Bethlehem Moravian College
Research Seminar
Fourth Year Research Candidates
Topic: Data Collection Tools
October 17, 2014
Dr. Abrilene Johnston-Scott
Research Coordinator
Overview of Session
– Interviews
– Observations
– Focus group discussions
– Document reviews
– Questionnaires-Likert Scale
Interviews
Interviews
• Interviews allow researchers to:
– Explore participants’ perspectives in their own
terms
– Inquire about the meaning people attach to
certain events
• Interviews can be:
– Informal – conversational
– Structured - fixed-response
– Semi-structured
Types of Interview Questions
•
Six types of interview questions:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Background/demographic questions
Knowledge questions
Experience/behavior questions
Opinion/values questions
Feelings questions
Sensory questions
Types of Interviews
 Informal-conversation
 Questions emerge from the immediate
context
 Semi-structured
 Topics selected in advance
 Researcher determines sequence and
wording during interview.
 Standardized open-ended
 Exact wording and sequence of questions
predetermined.
Interviews have component parts
• Main questions identified in advance (6-10).
• Follow-up questions (for example, asking for
more detail or nuance in individual responses.
• Probes – techniques used to keep a discussion
going.
• Questions can be skipped or order varied
depending on the flow of conversation.
• Use opened ended questions.
Observation
Observation
• Purpose of observation
– Describe the context
– See what is spoken about first hand
– Confirm reports of respondents
• Develop an observation checklist
• Observation as:
– as outsider - unobtrusive
– participant observation
• Generates field notes (narratives: on students
behaviour or interest)
Observation Example
• Who you will observe:
youth attending the program
• What you will observe:
– Age, gender
– Length of time student stays in the program
– Involvement in activities: which activities
• Level of involvement
– Interactions with other youth; with staff
• When you will observe: all hours the program is
open for one week each month during 2014
Recording your observation
It is not good enough to just observe, you need to record
your observations. You might use:
– Recording sheet
– Checklist
– Field note
– Picture
– Combination of the above
Sample Observation Guides
Guide for structured observations
Guide for unstructured observations
Focus Group
Focus Group
Are used to assess people’s perceptions
about programs, candidates, products or
services.
Are used to generate recommendations
for changing programs, products,
campaign strategies, and services.
Are often used in conjunction with needs
assessments or to generate ideas or
explore themes that can be used in
descriptive studies.
Are used to answer questions about how
Focus Group
May be used in conjunction with other
research methods.
Include six to eight participants who are
selected using purposive sampling methods
Utilize a semi-structured interview guide with
6-8 questions.
Require that a facilitator ask each of the
questions and solicit responses from members.
Are used to generate a common response or a
consensus from group members.
A Focus Group . . .
Usually has
approximately seven to
ten people in them
With common
characteristics relating
to the discussion topic
Conducted by a
trained interviewer
(moderator, facilitator).
Moderator’s Role
Stays relaxed and sets tone
Introduces and guides the discussion
Actively and carefully listens
Does NOT participate, or share views, or
engage in the discussion
Does NOT editorialize comments
Promotes everyone’s participation
Is non-judgmental and is respectful
Notetaker’s Role
Tests and places the audio recording equipment
Note: it helps to talk to participants beforehand to gauge and quiet the speakers
Comes prepared with pens and paper
Sits in the room during the entire discussion
where they can see & hear the participants
Note: do not sit by the facilitator
Sketches participant seating arrangement
Note: use identifiers other than names
Document Review
Document review
• Obtain access to key documents and records
at the outset
• Documents can help to establish what needs
to be pursued through other methods (e.g.,
direct observation, interviews)
• Consider whether the documents are public –
ethical issues
• Examples: school reports, attendance
registers, standardised test scores
Triangulation
• Triangulation –divergent sources of
information
– Methods (interviews, observations,
document analysis etc)
– Sources (different teachers, or teachers with
other school staff)
• Member check– ask participants to
confirm transcripts/analyses
Questionnaires-Likert Scale
Dr. Rensis Likert
(1903 - 1981)
“ A technique for the measurement of Attitudes”
What is the Likert scale?
• It is a psychometric scale commonly involved in research
that employs questionnaires.
• It is the most widely used approach to scaling responses in
survey research.
• Likert scales are a non-comparative scaling technique and
are one-dimensional in nature.
• When responding to a Likert questionnaire item respondents
specify their level of agreement or disagreement on a
symmetric agree-disagree scale for a series of statements.
• Thus, the range captures the intensity of their feelings for a
given item, while the results of analysis of multiple items
reveals a pattern that has scaled properties of the kind Likert
identities
Five – point Likert item
Likert Scale
Difference
Likert item
The format of a typical five-level Likert item
1. Strongly
disagree
2. Disagree
3. Neither agree
nor disagree
4. Agree
5. Strongly agree
Example:
Q.18.Please measure the following affirmative perceptions about your library OPAC and Web OPAC use .
Codes: 1-strongly disagree, 2- disagree, 3- neutral, 4-agree, 5- strongly agree
S/N
Affirmative perception statements
Codes
(i)
OPAC / Web OPAC was Easier to use than I expected
1
2
3
4
5
(ii)
It was Fun to use
1
2
3
4
5
(iii)
It was Easy to use
1
2
3
4
5
(iv)
It helped me in finding the documents faster
1
2
3
4
5
(v)
It is Very difficult to use
1
2
3
4
5
(vi)
It is Very confusing to use
1
2
3
4
5
(vii)
I found more items than expected
1
2
3
4
5
(viii)
I am comfortable with simple search
1
2
3
4
5
(ix)
I am comfortable complex/Advance search
1
2
3
4
5
(x)
I am comfortable quick search
1
2
3
4
5
(xi)
I am comfortable when using OPAC/Web OPAC
1
2
3
4
5
Thank You