Nursing Research 5
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chapter_10.pptxData Collection
Chapter Ten
Data Collection Methods and Sources
Objectivity and organization of process results in generalizability
Fundamental to the entire process
Data Collection ‘source’
Data Collection ‘instruments’
Major Methods of Data Collection
Tests
Questionnaires
Interviews
Focus groups
Observations
Biophysiological data
Existing or secondary data
Accessible data versus Novel data
Accessible data – existing data, pre-existing reports, secondary analysis
Concerns about biases
Eliminates time consuming and costly process
Foundation for evidence-based practice
Novel data – data collected specifically for study
Judiciously determine all components needed
May be costly due to time and energy
Sources of data
Secondary data from national surveys
Other secondary data sources such as Medicaid
Demographic indicators
Non-clinical program data
Clinical program data
Public comments
Informant groups
Questionnaire/interview survey
Screenings
Epidemiology surveys
Test Methods
Ascertain the explicit intelligence, talents, behaviors, or cognitive endeavor under investigation
Appraise characteristics, aptitude, accomplishments, and/or performance
Directness and versatility – key benefits
Example: Standardized test
Strengths of Tests
Allow for consistency
Provide additional valid and reliable data
Repeated usage results in further validity and reliability of the tool
Use in group setting
Saves time, costs, and energy
Accessibility to an extensive assortment of tests
Practicality of data analysis via quantitative measures
Limitations of Tests
Price for usage
Presence of biases- test may be directed to one population and this could lead to bias
Do not allow for open-ended, probing type of questions
Management of incomplete returned tools must be addressed
Questionnaires
Survey process
Employed to gather information concerning knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and feelings
Self-reporting device
May have problems with Questionnaire development
Types of questions used in the tool should be easy to understand and use familiar words
Strengths of Questionnaires
Accessing larger samples in a group setting with minimum expense
Greater sense of anonymity
Enhanced quantity of data
Establishment of validity and reliability of the tool
Fairly fast and easy to obtain data
Limitations of Questionnaires
Tool must be short and too the point
Long, cumbersome tools reduce participation
Participants can be non-responsive to select sections within the tool
Time consuming nature when entering data
Interviews
Personal touch
Requires the development of trust and rapport
Data can be skewed
Ordering of questions and environment must be carefully considered
Strength of Interview
Can be managed in a less structured process
Open-ended questions can be used
Process is impulsive and freely structured
Collect both verbal and non-verbal information
Abundant and powerful information possible
Participant does not have to be literate
Limitations of Interview
Expensive
Time consuming
Requires time intensive interactions
Hawthorne effect
Data analysis can be cumbersome due to amount of material
Focus Group
Coordination of an interview where six to twelve homogeneous individuals participate
One to three hour length
Must have a leader within the process
Understand opinions and experiences
Address comfort, privacy, and convenience
Strength of Focus Groups
Open and revealing process
Exploration of ideas and concepts
Non-verbal communication can be collected
Limitations to Focus Groups
Sizing and management of group dynamics
Moderator must be knowledgeable about process
Extrovert personalities may control session
Observation
Method of collection descriptive, behavioral data
Articulation of individualism, character preconceptions, and beliefs
Clarity of behavioral information imperative
Both quantitative and qualitative data can be collected
Diverse roles of Observation
Complete participant – Covert process; members of group are not informed of process
Participant-as-Observer – Overt process; members of group are aware that observer taking dual role
Observer-as-Participant – Overt process: observe spends time primarily in role of spectator
Complete Observer – Covert process; observer is total in role of watcher
Strengths of Observation
High level of detail in information collected
Everyday life can be researched
Effective method for comprehending significant contextual dynamics of a designated setting
Participants do not have to be verbal
Limitations of Observation
Time consuming
Labor intensive
Expensive
Inter-rater reliability required
Biases can be problematic
Existing or Secondary Data Collection
Builds on pre-existing collected data
Can be documents, physical data, and/or archived research data
Research questions will be limited by the data that is available.
Advantages of Using Existing (Secondary) Data
Can be completed without any intrusion into the lives of people
Time can be used to collect key pieces that were previously overlooked or not valued
Allows for exploration into alternative conclusions
Fuller evaluation of the information
Less expensive usually
Limitations of Using Existing (Secondary) Data
Restrictiveness of data source
Can not add questions
Restriction on accessing certain documents
Sampling process may be restrictive
Lack of open-ended or qualitative data
Biophysiological Methods
Viewed as objective data
Can be used either alone or in combination with other methods
Necessitates the use of specialized equipment
Used with experimental and quasi-experimental
Types
In Vivo
Requires the use of some apparatus to evaluate one or more elements of a participant
Blood pressure measurements, electrocardiograms, temperatures,
In Vitro
Requires the extraction of physiological materials from the participant frequently via a laboratory analysis
Bacterial counts and identifications; tissue biopsies, glucose levels
Advantages of Biophysiological Methods
Creates precision and sensitivity of the information gathered
Increased independence from biases and subjectivity
Value of the data results in enhanced respect
Limitations to Biophysiological Methods
Cost of obtaining the measurements
Requires specialized knowledge and training to be able to accurately gather the data
Additional research assistants may be required
Escalation of cost and time commitments
Potential lack of willingness to participate in the study by the accessible population
Informed consent required
Achievement of the Data Collection Strategy
Carefully consider the research purpose, research design, sampling method, cost considerations, and time restrictions
Use of multiple methods increases the resources required
Strengths and limitations must be carefully considered within the selection process
When using more than one collector, note special considerations
Evidence-based Practice Considerations
Principle aspect – quality of the process as well as the data itself
Choices made must be founded on reliable, sensible judgments
Rationales for decisions should be spelled out
Summary Points
Data comes in many varieties and is achieved through numerous methodologies
Data collection sources are those items or strategies for accumulating the information desired
Data collection tools are the tangible devices that are used to complete the collection of the data
The major methods of data collection are:
Tests
Questionnaires
Interviews
Focus groups
Observations
Biophysiological data
Existing (Secondary) data
Summary Points
Attention must be given to what information actually exists and what data is accessible
The basic idea is that the data is collected in the same manner for each of the participants
Tests are used to ascertain the specific knowledge, talents, behaviors, and cognitive endeavor that is being investigated
A questionnaire/survey is a data collection tool that is completed by a participant with the intent to discover what the individual thinks about a specific item
Summary Points
When interviews are used as the data collection process, the establishment of trust and rapport is essential
Care concerning environmental aspects must be completed to conduct interviews and focus groups
Observation allows for the confirmation of what is said by the viewing of specific behaviors and activities
Within the process of observation, several ethical issues need to be carefully considered as the method for the observation process is determined
The data collection process which utilizes existing (Secondary) data builds on the information collected from another study or document
