Data Gathering Methods : Introduction

Data Gathering Methods: Introduction Tammy Horne, Ph.D. WellQuest Consulting Ltd. (780) 451-6145 thorne@wellquestconsulting.com www.wellquestconsulting.com

Methods: Introduction • Methods used depend on what we want to learn: • Scope/depth • Numbers/meanings • What people tell/show/do • Individuals/groups/populations • Strengths of one offset the limits of another

Methods: Introduction • Do you want to know how many people use walking trails, how many workplaces have policies to support physical activities, or how many new affordable housing units have been created? Do you want to know how confident people are that they can fit physical activities into their day? (Quantitative methods – questionnaires, administrative or population statistics)

Methods: Introduction • Do you want to know the meaning people give to experiences such as doing regular physical activity or living in a home they can afford? In-depth views on pros/cons of different policies to support employees to be active,? (Qualitative methods – one-to-one interviews, focus groups, journals, arts-based methods)

Methods: Introduction • We need to address ethical considerations in how we use various methods to collect data, and that data will in used • The Alberta Research Ethics Community Consensus Initiative (ARECCI) has developed helpful processes and tools www.ahfmr.ab.ca/arecci/

Data Gathering Methods : Introduction