It is pertinent to note that data collection in itself falls under two broad categories; Primary data collection and secondary data collection. Primary data collection by definition is the gathering of raw data collected at the source. It is a process of collecting the original data collected by a researcher for a specific research purpose. It could be further analyzed into two segments; qualitative research and quantitative data collection methods.
The qualitative research methods of data collection do not involve the collection of data that involves numbers or a need to be deduced through a mathematical calculation, rather it is based on the non-quantifiable elements like the feeling or emotion of the researcher. An example of such a method is an open-ended questionnaire. Quantitative methods are presented in numbers and require a mathematical calculation to deduce. An example would be the use of a questionnaire with close-ended questions to arrive at figures to be calculated Mathematically.
Also, methods of correlation and regression, mean, mode and median. Secondary data collection, on the other hand, is referred to as the gathering of second-hand data collected by an individual who is not the original user. In terms of ease, it is much less expensive and easier to collect. Your choice between Primary data collection and secondary data collection depends on the nature, scope, and area of your research as well as its aims and objectives. There are a bunch of underlying reasons for collecting data, especially for a researcher.
Walking you through them, here are a few reasons;. A key reason for collecting data, be it through quantitative or qualitative methods is to ensure that the integrity of the research question is indeed maintained.
The correct use of appropriate data collection of methods reduces the likelihood of errors consistent with the results. To minimize the risk of errors in decision-making, it is important that accurate data is collected so that the researcher doesn't make uninformed decisions.
Data collection saves the researcher time and funds that would otherwise be misspent without a deeper understanding of the topic or subject matter. To prove the need for a change in the norm or the introduction of new information that will be widely accepted, it is important to collect data as evidence to support these claims. Case Studies, Checklists, Interviews, Observation sometimes, and Surveys or Questionnaires are all tools used to collect data.
It is important to decide the tools for data collection because research is carried out in different ways and for different purposes. The objective behind data collection is to capture quality evidence that allows analysis to lead to the formulation of convincing and credible answers to the posed questions.
You can easily get data with at least three data collection methods with our online and offline data gathering tool. However, with the Formplus data collection tool, you can gather all types of primary data for academic, opinion or product research. The following are the top 7 data collection methods for Academic, Opinion-based or product research. Also discussed in detail is the nature, pros and cons of each one.
At the end of this segment, you will be best informed about which method best suits your research. An interview is a face-to-face conversation between two individuals with the sole purpose of collecting relevant information to satisfy a research purpose. Interviews are of different types namely; Structured, Semi-structured , and unstructured with each having a slight variation from the other.
Use this interview consent form template to let an interviewee give you consent to use data gotten from your interviews for investigative research purposes. For collecting data through interviews, here are a few tools you can use to easily collect data.
An audio recorder is used for recording sound on disc, tape, or film. Audio information can meet the needs of a wide range of people, as well as provide alternatives to print data collection tools.
An advantage of a digital camera is that it can be used for transmitting those images to a monitor screen when the need arises. A camcorder is used for collecting data through interviews.
It provides a combination of both an audio recorder and a video camera. The data provided is qualitative in nature and allows the respondents to answer questions asked exhaustively. Want to conduct an interview for qualitative data research or special report? Use this online interview consent form template to allow the interviewee to give their consent before you use the interview data for research or report. With premium features like e-signature, upload fields, form security, etc. This is the process of collecting data through an instrument consisting of a series of questions and prompts to receive a response from individuals it is administered to.
Questionnaires are designed to collect data from a group. For clarity, it is important to note that a questionnaire isn't a survey, rather it forms a part of it. A survey is a process of data gathering involving a variety of data collection methods, including a questionnaire. On a questionnaire, there are three kinds of questions used. They are; fixed-alternative, scale, and open-ended. With each of the questions tailored to the nature and scope of the research.
Formplus lets you create powerful forms to help you collect the information you need. Formplus helps you create the online forms that you like. The Formplus online questionnaire form template to get actionable trends and measurable responses.
Conduct research, optimize knowledge of your brand or just get to know an audience with this form template. The form template is fast, free and fully customizable. Signup for Free. Mostly designed for statistical analysis of the responses, they can also be used as a form of data collection.
Get Started for Free. By definition, data reporting is the process of gathering and submitting data to be further subjected to analysis. The key aspect of data reporting is reporting accurate data because of inaccurate data reporting leads to uninformed decision making.
Reporting tools enable you to extract and present data in charts, tables, and other visualizations so users can find useful information. You could source data for reporting from Non-Governmental Organizations NGO reports, newspapers, website articles, hospital records. Contained in NGO reports is an in-depth and comprehensive report on the activities carried out by the NGO, covering areas such as business and human rights.
The information contained in these reports is research-specific and forms an acceptable academic base for collecting data. NGOs often focus on development projects which are organized to promote particular causes.
