Data collection is a fundamental aspect of quantitative research, and this chapter provides valuable insights into different approaches for gathering data.?Discuss the pros and
Chapter 7( find in the attachement)
Data collection is a fundamental aspect of quantitative research, and this chapter provides valuable insights into different approaches for gathering data. Discuss the pros and cons of various data collection methods, such as in-person collection, computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI), and virtual data collection via online surveys. What are the advantages and limitations of each method, and how do they impact data quality and participant engagement?
In your response, explain the concepts based on the assigned text readings. Explain it in a manner that demonstrates an integration of the information within your professional interests. Your response should be detailed and demonstrate a graduate-level understanding.
Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition Chapter 7: Data Collection for Quantitative Research
Data Collection in Experimental Design (1 of 5)
Experimental designs.
How variables affect each other.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.1: Familiarize yourself with the details of experimental design.
Experimental designs are unique quantitative studies that include specific details.
They attempt to investigate the possibility of how variable may affect each other in a controlled setting.
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Data Collection in Experimental Design (2 of 5)
Review of Experimental Design
Quantitative studies.
Experimental research.
Experimental group and control group.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.1: Familiarize yourself with the details of experimental design.
Quantitative studies collect information in the form of numbers to standardize information so that it can be processed through statistical tests.
Experimental research: conducting an experiment or intervention on one of the randomly assigned groups in the study while controlling finding with a second group.
The experimental group is exposed to a variable of study, while the control group experiences the same conditions, except they do not undergo any manipulation.
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Data Collection in Experimental Design (3 of 5)
Review of Experimental Design
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.1: Familiarize yourself with the details of experimental design.
Figure 7.1
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Data Collection in Experimental Design (4 of 5)
Review of Experimental Design
Researcher needs to:
Randomly assign participants to groups.
Conduct pretest and posttest.
Protect findings from external explanations.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.1: Familiarize yourself with the details of experimental design.
For an experiment, the researcher needs to:
Randomly assign participants into control and experimental groups
Conduct a pretest and posttest to measure the expected areas of change
Protect findings from other external explanations
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Data Collection in Experimental Design (5 of 5)
Collecting Data in Experimental Design
Experimental design data is standardized information.
Both groups take pretests and posttests.
Reject null hypothesis if significant difference.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.1: Familiarize yourself with the details of experimental design.
The data collected in the experimental design is the standardized information collected at the beginning and end of the study.
In classical experimental design, both the control and intervention groups take pretests and posttests.
The pretest is identical to the posttest, and if there is a statistically significant difference between them, the null hypothesis can be rejected.
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Data Collection in Quasi-Experimental Design
Classic experimental data not always practical.
Some researcher intervention and measure impact.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.2: Familiarize yourself with the details of quasi-experimental design.
A classic experimental design is not always feasible for various reasons
Impossibility of randomization, non-equivalent groups available, etc.
Quasi-experimental studies allow the researcher to conduct some form of intervention, training, or other experiment, and measure the impact, without fulfilling all the required conditions for the classic experimental study.
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Data Collection in Surveys (1 of 13)
Survey.
Questionnaire.
Non-standardized survey questionnaire.
Standardized survey questionnaire.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.3: Understand the steps of designing a survey study.
Survey: refers to the method of data collection
Questionnaire: the instrument containing the questions
Non-standardized survey questionnaire: a questionnaire that was never tested for reliability and validity.
Standardized survey questionnaire: a questionnaire that has been tested and is a reliable and valid form of data collection.
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Data Collection in Surveys (2 of 13)
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.3: Understand the steps of designing a survey study.
Figure 7.2
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Data Collection in Surveys (3 of 13)
Step 1. Develop a list of constructs
Developing the complete list of items to be measured.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.3: Understand the steps of designing a survey study.
Developing a complete list of all the items and constructs to be measured in a questionnaire stimulates thinking about ways to measure them.
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Data Collection in Surveys (4 of 13)
Step 2. Determine constructs
Separate constructs from items to be measured.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.3: Understand the steps of designing a survey study.
From the list, figure out which ones are constructs and which ones are items to measure.
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Data Collection in Surveys (5 of 13)
Step 3. Create the first variables
Look for related, established survey instruments.
Potential sources for questions and questionnaires.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.3: Understand the steps of designing a survey study.
For items to be measured, it is best to look around for established survey instruments that may be related to the study.
Some potential sources to find questions are U.S. Census data and questionnaires from organizations such as the Department of Education and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Data Collection in Surveys (6 of 13)
Step 4. Turn constructs into variables
Consult the literature or create open-ended question.
Closed variables.
More specific.
Open variables.
Better for opinions and attitudes.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.3: Understand the steps of designing a survey study.
Researchers can consult the literature to look for scientific possibilities and enumerate them on the questionnaire, or create a brief, open-ended question.
Closed variables have predefined answers or multiple-choice options that the participant can select from.
More specific and can distinguish between categories
Open variables are where a participant supplies their own answer in their own words.
Not specific and best used to capture opinions, views, and attitudes, especially about sensitive topics.
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Data Collection in Surveys (7 of 13)
Step 5. Tips and ideas on crafting the best possible questions
Clarity.
Simplicity.
Unbiased.
Intelligible.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.3: Understand the steps of designing a survey study.
Clarity: the wording of questions needs to be clear and grammatically correct.
Simplicity: participants donate their time to fill out a survey, and they should not need to struggle to understand what is being asked in a question.
Unbiased: avoid guiding participants’ answers.
Intelligible: use of technical terms can confuse participants.
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Data Collection in Surveys (8 of 13)
Step 5. Tips and ideas on crafting the best possible questions
Avoid social desirability.
Avoid double-barreled questions.
Avoid double-negatives.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.3: Understand the steps of designing a survey study.
