989, 2nd ed.) Survey Methods in Social Investigation. Hants, UK: Gower Publishing Company. (In particular Chapters 10-13) Patton MQ (1990, 2nd ed.) Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods. Newbury Park, USA: Sage Publications. (In particular Chapters 17-29) Pretty JN, Guyt I, Thompson J, Scones I (1995) Participatory Learning & Action. A Trainer’s Guide. London: International Institute for environment and Development (IIED) (In particular Chapters 4 and 5 on semi-structured interviewing, diagramming, ranking and scoring.) ( retrieved - May 13, 2009)