RP 1

Lesson 6.1: Introduction to Data Collection

4. MISLEADING OTHER RESEARCHERS

Data Collection. .
● Once distorted data collected through a faulty
● Data collection refers to the process of gathering procedure is published, other researchers who will
and quantifying information on the target variables set read this research may be misled to having a different
in the research project. During the process, it is direction . Thus, it is the researcher’s responsibility to
important to establish a highly systematic procedure ensure that all data that he or she will publish are not
in collecting data to enable the researcher to fully biased, valid, and highly reliable. This will avoid
answer all the stated research questions and validate misleading other researchers in the field and the
their hypotheses. public will not be misguided about the truth.

Consequences of Inaccurate and Improper. . 5. COMPROMISING DECISIONS FOR PUBLIC

Data Collection. . POLICY

● In this section, it is important to take note that ● This serves as one of the biggest consequences of
selecting appropriate data collection tools together faulty data. Researchers tend to share their findings
with clear instructions for its correct use is equally to improve processes in society. Researchers are
essential in reducing the likelihood of errors during mandated to guide both the public and the
this step. government in making policies that will be
implemented by providing data from their research.
● The consequences of improper data collection
include the following: ● If the provided data by the researchers are invalid and
inaccurate, then there is a high tendency that policies
that will be formulated based on these data will be
1. INABILITY TO ANSWER RESEARCH
highly compromised.
QUESTIONS

Maintaining the Integrity of Data Collection .

● The faulty data collection method can lead to
gathering of incorrect and invalid data. When this
happens, researchers are usually unable to answer ● Quality assurance may refer to the activities that can
their research questions accurately due to the lack of be done before data collection begins, while quality
valid supporting data. This is almost equivalent to the control includes the activities that must be done
failure in conducting the overall research project. during and after data collection.

2. EFFECTS ON REPEATABILITY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

VALIDITY OF RESEARCH
● Quality assurance mainly aims to prevent any
● With the manipulated and biased data from the possible problems during data collection. Quality
project, other researchers who would like to validate assurance emphasizes that prevention is the most
your results may find it difficult to get the same data or cost-effective activity to ensure the integrity of data
result, despite following the same procedure for each collection. One of the most important parts of quality
method used in the study. assurance focuses on the standardization of the
protocol to be used during data collection.
3. DISTORTED FINDINGS
● Quality assurance may refer to the activities that can
● Data derived from faulty data collection tend to distort be done before data collection begins.
the truth regarding the research question being
addressed in the project. Usually, this kind of data is ● Quality assurance encourages researchers to conduct
invalid due to the high chance of error incorporated a detailed trial plan before the actual experiment.
during the data collection. Here, the researcher may test the protocol during
a preliminary data collection.
● Formulating the entire conclusion from this kind of
data can lead to a false-positive generalization about
the research problem.
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QUALITY CONTROL The other participants will be selected in a systematic
manner.
● Quality control measures happen during and after
data collection. In this part, the researcher must make 3. Stratified random sampling: This allows the
sure the absence of uncertainty about the flow of the selection of each individual from a particular group of
overall procedure. If the data collection is being done the targeted sample. A visual representation of
by several people, the information between principal stratified random sampling
investigators and group members must be clear and
thorough to allow early detection of errors during data 4. Cluster random sampling: The researcher chooses
collection. random clusters of the sample from the population.
Members of each cluster have similarities with one
● In this part, proper documentation of the another.
procedures being conducted during data 1.
collection must be done to allow the researcher to INTERVIEWS
revisit the details if ever an error occurs.
● Conducting an interview with the target population is a
Lesson 6.2: Methods for Collecting Data standard tool for data collection. Interviews that aim to
collect quantitative data involve highly structured
questions that will help them quantify the data to be
Data Collection Tools. . collected

● Quantitative data includes everything that has ● In STEM research, the following are the three
specific values through figures and numbers. major types of interviews being used to gather
data:
● Data collection tools are the devices or instruments
being used by researchers to collect data. This may 1. Telephone interview: From the name itself, it utilizes
include traditional or technology-based tools for the telephone in conducting interviews. But this form
gathering research data. Below are some of the is only limited to voice calls, nowadays conducting
common data collection tools being used by video call interviews using the internet is also a valid
researchers in STEM fields: platform for doing this tool.

PROBABILITY SAMPLING 2. Personal interview: This is the direct way of doing

interviews by having a physical interaction with the
● Probability sampling refers to the process of participants. Having a face to face interview allows
random selection that allows researchers to derive a the researcher to maximize the possible data that can
probability statement based on the data gathered be collected by having more detailed questions and
from the targeted demographic. probing to get informative data.
● Probability sampling is a tool that lets researchers
gather data from subsamples of the entire 3. Computer-aided interview: It is highly similar to
population they are studying. Most importantly, personal interviews. The only difference in this data
probability sampling tries to remove sampling bias collection tool is the use of a computer that helps the
during the data collection process. researcher to easily upload the collected data into the
database. In this format, the researcher can check the
● The following are the different types of probability real-time updates on the collected data.
sampling:
SURVEY OR QUESTIONNAIRES
1. Simple random sampling: The researcher sets
criteria for choosing the sample from the population. ● Surveys or questionnaires are constructed to gather
With this, only those targeted demographics are information from the behavior and trust of the
included in the sample. sampled individuals. This tool often includes
checklists and a rating scale type of questions that
2. Systematic random sampling: It is the same with are processed to have quantitative data.
simple random sampling but only the first individual
for inclusion in the sample is chosen in random form. ● Questionnaires and surveys are very useful tools in
the medical field in terms of collecting patient data.
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example of this is the record released by the stock
● Nowadays, several variations of questionnaires exchange.
are used by STEM researchers:

1. Web-based questionnaire: In a web-based

questionnaire, the respondents of the study receive
the questionnaire or survey form via email with the
link. This requires the respondents to click the link for
them to access the survey form. Online platforms like
Google Forms and Survey Monkey can be used to
utilize survey tools.

2. Mail Questionnaire: In a mail questionnaire, the

hardcopy of the survey questions is mailed to the
respondents. After finishing the questionnaires, the
respondents will need to send it back to the
researcher or the researcher will need to collect it
personally. This is an old-fashioned way of conducting
a survey and not recommended by most STEM
researchers due to low turn out of the survey forms,
where respondents failed to return the forms.

STRUCTURED OBSERVATIONS

● Structured observations require the researcher to

make careful and systematic observations of specific
behaviors or events in a highly structured setting
rather than naturalistic observation. Structured
observation mainly focuses on very specific behaviors
of interest.

DOCUMENT REVIEWS

● Document review involves the process of gathering

data from existing documents. It is an effective form of
data collection if the documents are widely available
for the researcher. This tool strengthens and supports
the research by having supplementary research data
from the reviewed documents.

● In STEM research, the following are the most used

document types for collecting quantitative
research data:

1. Public Records: This includes official records from

government databases or even non-governmental
organizations.

2. Personal Documents: This deals with individual

personal accounts based on the records of the
individual citizen or member of an organization.

3. Physical Evidence: These are the physical

documents dealing with the monetary and scalable
growth of an individual or an organization. A common