Various Methods and Techniques That Are Used for Data Collection - Essay Example

Outline 1 Introduction 2 Research Aims and Objectives 3 Research Method 2 Quantitative Research 1.2.2 Qualitative Research 1.2.3 Combined Method Research 1.2.4 Questionnaires 1.2.5 Personal Interviews 1.2.6 Case Study 1.2.7 Documentary 1.3 Summary and Observations 1.4 Research Method Selection 1.5 Research Method Rationale 1.6 Summary Research Methodology 1.0 Introduction This paper will focus on the analysis of various methods and techniques that are used for data collection purposes. These techniques will then be looked into in detail so as to ascertain whether they will be of any use if include in this dissertation. The method of data collection that will be settled on will then be analyzed so as to justify why it was the best method to be used. This will be well outlined in this dissertation. A validation as to its relevance to the overall subject matter will also be done. 1.1 Research Aim and Objectives The aims and objectives of this dissertation are to find out the various methodologies that are available in research and to ascertain their suitability. 1.2 Research Method There is a wide range of data collection and assessment techniques that one can choose from. Despite the existence of the large number of techniques to be used, quantitative or qualitative are the widely most common methods used. Moreover, data can also be collected through interviews or questionnaires, analysis of case studies and the study of documented sources can also be done. These techniques can be carried out individually or combined, but will be modified in a way that they meet the goals and objectives of the research. The form of data assessment in this dissertation will be influenced by the set objectives. However, before the decision on the best assessment method is made, it is important to look at each method in detail. 1.2.1 Quantitative Research According to DID 28, quantitative research is an inquiry into social or human problems, this is based on testing a hypothesis or theory composed of variables, measured with numbers and analyzed with statistical procedures in order to determine whether the hypothesis or the theory is true. In simple terms, it is an analysis of sociological issues using scientific methods of research so as to establish reality. Quantitative research is appropriate when there is an objective that is trying to be justified. It also works when definitive answers can be attained so as to test or confirm the original opinion. 1.2.2 Qualitative Research This is subjective in nature and brings out results that are desired. Information gathered in qualitative research may be described as either exploratory or attitudinal (DID 26). Exploratory research is used when the information on a particular subject is limited; therefore, one seeks to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the given subject. Interviews and questionnaires are commonly used to collect data in this case. Attitudinal research tends to be used to evaluate the opinions of a person towards a particular subject, this is the situation whether the researcher seeks to establish whether something is liked or not. The questions asked in this situation seek answers that are in favor of or against the subject in question. 1.2.3 Combined Method Research This is when both quantitative and qualitative methods of research are used to achieve the objectives of the research. This ensures that there is better feedback on the research that is carried out. For example, when questionnaires are circulated so as to receive specific numerical data (quantitative) that can then be used for attitudinal research, which is qualitative (DID 28). 1.2.4 Questionnaires This is a popular method of data collection since questionnaires do not need a lot of technicalities in usage. Most people can understand how to fill them without much supervision. Questionnaires are effective in establishing attitudes, statistics and popular trends towards a given subject matter. It is also a primary source since it involves actual field work of data collection. Questionnaires should be presented in a user friendly format and it should clearly outline who is carrying out the research and their objective. The language used should be effective to facilitate understanding of the questions. Questionnaires should only be issued to persons with knowledge on the subject at hand and capable of providing a proper response (Nachmias & Nachmias 258). However, caution should be taken to ensure that questions in the questionnaire are short but easy to understand. Leading, doubling up or presuming should be avoided. Therefore, before questionnaires are taken to the field they should be properly evaluated to ensure that they are appropriate for the audience that they are intended for. This will ensure maximum efficiency in the results that are obtained. The aspect of closed or open ended questions should be deliberated on before forming questionnaires. Open ended questionnaires seek to encourage the respondent to provide free responses. These questions are more difficult to analyze and interpret and need an increased level of thought and time to respond to the question asked (Jonker & Pennink 11). On the other hand, closed ended questions are easy to ask and quick to answer; there is no writing required by the respondent (Nachmias &Nachmias 263). However, these question types are criticized due to the fact that they may introduce bias by forcing the respondents to choose from given answers or offering alternative answers that might not have crossed the respondents mind at all (Ranjit 130). For easy interpretation and evaluation of the responses to the questions in the questionnaire, questions should be structured in line with specific methods of responses like yes or no, scales of agreement or rating responses in a 1-10 scale. Questionnaires have an advantage in that they can be mailed to the respondents so that they can respond to them at their own convenience. The researcher will also not have to travel thus reducing the overall cost of the whole operation (Ranjit, 130). Despite this fact, limitations of lack of control over the respondents, reluctance of respondents and the validity of their responses cannot be ignored. 