Lesson 6

Data Collection Methods and Tools

A. Questionnaire
A questionnaire is a set of questions arranged in sequence and intended to be self-
administered. It is used when the respondent can read and write.
Advantages
a. It is less expensive. Compared to other methods of collecting data, it is much cheaper
to extract data from respondents.
b. Uniformity of questions. Floating questionnaires is like asking the same questions to
all the respondents.
c. More confidence of respondents. Compared to interview and other methods of
collecting data, the respondent is free from pressure and nervousness because he can
answer the questions alone and his own time and pace.
Questionnaire Construction
A questionnaire should be attractive, neat and clean with clear directions. There are
three types of questions that can be used in questionnaire:
1. Open-ended question – This type of question allows the respondents to express himself
on the issue or the question raised.
Example: What is your most pressing problem in programming? _________.
2. Closed type question- This is also called Fixed Alternative Question. It provides list of
choices from which the respondent chooses his answer to the question raised.
Example: What type of house do you have?
( ) Temporary (roof made of cogon or nipa or bamboo)
( ) Semi-Permanent (roof made of GI sheets, posts and walls made of wood)
( ) Permanent (roof made of GI sheets, walls and floors made of concrete)
3. Multiple Response Question – this type of question provides a list of choices from
which the respondent can choose one or more answers to the question raised.
Example: Where do you get capital to finance your business? (Please check those that
apply to you.)
( ) Banks ( ) Borrow from relatives
( ) Private individual lenders ( ) Cooperatives
( ) self financed ( ) others (Pleas specify) _________.

One way to check the clarity and objectivity of the questionnaire is to conduct a pre-
test or dry run. A pre-test is the evaluation or testing conducted before the final
distribution of the questionnaire to enable the researcher to find out which questions
confuse respondents.
B. Interview
Interview is a face-to-face question and answer interaction between two individuals.
Advantages of Interview
1. Interview is flexible and adaptable to individual situations.
2. Many people are more willing to talk than write.
3. It permits probing into the context and reasons for the answers to questions.
4. Rapport can be established.
5. The researcher can explain the importance of the study.
6. Clarificatory questions can be raised.
7. The researcher can detect the sincerity of the respondent.
The main disadvantage of interview is its cost in time, money and effort. Getting
information from an individual may take one or two hours. It is therefore costly if the study
involves hundreds of respondents.
Types of Interview According to Style
a. Formal Interview – In this type of interview, the interviewer follows a set of questions
as indicated in the interview schedule. Answer sheet is provided where the interviewer
writes the answers of the respondent. It is also called structured interview. An interview
schedule is an instrument made up of questions almost similar to a questionnaire
accomplished by the researcher.
b. Informal Interview – The interviewer uses only an interview guide which contains
salient points on which the interview is centered. It is also called open or unstructured
interview.
Some Rules in Interviewing
1. Assure the respondents of the confidentiality of responses.
2. Avoid leading questions. Leading questions are those that tend to direct the respondents
towards a specific response.
Example: 1. Have you read about the new school curriculum? In this question the
researcher may get more “yes” responses because the question may imply that if the
respondent answers no, he is not updated of current events and it is shameful on his
part.

Example 2: A computer is better than a typewriter, isn’t it? In this question, it seems
and it is implied that the researcher wants the respondent to answer yes. The question
should be worded such that the respondent is free to give his response, say ‘Which do
you think is better, computer or typewriter?
3. Avoid double-barreled questions. Ask one idea or one question at a time. In logic, it is
called the fallacy of complex question. Examples of double-barreled questions are:
Example 1: Are you attending church or chapel? This is loaded with two questions:
whether attending or not, and whether church or chapel.
Example 2: Have you stopped cheating in examinations? (If the answer is yes, it means
that the respondent has been cheating. If the answer is no, it means that he is still
cheating until the time of the interview)
 4. Avoid questions that call for monologues.
5. Avoid questions that demand knowledge and information that the respondent does not
have.
6. Be careful with personal or delicate questions that the respondent may resist.
7. Be careful with questions loaded with social desirability.
A good question is one in which respondents are not led to merely express socially
desirable sentiments (Kerlinger, 1973)
Tips on Interviewing
a. Before the Interview
Prepare the interview guide or interview schedule and identify possible strategy to be used
in the conduct of the interview. The interviewer should be properly dressed and should
have mastered the questions to be asked to the respondent.
Know your appropriate time and place for the interview.
b. During the Interview
Develop rapport. The interviewer should develop a friendly atmosphere with the
interviewee at the start of the interview to enable the interviewee to talk freely on the
questions
Sustain the Interview. The interviewer should learn to carry on the conversation smoothly
until the end of the interview
c. After the interview – The interviewer should end with an expression of gratitude and
appreciation for the time and effort of the interviewee in giving information relevant to
the study.
C. Observation
There are research situations when the researcher can get the most reliable data by
observing the research subjects. He collects data with the use of his senses as observation tools,
aside from his observation guide or checklist. This is very useful method of collecting data in
ethnographic or anthropological research.
Three types of observation
There are three types of observation according to the extent of awareness of the observed
subject and extent of participation of the researcher:
a. Full Observer. The researcher does not necessarily participate in any activity of the
subjects. The subject may or may not be aware that he is being observed. Example: A
researcher observing a group of kindergarten pupils or group of villagers conducting
meeting.
b. Observer as Participant – The researcher participates in the activity while observing the
subject. The subject is aware that he is being observed.
c. Participant as Observer – The researcher joins the group of the subjects to observe and
get data. The subjects do not know that the person is a researcher and is recording data
about them. The researcher’s task is similar to an intelligence agent or deep penetration
agent (DPA) of the police or military.
 D. Documentary Analysis – A documentary analysis is a method of collecting data with the
use of documents and recorded materials as sources.

E. Participatory Rapid Rural Appraisal

Participatory Rapid Rural Appraisal (PRRA) is a method used to get data using a
cross section of the population and all available sources of data from community. This is used
by a researcher or a team if researchers to get data for needs and problem analysis, socio-
economic-demographic data, for monitoring and evaluation of on-going or completed projects,
and for other purposes. It is a participatory activity wherein the researcher and people in the
community interact to arrive at reliable data.
F. The Use of Tests in Collecting Research Data
Tests are used mostly for researches in education and behavioral sciences. In studies that
involve variables cognitive, affective and psychomotor characteristics such as intelligence,
aptitude, attitudes, skills and other characteristics, there is a need to administer a test to the
research subjects to get the needed data about them. In any case, the researcher has to see to it
that he is using a valid instrument, that is, the test really measures what is supposed to be
measured.

Activity 6
1. Go back to your chosen topic in the previous activity. Is your design for data collection
appropriate to your study? If not, revised it and prepare a data collection method for your
chosen topic.
_______________________________________________________________________

2. What tool is appropriate to use in your study? Prepare a sample of how you are going to
collect the data of your chosen topic.