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CH. 10 DATA COLLECTION METHODS. Sources of Data. Primary sources Primary data refer to information obtained firsthand by the researcher on the variables of interest for the specific purposes of the study Secondary sources
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Sources of Data • Primary sources • Primary data refer to information obtained firsthand by the researcher on the variables of interest for the specific purposes of the study • Secondary sources • Secondary data refer to information gathered from sources already existing
Primary Sources of Data • Individuals • Focus groups • Aimed at obtaining respondents’ impressions, interpretations, and opinions. • Provides only qualitative and not quantitative information • Can not be considered to be truly representative • Focus groups are used for (1) exploratory studies, (2) making generalizations based on the information gathered by them, and (3) conducting sample surveys • Videoconferencing
Primary Sources of Data Cont’d) • Panels • Whereas focus groups meet for a one-time group session, panels meet more than once. • Static or dynamic • Typically used when several aspects of a product are to be studied from time to time • Unobtrusive Measures • Originate from a primary source that does not involve people
Secondary Sources • Advantage of seeking secondary data sources is savings in time and costs of acquiring information. • Drawbacks: obsolete, not meeting the specific needs of a particular situation or setting
Data Collection Methods • Interviews • Questionnaires • Observation • Unobtrusive Methods
Interviewing • Unstructured interviews • Interviewer does not enter the interview setting with a planned sequences of questions to be asked of the respondent • The objective: to bring some preliminary issues to the surface so that the researcher can determine what variables need further in-depth investigation
Interviewing (Cont’d) • Structured interviews • Those conducted when it is known at the outset what information is needed. • The interviewer has a list of predetermined questions to be asked of the respondents
Interviewing (Cont’d) • Some tips • Biases could be introduced by: • Interviewer • Interviewees • Situational • Biases can be minimized: • Establishing credibility and rapport, and motivating individuals to respond • Questioning techniques: funneling, unbiased questions, clarifying issues, helping the respondents to think through issues, taking notes
Face-to-face Interviews • Advantages: • Adapt the questions as necessary, clarify doubts, and ensure that the responses are properly understood • Pick up nonverbal cues from the respondent • Any discomfort, stress, or problems that the respondent experiences can be detected • Disadvantages: • Geographical limitations • Vast resources needed • High costs • Respondents might feel uneasy about the anonymity of their responses
Telephone Interviews • Advantages: • A number of differently different people can be reached in a relatively short period of time • It would eliminate any discomfort on respondents • Disadvantages: • Respondents could unilaterally terminate the interview without warning or explanation, by hanging up the phone. • Researcher will not be able to read the nonverbal communication
Questionnaires • Personally administered questionnaires • Advantages: • Researcher can collect all the completed responses within a short period of time • Clarify any doubts • Less expensive and consumes less time than interviewing • Mail questionnaires • Advantages: • Wide geographical area can be covered
Questionnaires (Cont’d) • Guidelines for questionnaires design • Principles of wording • Content and the purpose of the questions • Language and wording of the questionnaires • Type and form of questions • Sequencing of questions • Classification data or personal information
Questionnaires (Cont’d) • Pretesting of Structured Questions • To ensure that the questions are understood by the respondents • There are no problems with the wording or measurement
Other Methods • Observational surveys • Nonparticipant and participant observer • Structured and unstructured