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Types of Data Collection

This document provides examples of common research methods and asks the reader to reflect on experiences they have had that relate to each method. It lists various experiments, surveys, interviews, field research, participant observation, content analysis, archival research, historical/comparative analysis, evaluation research, physical traces, ethnographies, sampling, quantification, and qualitative analysis. For each method, the reader is asked to "demythologize" or explain the activity in everyday terms and identify which method they most like or excel at based on their experiences.

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70 views

Types of Data Collection

This document provides examples of common research methods and asks the reader to reflect on experiences they have had that relate to each method. It lists various experiments, surveys, interviews, field research, participant observation, content analysis, archival research, historical/comparative analysis, evaluation research, physical traces, ethnographies, sampling, quantification, and qualitative analysis. For each method, the reader is asked to "demythologize" or explain the activity in everyday terms and identify which method they most like or excel at based on their experiences.

Uploaded by

DianaDee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Remember...each “question” begins with “Have you ever...

Experiments

---played a “trick” on someone to see how they would react?


---tested someone in some way?
---done something just to get a response?
---“meddled” in the affairs of others?
---doubted something and tried to get similar or even different results?

Surveys

---ask someone two or more questions about a given issue?


---ask two or more people the same question (i.e. what did you think of that movie?)?
---compare or contrast answers from two or more people?
---taken or given a test?

Interviews

---asked question(s) to someone face to face?


---asked question(s) to someone on the telephone?
---asked someone about something you’ve “heard” about them?
---asked anyone face to face or on telephone to explain themselves about something?
---had to “follow-up” on an answer someone has given you?
---been told by someone to “ask me later”...or to be refused an answer?

Field Research

---just sat back wherever you are and watched people and/or events?
---gone somewhere to just “blend in” and watch people?
---noticed people doing things in a patterned way?
---asked to attend an event or location in order to just watch things?

Participant Observation

---“pretended” to be part of something in order to fit in or to see if you could fit in...or would like
to fit in?
---“dressed-up” or “down” for a particular situation?
---spied on someone or event...secretly and/or in disguise?
---learned anything new or different by being part of or engaged with others?
---“faked” anything...like your purpose for being there...or your identity?

Content Analysis

---examined a book for its content in order to decide to read it or buy it for someone else?
---said there’s too much violence (or sex or....)on TV, in movies, in books, etc.?
1
---examined a speech or talk for frequency of certain words being used?
---stopped listening or watching something because you didn’t like the use of words or phrases?
---assessed any kind of media presentation?
---concluded that a film/show/book was “unrealistic” or too simple or too difficult?

Archival Research

---used any existing materials to help you do something?


---looked through a junk or second-hand store?
---looked through a drawer, a box, a basement, an attic, a garage for something specific or to just
see what you could find?
---compared or contrasted past information/things with current ideas/things?

Historical/Comparative

---compared the present with the past? (i.e. things just aren’t like they use to be?)
---wondered how/why something got to be the way it is?
---looked for trends of consistency or of change?
---compared/contrasted the structure or nature of two different realities?

Evaluation Research

---tried something new and then assessed how it did or worked?


---stopped doing something because it didn’t do what you wanted it to do?
---been asked your opinion about how something worked or was doing?
---been told or ever told someone to stop doing something because of its effect on others?

Physical Traces

---looked for signs or evidence of something you know or think has been done?
---found “evidence” of something and tried to figure out what happened?
---asked “what’s this mean?” after discovering something or seeing something happen?
---sifted through “junk”?
---heard of “forensics”?
---heard of “archeology”?

Ethnographies

---wanted to hear the stories of people...events and their lives?


---wanted to learn in greater depth about certain ways of doing things from people doing them?
---wondered about other groups and other people in different settings than yours?

Sampling

---tried something before doing it again?


---decided about the “whole” of something after experiencing only a part of it?
2
---tried a particular dish in a restaurant to decide if it’s a “good” restaurant?
---stereotyped a whole group after encountering in some way just one member of it?

Quantification

---counted anything?
---inferred anything from the “numbers” of anything?
---decided that something is true or false because of the number of people believing or not in it?
---concluded anything after viewing and interpreting a “table” of numbers about something?
---used “numbers” and an interpretation of them to persuade or convince someone of something?
---concluded that something is “probable” or not based on a numerical analysis?

Qualitative Analysis

---interpreted the meaning of events or activities?


---categorized people and/or events by labels?
---decided someone is telling the truth or lying about themselves or others?
---decided that what seems “obvious” really isn’t like what it appears to be?
---realized that just because something can be “counted” it may not “count” for anything?

Recent Analysis Paper given to Methods of Social Research class

Analysis Paper #1 (20 pts)

Often times “social research” seems very remote to us as individuals...it’s something that
“experts” do or simply procedures and ideas which seem hard to grasp and do. Yet, all the
methods...and the ways of analyzing the data generated by them...are to some degree things we
already do as regular people in our everyday lives.

As we begin this course in Methods of Social Research, consider each of the following Methods
or Analyzes in terms of the “thing” or activity “behind” it...that which we already do. (You may
need to take a quick look at the textbook to get the general idea of what each entails...but for the
most part I think you’ll already know.)

Explain each of them by “demythologizing” the activity each represents. And, which of these
activities do you like the best...or like to do...or excel at?

Experiments
Surveys
Interviews
Field Research
Participant Observation
Content Analysis
Archival
Historical/Comparative
Evaluation Research

3
Physical Traces
Ethnographies
Sampling
Quantification
Qualitative Analysis

Indicative Assessment

Literature Review; A critical review of the required readings for any week chosen from weeks 2
to 6. 1000 words maximum. 15%. ·

Essay; 3000 words maximum. 50% ·

Practicum Paper; Maximum 2000 words 35%. .

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess
assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic
Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is
used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please
visit the ANU Online website.

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