Data Collection Proposal - Essay Example

METHODOLOGY 3 Data collection Researchers are often interested in collecting data that can help in the phenomena they are studying. Data can be defined as a known objects or facts used as a basis for inference or reckoning. Some authors have distinguished between data and information, by defining information as the knowledge that is created by organizing data into a useful form. Data can either be quantitative (that is, in numerical form) or qualitative (that is, in a non-numerical form). William Dillard Sr.

Founder of Dillard’s Department stores once said that “I don’t know how you’re supposed to make intelligent decisions without facts” Hair et al. (2006). 3.1.1 Primary and Secondary Data The difference between primary and secondary sources of data is crucial in social research. Primary sources are data which are unpublished; that is, the researcher has gathered them directly from the target individuals or organization. Primary data include data from fieldwork, interviews, and unpublished documents like minutes of meetings.

On the other hand, secondary data are any data which a researcher has gathered that have been published before. Secondary data include previously published books, journal articles, and newspaper articles. 3.1.2 Data Set and SamplesMixed method that includes qualitative and quantitative data will be used in this research. Qualitative data will used determine if Bariatric surgery put patient at long term risk and complications of weight. Quantitative data will be used in determining the number of patients who responded differently when put under Bariatric surgery.

Primary data will be collected from healthcare providers with information on new devices, drugs, delivery systems, and software for managing patients who have undergone Bariatric surgery. All the legal and ethical issues were taken into consideration as stipulated by law.50 patients who had undergone Bariatric surgery will be randomly sampled from the information provided by the healthcare providers. This will provide a sufficiently large but feasible number to use in the analysis.Descriptive statistical analysis will be used to analyze the data.

This will help in explaining how the data look, (by giving the minimum and maximum values), the what the centre point of the data is (by giving the mean), and how spread out the data may be related to one of more aspects (by giving the standard deviation).