Planning a Research Design

Identifying Appropriate Measurement Instruments

-Jonalie Eridao

Research Instruments

-use to gather or collect data or information.

Most Commonly Used Research Instruments

QuestionnaireInterviewChecklist Observation

QUESTIONNAIRE

The most common instrument or tool of research for obtaining the data

Two Forms of Questionnaire

Closed formOpen form

Closed Form

It has a fixed number of questions and a limited choice of answers. The respondents should choose one or more suitable answers.

Open Form

It consists a number of questions. The answers are in the form of essay and the content may vary depending on the respondents.

Guidelines in Using the Questionnaire

Clarity of language Singleness of purpose Relevant to the objective of the

study

Advantages/ Disadvantages

INTERVIEW

It is a sense of an oral questionnaire. Instead of writing the response, the interviewee gives the needed information orally and face-to-face.

Types of Interview

StructuredSemi-structuredUnstructured

Structured Interview

It has a fixed number of questions and limited choice of answers. It's like a structured questionnaire, but the questions are spoken by the researcher to the respondents.

Semi-Structured Interview

It has a few questions as guidelines, and can be added when necessary.

Unstructured Interview

There are no questions at all in the beginning. The researcher determines the questions after immersing in the field for some time. The things to be asked will appear after the immersion.

CHECKLIST

The simplest of the devices, consists of a prepared list of items. The presence or absence of the item may be indicated by inserting the appropriate word or number.

OBSERVATION

Perceiving data through the senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch.

Most direct way used in studying individual behavior.

Types of Observation

ParticipatoryNon-participatory

Participatory Observation

The researcher participates in the activities of the subjects.

Non-participatory Observation

The researcher does not participate in the activities of the subjects