1. 1 Data Collection Techniques Fernando A.C.Ligot, MHPEd, CSP-PASP OPST 199 - Methods of Research 26 June 2009

2. 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. 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. 4 “You don’t have to re-invent the wheel”

5. 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. 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. 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. 8 Observing Involves systematically selecting, watching and recording behavior and characteristics of living beings, objects or phenomena

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

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

11. 11 Observing CAVEAT Observing human behaviors is time consuming

12. 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. 13 Interviewing  Allows for observation of non-speech behaviors i.e. facial expressions, body language, gestures, etc.  Allows for immediate documentation of response

14. 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. 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. 16 Questionnaire (self-administered questionnaire)  A tool where written questions are presented and answered by the respondent in written form

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

18. 18 Let us relieve our bladders! 5 minute break

19. 19 Focus Group Discussions  A group of 8 - 12 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. 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. 21 Uses of a FGD  Develop appropriate messages for health education programmes  Explore controversial topics

22. 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. 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. 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. 25 Bias in Collecting Data

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

33. 33 Ethical Concerns in Data Collection

34. 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. 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. 36 It’s amazing how much tolerance you have! Thank you for listening

37. 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.) http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-56606-201-1-DO_TOPIC.htmlhttp://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-56606-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html ( retrieved - May 13, 2009)