Instruments of data collection
- 1. Conducting interview Talking to somebody is a very easy task yet conducting an interview require a skill. An interview is a social interaction and therefore the interviewer has to create an atmosphere of friendship with the informant. As a interviewer, you must begin by making an appointment at a date and time convienient to respondent so that she/he can give you honest open answers. Sometimes speaking to an informant before the actual interview may help create an atmosphere of friendship.
- 2. Conducting interview cont. While carrying out the interview, avoid being judgmental, giving clues and showing expressions of approval or disapproval. The interviewer must not direct the respondent answers through his/her tone of voice or through the way he/she phrases a question, e.g. 'You agree with us that this is right, don't you?
- 3. Interview Advantages You can use an interview with people who cannot read or write. It provides immediate answers It is flexible and allows you to make changes where necessary An interview gives you a chance to observe the respondent The respondent can be asked to clarify unclear answers and can follow up on interesting answers Disadvantages The respondent may not feel free to give certain answers in your presence. The respondent may try to please you by giving you misleading answers that she/he thinks are the answers you are expecting.
- 4. Questionnaire A questionnaire is a list of questions each with a range of answers from which the respondent can choose. The questionnaire can either be structure or unstructured. However, most of the questionnaire are designed in a structured manner, where the respondent is given alternatives from which to choose.
- 5. Questionnaire Usually, using Likert scale which allows the respondent to evaluate idea or attitude statements along four or five point scale. For example Strongly agree_____ Agree_____disagree_____ Strongly agree_____ The open ended questions allow the respondent to answer the questions in their own way. For example, Foreign Aid always has strings attached. The respondent will freely express his opinion about the assertion made.
- 6. Questionnaire Advantages Data to be gathered is in a standardised format The questionnaire is easy to design Data collected is ready for analysis The questionnaire is good for gathering information from a large population or cases The questionnaire can easily be answered If the data is gathered from statistical sample, the findings may be generalized. Disadvantages The questionnaire has a problem of high rate of non return.In other words most the researcher will only receive 60 percent of questionnaire distributed which may result in a biased sample Gives the researcher only limited access to in-depth experience and feelings It provides a limited chances for respondent to answer questions in their own way It is mostly effective in a large sample The questionnaire may exclude some groups of people
- 7. Observation sheet Observation is the collection of data by watching somethings happen in real life situation and do the recording as the events unfold. The use tally marks is very important and one should make a tally whenever the observed behaviour occurs. The observation can be divided into simple observation and participant observation. In simple observation, the observer is not part of the process that is being researched, but an objective outsider. Simple observation collects data as it unfolds, while in participant observation the observer is involved in a group of people who are subject of research.
- 8. Observation Advantages Takes place in the real world Can provide a clear picture of the social phenomena observed Information collected through observation is reliable and accurate Data collected through participant is loaded and detailed Observation does not need the skill of communication Disadvantages It can be difficult to decide what to observe and record Observation is time- consuming Researcher can become bored and lose objectivity It is difficult to observe everything In participant observation people may pretentious in their actions