Avoid Social Desirability: social desirability is the tendency where participants want to look good and avoid the truth.
Avoid double-barreled questions: double-vision or double-barreled question ask about more than one concept but only allow one answer from the respondent.
Avoid double-negatives: Questions with two negative statements can be unclear.
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Data Collection in Surveys (9 of 13)
Step 5. Tips and ideas on crafting the best possible questions
Contingency questions.
Avoid dangling alternatives.
Avoid hypothetical questions.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.3: Understand the steps of designing a survey study.
Contingency questions: contingency questions are follow-up questions at the end of a questionnaire; often a respondent’s answer to a question triggers another question.
Avoid dangling alternatives: dangling alternatives are when alternatives are put in a question before introducing the topic.
Avoid hypothetical questions: they are difficult to capture and may be understood differently by different people.
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Data Collection in Surveys (10 of 13)
Step 6. Organize in a manner that attracts and holds participant attention
Bored participants may change attitudes.
Attention may decrease over time.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.3: Understand the steps of designing a survey study.
When questions bore participants, it can change their attitude towards the entire questionnaire.
Their attention may decrease as they answer each question, and they are less willing to respond accurately.
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Data Collection in Surveys (11 of 13)
Step 6. Organize in a manner that attracts and holds participant attention
Ask demographic questions at end.
May be more accurate before expose identity.
Questions should be in logical order.
Researchers should not use only scale measurements.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.3: Understand the steps of designing a survey study.
It is best practice to ask demographic questions at the end, after the attention-requiring questions.
Participants may also be willing to answer more accurately if they have not yet exposed their identity.
Questions should also follow a logical sequence.
Researchers should be wary of using only scale measurements, because participants may start skipping questions or selecting the same rating repetitively.
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Data Collection in Surveys (12 of 13)
Step 7. Create an answer scale
Scale should range maximum to minimum.
Consider even or odd response option number.
Even number forces a stand by respondent.
Answers should include all options.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.3: Understand the steps of designing a survey study.
A scale needs to range from the maximum of a concept to the minimum of the same concept.
Depending on the purpose of the question, consider having an odd or even number of response options.
If you are looking to force respondents to take a stand, have an even number of options.
Answers should be inclusive of all options and gradually progress from one to another.
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Data Collection in Surveys (13 of 13)
Step 8. Conduct a pilot study to evaluate the instrument
Pilot study.
Gives sense of time needed for completion.
Helps determine issues in understanding, sequence, or discomfort.
Participants may offer suggestions.
Researcher can test data entry.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.3: Understand the steps of designing a survey study.
Pilot study: a way of testing an instrument with a small group of participants that allows the researcher to get feedback on the instrument from them.
It can give the researcher a sense of how much time respondents need to complete it, making recruiting easier.
The researcher can determine any issues in understanding questions, their sequence, of it any questions caused discomfort.
Participants may volunteer suggestions about certain terms or language that will best convey accurate information.
The researcher can test data entry and correct any problems caused during the data collection phase.
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Methods of Data Collection (1 of 7)
Raw information into measurable units.
Researcher rules for best practice.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.4: Consider additional data collection sources.
The method of data collection is focused on the process of transforming raw information from participants into measurable units that can later be analyzed.
Researchers are actively involved in data collection and should follow specific rules on best practices to systematically and professionally collect the information.
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Methods of Data Collection (2 of 7)
Personally Collecting Questionnaires
Approach individually or distribute and collect.
Advantages to in-person data collection:
Observe information not in questionnaire.
More likely participant complete fully.
Longer questionnaire easier complete in person.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.4: Consider additional data collection sources.
Researchers may approach people individually and ask them the questions or have them read and answer them on their own; alternatively, they could distribute written questionnaires and collect them after completion.
Advantages to in-person data collection:
The researcher can observe body language, record impressions, and keep records of additional information not included in the questionnaire.
It is more likely that a participant will fully complete the questionnaire.
A longer questionnaire is easier to complete face-to-face, since participants are more likely to talk at length to another person rather than focus on a long, written questionnaire.
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Methods of Data Collection (3 of 7)
Personally Collecting Questionnaires
Disadvantages to in-person data collection:
Cost limitations.
Time limitations.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.4: Consider additional data collection sources.
Disadvantages:
Cost limitations
Time limitations
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Methods of Data Collection (4 of 7)
Personally Collecting Questionnaires
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.4: Consider additional data collection sources.
Figure 7.3
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Methods of Data Collection (5 of 7)
Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing
Computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI).
All interviewers must be trained.
Study content, tone, neutral language.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.4: Consider additional data collection sources.
Computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) is used to find the right respondents and sometimes to conduct the interview electronically.
If CATI redirects the respondent to an interviewer, all interviewers must be trained.
They should be familiar with the content of the study, set a comfortable tone, and use neutral language to avoid hinting at preferred answers.
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Methods of Data Collection (6 of 7)
Virtual Data Collection
Online surveys have become popular.
Recruit many participants quickly, high response.
Sample sizes have grown.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.4: Consider additional data collection sources.
Online surveys have become very popular.
Vast numbers of participants can be recruited in a matter of minutes, with higher response rates.
Sample sizes have grown immensely because of this.
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Methods of Data Collection (7 of 7)
Virtual Data Collection
Drawbacks include:
Much of population has no internet access.
Participants who feel strongly more likely participate.
Researcher cannot guarantee respondent identity.
Pajo, Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach, 2nd Edition. © 2023 SAGE Publishing.
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LO 7.4: Consider additional data collection sources.
Drawbacks include:
A substantial portion of the population does not have access to the internet.
Participants who feel strongly about an issue are more likely to participate, capturing more positive and negative extremes while missing responses tending toward the middle.
The researcher cannot guarantee the identity of the respondent in an online setting.
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