Data Gathering Methods PDF

Gathering of Data AN INTRODUCTION  There is no formula for selecting the best method to be used when gathering data. it depends on the researcher’s design of the study, the type of data, the time allotment to complete the study, and the researcher's financial capacity. Some common methods...

Gathering of Data AN INTRODUCTION  There is no formula for selecting the best method to be used when gathering data. it depends on the researcher’s design of the study, the type of data, the time allotment to complete the study, and the researcher's financial capacity. Some common methods of data collection are interview method, questionnaire, observation, test, experiment, registration, and use of mechanical devices. Methods of Collecting Data  INTERVIEW METHOD 1. Direct Method The researcher personally interviews the respondent. Usually, the interviewer calls for a meeting with the interviewee or visits him or her at home. 2. Indirect Method The researcher uses a telephone to interview the respondents.  QUESTIONNAIRE METHOD A questionnaire is a list of well planned questions written on paper, which can be either personally administered or mailed by the researcher to the respondents using any of the following forms: 1. Guided-Response Type The respondent is guided in making his or her reply. Example: 1. Have you been convicted of any crime? YES___ No___ (put a check in the space provided). If your answer is YES, go to the next question. If your answer is NO, go to question number 3. 2. Recall Type Example: a) Age b) Sex c) Civil status d) Length of stay in a community e) Number of times you have been hospitalized due to a serious illness 4. Dichotomous Type Example: Do you live alone? YES___ NO___ 3. Recognition Type example: Which of the following figures is a square? (a) (b) (c) (d) 5. Multiple Choice Type Example: Which of the following that best describe your personality? a. Playful b. Friendly c. Studios d. Out-going e. None of these 6. Multiple-Response Type Example: What appliances/devices do you have at home? Encircle the numbers. 1. Television 7. Vacuum cleaner 2. Refrigerator 8. Personal computer 3. DVD/VCD player 9. Fax machine 4. Piano/Organ 10. Telephone 5. Electric stove 11. component 6. Gas range 7. Free-Response Type The respondent is not guided in giving his reply. He can answer using his style and in his own way. 8. Rating Scale Type Example: How serious is the drug problem in your barangay? (check among the options) _____ very serious _____ serious _____ fairly serious _____ not serious _____ not a problem  EMPIRICAL OBSERVATION METHOD The observation method is commonly used in psychological and anthropological studies. It is a method of obtaining data by seeing, hearing, testing, touching, and smelling. Through observation, additional information, which cannot be obtained using the other methods like questionnaire, may be gathered.  TEST METHOD This method is widely used in psychological research and psychiatry. Standard tests are used because of their validity, reliability, and usability. Example: Aptitude tests, IQ tests, Achievement Tests  REGISTRATION METHOD Example of data gathered using this method are those that are obtained from the National Statistics Office, Land Transportation Office, Department of Education, CHED, SEC, and other government agencies.  MECHANICAL DEVICES The devices that can be used when gathering data for social and educational researches are the camera, projector, videotape, tape recorder, etc. in chemical, biological, and medical researches, the common devices are the X ray machine, microscope, ultrasound, weighing scales, CT scan, etc. Sampling Techniques  Before the collection of data, it is necessary to determine the sample size if the population is very large and if you only have few months to do the study. For instance: The researcher wants to know the average income of the families living in barangay A which has 2, 500 residents.  To compute for the sample size, the Slovin’s formula will be used: 𝑁 n= 2 1+𝑁𝑒 Where n= sample size N= number cases e= margin of error Note: 5% is the acceptable margin of error is allowed Given: N= 2, 500 e= 0.05 Solution: 𝑁 n= 2 1+𝑁𝑒 2,500 n= 2 1+2,500 (0.05) n= 344.8 or 345 families  RANDOM SAMPLING In this method, all members of the population have equal chances of being included in the study. This is applicable if the target population is not classified into different clusters, sections, levels, or classes. The method is easy to use, but not when population is very large, say a thousand or more. Lottery Method It is the most common and the easiest method of random sampling. The names of the respondents will be written on small pieces of paper which will be rolled and placed in a jar.  Systematic Sampling 1. Stratified Random Sampling This method is applied when the population is divided into different strata or classes wherein each class must be represented in the study. Example: Suppose a researcher wants to determine the average income of the families in a barangay having 3, 000 families, distributed in five (5) puroks. Computing for the sample size n at a 5% margin of error: 3,000 n= 2 1+3,000 (0.05) n= 353 The required sample size from each Purok Nk (number of Purok Population Percentage sample per strata) 1 800 27% 0.27 x 353= 95 2 400 13% 0.13 x 353= 46 3 500 17% 0.17 x 353= 60 4 600 20% 0.20 x 353= 71 5 700 23% 0.23 x 353= 81 N 3, 000 100% 353 2. Cluster Sampling Cluster sampling is a method of probability sampling that is often used to study large population, particularly those that widely geographically dispersed. Example: A doctor wants to make a nationwide study on the correlation between smoking and death rate. He decided to focus on the 13 regions of the country, which can be considered as the clusters. If three of the 13 clusters or regions are the desired sample units, the names of the 13 clusters will be written on small pieces of paper, then three will be picked at random using the lottery method. All the residents of the selected three clusters will be included in the study. 