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Research Instruments and Data Collection Techniques

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Research Instruments

Average Q is used to obtain data from a reality or phenomenon studied.

Matrix

Manual or virtual space where the data obtained through the research instruments settles.

Tabulation

Process by which data is extracted from an instrument.

Research: Advantages of the Questionnaire

  1. Less expensive than an interview.
  2. Requires less skill to administer.
  3. Can be sent via email with minimal explanation.
  4. Greater confidence in anonymity.

Drawbacks

If a question is not understood, it may go unanswered.

Visual Observation

Visual observation has the ability to capture the phenomena of the reality studied.

Casual Observation

The researcher prepares a list of subjects, scoring freely.

Systematic Observation

The researcher develops an observation guide and schedules time to observe each subject.

Participatory Observation

The researcher observes while also participating in the activities of the individuals and the community being studied.

Advantage: Allows intimate knowledge of people's lives.

Disadvantage: There is a danger of losing objectivity.

Interview

Information obtained as a result of contact and dialogue between the interviewer and interviewee.

Advantages

  • Facilitates communication.
  • The interviewer can rephrase the question.
  • The investigator may notice the atmosphere of the interviewee.

Potential Problems of the Interviewer

  • If respondents do not comply with the duty of the interview.
  • If respondents' fear or lack of ethics prevents the interview from reaching its destination.
  • Interviewers may rush through the interview, even if they achieve cooperation.
  • Interviewees may respond incorrectly, and interviewers may misspell the responses.

Interview Techniques

Techniques that tend to counteract the problems in an interview:

  1. There should be an adequate presentation of the interviewer to the interviewee.
  2. The interviewer should have an attitude of trust and security.
  3. There should be a proper explanation of the study and its purposes.
  4. Problems should be solved during the course of the interview (e.g., communication problems or mutual understanding).
  5. The investigator should not obtain lies through cooperation.
  6. There should be a proper closure (thank the interviewee for their collaboration).

Citing a Book

You must specify the following:

  1. Author's surname in uppercase, followed by the first name in lowercase.
  2. Title of the book, underlined or italicized.
  3. Name of the publisher.
  4. City where the edition was published.
  5. Year of editing.

Citing a Newspaper Article

  1. Author's surname in uppercase, followed by the first name in lowercase.
  2. Title of the article, in quotation marks.
  3. Name of the magazine or newspaper, underlined or italicized, and volume.
  4. Issue number.
  5. City of publication, month, and year of issue.
  6. Page number(s) where the article is located.

Abbreviations

  • A., AA. = Author, authors (generally, several authors VV.AA.)
  • Art. cit. = Article quoted
  • Ca. = Around, approximately
  • Cf., cf. = Compare
  • Col., cols. = Partner, partners, collection
  • Dir. = Director, led by
  • Ed., ed. = Edition, publisher, editors
  • Fl. = Flourished
  • Ibid. = In the same place
  • Id. = The same
  • Intr., intro. = Introduction
  • Loc. cit. = In the same place
  • M. = Died
  • N. = Born; note
  • (N. of Ed.), (N. of R.), (N. of T.) = Editor's note, editor's note, note by the translator
  • O.C. = Complete work
  • Ob. cit. = Cited work
  • Op. cit. = In the work cited
  • P., pp. = Page, pages
  • Pass. = Here and there, in different places
  • Pseud. = Pseudonym
  • Suppl. = Supplement
  • Trans., trans. = Translator(s)
  • V. = See
  • Vol., vols. = Volume, volumes

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