1.2.5 Personal Interviews This is another effective method of data collection. This is enforced by (qtd. Nachmias and Nachmias, 272, that ‘personal interview is a major technique for collecting factual information as well as seeking people’s opinion’. The researcher meeting face to face with the subjects is beneficial in the research. Any uncertainties or misunderstandings can be immediately cleared up instantly while using this method. In addition, the researcher has the opportunity to ask further questions if necessary. If the respondent does not answer the questions in the way that the interviewer expected, there is the possibility of the researcher changing the way that he is asking the questions so as to get to the objective of the study (Nachmias & Nachmias 273). However, such changes may lead to discrepancies and irregularities in the responses received. The process of integrating the material received to the other material collected from other sources may; however, be hard. Another factor to consider with personal interviews is whether to carry out a singular or group interview. This is due to the fact that the responses that will be received will be determined by the comfort of the people that are being interviewed (Ranjit 131). This is why interviewing people individually will result to more open and honest responses because the respondent is at ease. Conducting a group interview may put the respondents in a state of high alert and unease and the answers that they will give may not be so honest or the same as they would give if asked individually. The researcher may also find it hard to control the level of feedback that they receive from the respondents if the group is large (Ranjit 131). Interviewing people on different levels of the hierarchy may not be so wise because some of the junior employees may not be comfortable answering some of the questions that they are asked in the presence of their superiors. However, group interviews have the advantage that the interviewer will be in a position to collect a vast amount of information in a short period of time as compared to if he conducted individual interviews. This saves on time and resources if he had to travel to various regions to carry out the interviews. 1.2.6 Case Study Case study is another tool that may be used in data collection. However, it is narrow in nature due to the fact that it usually focuses on only one aspect of the research subject; it lays emphasis on the line of thought that is being followed, but does not focus on other things that may be useful to the whole research project. It is relevant in research due to the fact that it allows an in depth analysis to specific problems (Buchanan & Bryman 272). There can be descriptive, analytical and explanatory case studies and the option that is taken is based on the subject under study. Case studies have the misgiving that they do not consider other issues since they are focused on one issue only. 1.2.7 Documentary Company records, past studies on the issue at hand, books, journals, email, personal experience commentaries, diaries and other forms of documented materials may be used researchers as a form of data collection ( Buchanan & Bryman 270). For this method to work successfully, the information must be readily accessible. There are cases where some businesses are unwilling to release some information to the general public; this may be due to the fear of getting scrutinized. Strict policies on data protection may also be the reason why some organizations may not release some information. Such cases, and the fact that data sources of legal content are hard to access, may make the use of documentaries quite complicated. However, when the researcher can access the data that they deem helpful, they are likely to use them to meet the objectives of the research. To achieve this, researchers must ensure that they regard all the data that they access objectively. This will ensure that they retrieve only the information that they need and the rest of the material can be ignored. This is because it was written objectively in the prior study and it may not be necessarily useful for the study at hand. Only the relevant information must be retrieved from this data sources. 