DATA COLLECTION AND
INSTRUMENTS
Tools of research.
A researcher needs to develop instruments
with which to collect the necessary
information.
In business research the most commonly used
instruments are questionnaires, interview
schedules, observational guides and
standardized tests.
, DATA COLLECTIOM METHODS
There are several methods of data collection:
1. Observation.
• According to Cohen (1980) one way of obtaining
information about the progress or outcome of a
business enterprise is to observe directly selected
aspects of its development and implementation as
they occur.
• Observation may be used as the primary method of
data collecting or to collect supplementary data.
• Observation relies on researcher seeing, hearing,
testing and smelling things. It does not depend on
getting information through someone else.
, Observation cont’
• Observation uses far subjects and can be used
in all studies. The researcher must know what
to look for, what to observe and record it for
future analysis.
• Observational methods are often broken
down into two categories participant
observation and structured observations.
There are three ways in which observation can
be used in research:
, Observation cont’
• Naturalistic observation-in which the subjects are
not aware that they are being observed. For
example, children playing among themselves.
• Participant observation-in which the researcher
participants together with the subjects.
• Non-participant observation- in which the
researcher is passive and only takes notes of
what he/she observes
INSTRUMENTS
Tools of research.
A researcher needs to develop instruments
with which to collect the necessary
information.
In business research the most commonly used
instruments are questionnaires, interview
schedules, observational guides and
standardized tests.
, DATA COLLECTIOM METHODS
There are several methods of data collection:
1. Observation.
• According to Cohen (1980) one way of obtaining
information about the progress or outcome of a
business enterprise is to observe directly selected
aspects of its development and implementation as
they occur.
• Observation may be used as the primary method of
data collecting or to collect supplementary data.
• Observation relies on researcher seeing, hearing,
testing and smelling things. It does not depend on
getting information through someone else.
, Observation cont’
• Observation uses far subjects and can be used
in all studies. The researcher must know what
to look for, what to observe and record it for
future analysis.
• Observational methods are often broken
down into two categories participant
observation and structured observations.
There are three ways in which observation can
be used in research:
, Observation cont’
• Naturalistic observation-in which the subjects are
not aware that they are being observed. For
example, children playing among themselves.
• Participant observation-in which the researcher
participants together with the subjects.
• Non-participant observation- in which the
researcher is passive and only takes notes of
what he/she observes