Newspaper data are relatively easy to collect and are sometimes the only continuously available source of event data. Even though there is a problem of bias in newspaper data, it is still a valid tool in collecting data for Reporting.
Gathering and using data contained in website articles is also another tool for data collection. Health care involves a diverse set of public and private data collection systems, including health surveys, administrative enrollment and billing records, and medical records, used by various entities, including hospitals, CHCs, physicians, and health plans. The data provided is clear, unbiased and accurate, but must be obtained under legal means as medical data is kept with the strictest regulations.
It involves adding measurement to a study or research. An example would be sourcing data from an archive. The concept of Existing data means that data is collected from existing sources to investigate research questions other than those for which the data were originally gathered.
Tools to collect existing data include:. This is a data collection method by which information on a phenomenon is gathered through observation. The nature of the observation could be accomplished either as a complete observer, an observer as a participant, a participant as an observer, or as a complete participant.
This method is a key base for formulating a hypothesis. Observation involves the active acquisition of information from a primary source. Observation can also involve the perception and recording of data via the use of scientific instruments. The best tools for Observation are:.
The opposite of quantitative research which involves numerical-based data, this data collection method focuses more on qualitative research. It falls under the primary category for data based on the feelings and opinions of the respondents. This research involves asking open-ended questions to a group of individuals usually ranging from people, to provide feedback. A focus group is a data collection method that is tightly facilitated and structured around a set of questions.
The purpose of the meeting is to extract from the participants' detailed responses to these questions. The best tools for tackling Focus groups are:.
This method of data collection encompasses the use of innovative methods to enhance participation to both individuals and groups. Also under the primary category, it is a combination of Interviews and Focus Groups while collecting qualitative data.
This method is key when addressing sensitive subjects. The Combination Research method involves two or more data collection methods, for instance, interviews as well as questionnaires or a combination of semi-structured telephone interviews and focus groups.
The best tools for combination research are:. With Formplus, you can create your unique survey form. With options to change themes, font colour, font, font type, layout, width, and more, you can create an attractive survey form.
The builder also gives you as many features as possible to choose from and you do not need to be a graphic designer to create a form. Form Analytics, a feature in formplus helps you view the number of respondents, unique visits, total visits, abandonment rate, and average time spent before submission.
Copy the link to your form and embed as an iframe which will automatically load as your website loads, or as a popup which opens once the respondent clicks on the link.
Embed the link on your Twitter page to give instant access to your followers. The geolocation feature on Formplus lets you ascertain where individual responses are coming. It utilises Google Maps to pinpoint the longitude and latitude of the respondent, to the nearest accuracy, along with the responses. This feature helps to conserve horizontal space as it allows you to put multiple options in one field. This translates to including more information on the survey form.
Formplus gives you a free plan with basic features you can use to collect online data. Create Online Questionnaire or Survey for Free. Input your survey title and use the form builder choice options to start creating your surveys.
Use the choice option fields like single select, multiple select, checkbox, radio, and image choices to create your preferred multi-choice surveys online. Do you want customers to rate any of your products or services delivery? Business Insights and Ideas does not constitute professional tax or financial advice.
You should contact your own tax or financial professional to discuss your situation.. Derek Mau. How can you make that happen for your business? Pros : Keeps the project lead organized while keeping everyone else on task in a timely fashion Example: An event planning company is putting together a major party. How working online can help Asking team members to log in to a central virtual location to check off their task or give feedback of some kind keeps everything running smoothly and quickly.
Pros : Improves teamwork Builds better relationships in remote teams Saves travel expenses Example: A software development firm has several sizable projects to discuss, but the team members are in three different offices across the country. How working online can help With video conferencing, you can also share data, documents and presentations with team members in real-time.
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Pros : Reduces confusion Speeds up the feedback process Reduces email Example: An ad agency is working on a pitch, which involves lots of brainstorming, editing and revision. How working online can help Team members might work out of different offices, but they can still edit the document together at the same time. Cloud storage with version control keeps things organized Storing a project or document in the cloud is the easiest way to know that everyone who needs it has access to it at all times, from anywhere in the world.
Pros : Saves time Reduces email Preserves all versions of a file in a central location Example: A nonprofit organization is working on a presentation involving all the latest research on hunger in America.
How working online can help Having the presentation in a central location enables quicker feedback and helps keep versions organized. This microblogging site allows users to send and receive short public messages called tweets in characters. By following people, organizations and sources, users can interact with thousands of academics and researchers. Using hashtags, replies and retweets, trends and information can be easily retrieved. This software for qualitative and mixed methods research allows users to collect, organize and analyze content from interviews, focus group discussions, surveys, social media data, and related information from videos and webpages.
This web 2. It provides an avenue for any collaborative works. It looks like you're using Internet Explorer 11 or older. This website works best with modern browsers such as the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. If you continue with this browser, you may see unexpected results.
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