1.3 Summary and Observations In this section, all the data sources that may be viable for use are looked at in order to ascertain if they are relevant for inclusion in this dissertation or not. The method that is found to be most relevant will be the one to be included in the dissertation. As a means of data collection, questionnaires are cost effective and readily recognized and understood by a majority of the population. They are also easy to distribute hence reducing on the cost and time that the researcher uses. However, for them to be more effective, questions must be simple in content and closed ended. One limitation that is associated with questionnaires is the fact that the researcher has no control over the responses that he receives. ‘Personal interviews allow for the researcher to meet the respondents face to face and even expand on the scope of questions that he asks’ (qtd.Walliman 57). However, the data collected is limited to the personal experiences of the respondents and on their comfort. The cost that is involved is a limitation too; this is in addition to the availability of interviewees and the need to dedicate more time to the process of interviewing people personally. Case studies are the other effective method that is used in data collection. However, their inclusion in this dissertation would be inappropriate due to the fact that the scope under study is wide yet case studies are always restrictive in nature. They tend to focus on specific matters but in a more detailed way. Documentaries have the advantage of providing a lot of information gathered in the literature review (Buchanan & Bryman 272). However, it may not be very useful in this dissertation due to the fact that these sources tend to be opinionated, something that can mislead researchers in their studies. They are also limiting in that the data is always focused on the opinion of the original study. This way, the researcher will have to research on large volumes of documentary sources so that they can get all the materials that they want and this is time consuming. 1.4 Research Method Selection After careful deliberation on all the methods that are available for data collection, I believe that a qualitative approach of data collection would be appropriate to ensure that the objective of this study is achieved. A quantitative approach would be of little help since data of numerical nature does not suit the scope of this study. An investigative form of research has been dismissed since the subject under study is well understood. 1.5 Research Methodology Rationale The Environment industry can influence to a large extent the concept of sustainable development and lead to the achievement of its objectives. Despite the fact that there are other measures already in use in the industry, the role of the design team was found to be instrumental in improving the performance of the whole industry. Therefore, it would be necessary to look into the performance of the Design team so that it can be incorporated towards sustainable development of the company. The view that the members of the design team have towards sustainable development is important towards achieving the goals and objectives of the whole organization. Every bit of the practices that are currently being adopted by the members of the design team should have appeared in such a way that any disadvantages that are available are dealt with. In their place, the various elements that would help towards establishing the organizations goals would be incorporated. This decision should be made in accordance with the findings of the research. To ensure that the strategies that are chosen are relevant, the qualitative form of research, specifically the use of questionnaires as a means of data collection will be adopted. Closed ended questionnaire structures with yes/no type of responses and scales of agreement on a 1 to 10 rate have to be used. This is due to the advantages of this method that are listed in section 1.2.4 of this dissertation. This method will also allow for easy evaluation of the responses given. These questionnaires can be distributed to various functions of the organization for responses. Questionnaires have been criticized for being inflexible and offering the interviewer no room for control; however, in this case, proper ways of curbing these limitations will be put in place to ensure that the organization achieves its goals without any problems. There is the need for clear presentation of the data collected; therefore, the researcher shall modify the data collected into percentages and present it in a graphical format for easier interpretation. However, for best results to be achieved, it would be mandatory for the researcher to sensitize the employees informally on the research so that the inflexibility issue may be done away with. This would be a valuable starting point within this dissertation study. 1.6 Summary The various research techniques that may be used in data collection process have been extensively discussed. The preferred research method to be incorporated in this dissertation has also been identified and the justification for its selection done. Works Cited Buchana, David & Bryman, Alan. The Sage handbook of organizational research methods. New York: Sage Publications. 2009. Department for International Development (DID). Data Collection Protocols and Participatory Research Techniques. Retrieved on 15th March from Jonker, Jan. & Pennink, Bartjan. The Essence of Research Methodology: A Concise Guide for Masters and Phd Students in Management Science. Heidelberdge: Springer-Verlag. 2010. Nachmias, Chava & Nachmias, David. Research methods in the social sciences. Belmont: Worth Publishers. 2007. Ranjit, Kumar. Research Methodology: A Step by Step guide for Beginners. New Delhi: Sage Publications. 2005. Walliman, Nicholas. Social Research Methods. New York: SAGE Publishers. 2010. Read More