3. Purposive Sampling The respondents of the study will be chosen based on their knowledge of the information required by the researcher. It is a sampling techniques in which units are selected because they have characteristics that you need in your sample. Example: Suppose a researcher wants to make a historical study about Town A. the target population will be the senior citizen of the town since they are the most reliable persons who know the history of the town. If there are 2, 000 senior citizens and a 3% margin of error is allowed, the sample size will be 714. they will be chosen using any of the methods discussed previously. 4. Quota Sampling This sampling technique is defined as non-probability sampling method in which researchers create a convenience sample involving individuals that represent a population. Example: Suppose a salesman is required to gather information as to the most common hair shampoo used by female Filipino clients. If he wants 2, 000 sample units and he needs to do the survey within a short timetable, he can station himself at a public place, such as a park or a mall, then ask the females what shampoo they usually use. After meeting the required number of sample points, the researcher is through with his collection of data.  5. Convenience Sampling It is a non-probability sampling method where units are selected for inclusion in the sample because they are the easiest for the researcher to access. This can be due to geographical proximity, availability at a given time, or willingness to participate in the research.  Example: The case of a teacher who makes a research which requires the inclusion of students as respondents. Conveniently, the teacher may use his own students as respondents. The Data Collection Process  The collection of data for statistical analysis is an involved process and includes the following steps: 1. Define the objectives of the survey of study. Example: a. To compare the effectiveness of a new drug to the effectiveness of the standard drug. b. To estimate the average household income in the Philippines. 2. Define the variable and the population of interest. Example: a. Length of recovery time for patients suffering from a particular disease. b. Total income for household in the Philippines. 3. Define the data collection and data measuring schemes. This include sampling frame, sampling procedures, sample size, and the data measuring device (questionnaire, telephone, and so on). 4. Collect your sample. - Select the subjects to be sampled and collect the data. 5. Review the sampling process upon completion of collection. Procedures for Gathering Data  For a descriptive research (we try to determine the truth or fact behind the existing theory), which utilizes the questionnaire method of gathering data, the following is the recommend procedure. 1. Letter of permission; 2. Distribution of questionnaires to respondents; 3. After respondents will answer the questionnaires, it will be retrieved; and 4. Data will be tabulated, analysed, interpreted, so that accurate inferences are deduced.  PRESENTATION OF DATA This refers to the organization of data into tables, graphs or charts, so that logical and statistical conclusions can be derived from the collected measurements. Data may be presented in(3 Methods): - Textual - Tabular or - Graphical.  TEXTUAL PRESENTATION - The data gathered are presented in paragraph form. - Data are written and read. - It is a combination of texts and figures.  Example: Of the 150 sample interviewed, the following complaints were noted: 27 for lack of books in the library, 25 for a dirty playground, 20 for lack of laboratory equipment, 17 for a not well maintained university buildings  TABULAR PRESENTATION - Method of presenting data using the statistical table. - A systematic organization of data in columns and rows.  Parts of a Statistical Table Table heading – consists of table number and title Stubs – classifications or categories which are found at the left side of the body of the table Box head – the top of the column Body – main part of the table Footnotes – any statement or note inserted Source Note – source of the statistics  Illustration TABLE HEADING BOX HEAD BODY STUBS FOOTNOTES SOURCE OF DATA Table 1: Total Population Distribution by Region: 2000 REGION POPULATION PERCENT NCR 9,932,560 12.98 CAR 1,365,412 1.78 REGION I 4,200,478 5.49 REGION II 2,813,159 3.68 REGION III 8,030,945 10.50 REGION IV 11,793,655 15.42 REGION V 4,686,669 6.13 REGION VI 6,211,038 8.12 …….. ……… ………  GRAPHICAL PRESENTATION KINDS OF GRAPHS OR DIAGRAMS 1. BAR GRAPH – used to show relationships/ comparison between groups 2. PIE OR CIRCLE GRAPH- shows percentages effectively 3. LINE GRAPH – most useful in displaying data that changes continuously over time. 4. PICTOGRAPH – or pictogram. It uses small identical or figures of objects called isotopes in making comparisons.Each picture represents a definite quantity. FIGURE 1: SELECTED CAUSES OF DEATH IN THE PHILIPPINES 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 6417 2000 3263 1000 1594 2170 0 CHRONIC LOWER PNEUMONIA CEREBRO DISORDER OF THE RESP. DIS. VASCULAR HEART DISEASES NUMBER OF DEATHS FIGURE 2.THREE LEADING CAUSE OF CHILD MORTALITY AMONG FILIPINOS AGES 5-9(200) ACCIDENTS PNEUMONIA DENGUE 14% 24% 62% 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 FIGURE 3. DISTRIBUTION OF ENROLLMENT AT A DAY CARE, PERIOD 1999- 2006  SYSTEMATIC RANDOM SAMPLING CLUSTER 1 CLUSTER 2 CLUSTER 3 CLUSTER 4 CLUSTER 5 CLUSTER 6 FIGURE 4. NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO HAVE = 200 PEOPLE EXCESSIVE DEPRESSION BY CLUSTER LEGEND: