ASOCEU - Lesson 2 - Research Methods: Primary Data (slides)
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This document discusses various methods for collecting primary data in field research, including surveys, interviews, observation, focus groups, diaries/registries, and content analysis. Surveys can collect large quantities of quantitative and qualitative data but must be carefully designed to avoid problems of impersonality. Interviews are flexible for collecting specific or in-depth knowledge but require more effort to organize and analyze. Observation allows understanding a context as a whole but the context may change over time. Focus groups combine interview flexibility with participant interaction but are difficult to organize. Diaries/registries provide detailed behavior information. Content analysis is useful for understanding recurring themes in text data. The document advises carefully selecting the most effective primary data collection method for each research purpose.
ASOCEU - Lesson 2 - Research Methods: Primary Data (slides)
- 1. FIELD RESEARCH: PRIMARY DATA
- 2. PRIMARY DATA: COLLECTION METHODS As mentioned in Lesson 1, using primary data means collecting it in the first person. You can do it in different ways: observing and taking organised notes, recording interviews, measuring activity and behaviour, running surveys. Infinite information can be collected, so it is important to grasp the principal methods for collecting primary data for organising it in the best way.
- 3. METHODS OF COLLECTING PRIMARY DATA
- 4. Surveys are helpful for collecting huge quantities of data, for carrying out quantitative and qualitative analysis. SURVEY
- 5. SURVEY: ADVANTAGES ● Less costly ● Effective for structuring the research for analysing the territory ● Good quality of responses (reliability of information)
- 6. SURVEY: DISADVANTAGES ● Needs to be carefully designed ● Could be not very engaging ● Impersonal method (resolvable problems of authenticity)
- 7. SURVEY: WHAT TO FIND OUT • Identify the scope of reference • Give clear instructions for responding • Understand which variables we want to investigate and transform this information into good questions • Choose whether to use closed or open questions • Potentially use online tools (e.g. LimeSurvey, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms)
- 8. INTERVIEW Interviews are very helpful for collecting specific information, which perhaps only certain people know, or for collecting very in-depth knowledge.
- 9. INTERVIEW: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES ● Most flexible instrument of all ● Proximity to the interviewee, good for grasping multiple nuances ● More complex to organise ● More complex to analyse ● Risk of interviewee going off topic
- 10. INTERVIEW: WHAT TO FIND OUT ● Interviews can be structured, semi-structured or non- structured, i.e. having a more or less precise scheme of questions ● They can be conducted in person (face-to-face), but also by telephone or via Skype ● If the interview is not recorded, take a lot of notes; if you wish to record the interview, ask for the interviewee’s consent first ● Interviews could be transcribed before then being analysed following a scheme/code
- 11. OBSERVATION Detached or engaged observation can be very useful for observing conditions at particular places, events and activities.
- 12. OBSERVATION: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES ● Excellent method for understanding a territory as a whole ● More neutral than the object of the research ● Good way to obtain preliminary info ● Good observation requires time ● Unhelpful if the context being observed changes often
- 13. OBSERVATION: WHAT TO FIND OUT ● Observation can be pure (not interacting with the context) or engaged (interactive) ● It is helpful to make a preliminary list of the things to be observed before heading out ● Try to obtain access to important sites to observe ● Organise the information in a structured format
- 14. FOCUS GROUPS The focus group is a type of “group” interview, focusing on in-depth analysis of a specific theme, not only by questioning the various participants, but also through interaction between the participants themselves.
- 15. FOCUS GROUPS: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES ● Combines the flexibility of the interview with interaction between participants ● Excellent method for investigating a topic in depth ● Difficult to organise ● Interactions between participants not always easy to manage
- 16. FOCUS GROUPS: WHAT TO FIND OUT ● Needs to be well moderated and individual participants dominating the discussion must be avoided ● Important to clarify the objective of the focus group ● Try to achieve diversity and viewpoints that diverge from or were not initially anticipated by the questions
- 17. DIARIES OR REGISTRIES Diaries or registries are a particular form of observation that allow you to get highly detailed information on a specific behaviour.
- 18. CONTENT ANALYSIS Content analysis is systematic and quantitative analysis of text. If a large part of the information collected is in text format, systematic analysis of the content can be very effective for understanding whether there are recurring themes.
- 19. READY FOR RESEARCH IN THE FIELD… Now it’s over to you! Carefully choose the primary data collection method you consider is most helpful and effective for your research.
- 20. FIELD RESEARCH: PRIMARY DATA