REPORT inRESEARCH II

The Different Tools or Research Techniques Used in Generating

Data

JOZEL MARAE R. DETABLAN

QUESTIONNAIRES This is the questionnaire technique which is frequently used in surveys. The questionnaire is also the most commonly used tool to generate data. Sometimes, it is called the survey form. It refers to the paper and pencil data-gathering method by letting the subject or respondent complete the questionnaire before the researcher or his representative, or it can be mailed.

CRITERIA OF A GOOD QUESTIONNAIRE

All empirical studies resort to the use of questionnaires. But in order to be a good source of data, aside from giving the required information for the research paper, it must have the following characteristics:

a. The language must be clear and specific; it should not be equivocal in meaning.b. The items on the questionnaire must represent a single idea.c. The items in the questionnaire must be free from bias and assumptions.d. The questionnaires must give the proper evaluation and scoring, and the proper

interpretation. An example of this scoring should be shown.e. The items in the questionnaire, in order to be statistically viable, should, as

much as possible, have the same scoring and the same options for a single objective or purpose.

THE LANGUAGE MUST BE CLEAR The language of the questionnaire should be clear and appropriate and should lead the respondent to give specific responses. It should not suit only in the level on the respondents, but should also generate the desired information needed in the study.THE CONTENT OF THE QUESTION AND THE PERIOD

INVOLVED MUST BE SPECIFIC. An item in the questionnaire should elicit a single piece of information or a single response. Asking the respondents to give multiple responses discourages him because of the complexity and this may lead him to give inaccurate information.

THE QUESTION SHOULD SHOW SINGLENESS OR PURPOSE

The questionnaire as a whole should bring pieces of information that are relevant to the purposes of the study. Questions that do not serve the purpose should be eliminated.THE QUESTION MUST BE FREE FROM ASSUMPTIONS Sometimes in a question there can be found an unasked question.

THE QUESTION SHOULD BE FREE FROM SUGGESTIONS

Questions such as the following may have the power of suggestions for the respondents: “Many countries have become progressive due to industrialization. Do you agree that the Philippines can also be progressive if it becomes industrialized?”

THE QUESTION SHOULD HAVE LINGUISTIC COMPLETENESS AND GRAMMATICAL

CONSISTENCY

The question should be formed according to the rules of correct grammar to avoid embarrassment on the part of the researcher. Hence, it is important that prior to the survey, at least two things should be done and these are:a. Have the questionnaire edited by an English teacher or a Filipino teacher as the case may be.b. Float the questionnaire to a trial sample that shall be executed from the final selection of the sample.

KINDS OF QUESTIONNAIRESOPEN-ENDED QUESTIONNAIRE

CLOSE-ENDED QUESTIONNAIRE

An open ended questionnaire is one whose options in the items are not given or are not arranged. This leaves the respondent to answer the question in his way. In other words, the answer is entirely left to the discretion of the respondent.

In a close ended questionnaire, the options or answers are given or enumerated and the respondent simply checks or encircles his answer. It does not require much effort on the part of the respondent to answer the questions.

EXAMPLES

Directions: Please answer the following questions

1. Give your opinion on the issue of the Value-Added Tax Law.___________________________________________________________2. What are its advantages?___________________________________________________________3. What are its disadvantages?___________________________________________________________

OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONNAIRE

CLOSE-ENDED QUESTIONNAIREDirections: Encircle the number with the

best answer. The options are following:

Strongly Agree - 5Agree - 4Not Sure - 3Disagree - 2Strongly Disagree - 1

TWO WAYS IN VALIDATING THE QUESTIONNAIREUnsophisticated floating to a group about 20 or more and letting them answer the questionnaire, soliciting some recommendations for improvement of the questionnaire is also a form of validation.

Factorial analysis is a very sophisticated statistical analysis for determining the clusters of the items of the questionnaire.

ADVANTAGES OF USING QUESTIONNAIRES

a. The researcher is not influenced by the personal comments and the emotions of the respondents.

b. The data are written and easy for computer editing and assessing.

c. Easy preparation for statistical tables

d. Makes interpretation easy and convenient.

DISADVANTAGES OF USING QUESTIONNAIRES

a. The assertion made by the respondents cannot be verified.

b. Some missing information cannot be gathered.

THE RESEARCHER INTERVIEW This is feasible when a personal interaction is available. The research interview is a research method that involves the collection of data, through direct verbal interaction between the interviewer and the respondent.Example:

A clinician interviews a patient in determining the impact of a diagnosis of inseparable lung cancer on a person’s attachment and goals as the illness progresses.

ADVANTAGES OF AN INTERVIEW• The researcher must witness the emotion portrayed

by the subject of the respondent.

• More information is generated since, when in doubt, the researcher can verify for himself right away the issue in question.

• It is a necessary technique for some respondents, especially where the information on a person’s feelings is needed. They gather better insight into opinions, attitudes feelings, or perceptions from the subjects.

• It is inexpensive in terms of the number of questions to be prepared since the researcher must see the respondent.

• Interviews are sometimes necessary for some particular samples, such as patients suffering strokes, paralysis or those who are immobilized due to some medical equipment attached to them.

• Interview can gather better information or can clarify some points personally which are not found in the questionnaire.

DISADVANTAGES OF AN INTERVIEW

• It is uncomfortable for some persons to the point of instilling fears of what are to be asked of them.

• Interviews are time consuming and more expensive when communicating from one place to another to meet respondents.

• Information gathered through interviews is difficult to quantify, thus, making statistical analysis difficult.

• When the respondents feel that they are participants of research, it may result in their expectations in some sort of returns or direct help or reward for participating.

• Interviews need training to be able to do the art of questioning. Interviewing cannot be done by any ordinary person, but by persons with specialized skills.

OBSERVATION METHODThis involves the researcher watching

the research situation. It can be used in descriptive or experimental investigation, but it cannot be used in historical studies.

In this kind of study the researcher is concerned with the direct description of the research situation and the best way to achieve this objective is to watch it.

STEPS OBSERVED IN OBSERVATIONAL METHOD

1.Determining the objectives with the corresponding hypothesis.

2.Putting objectives in notes.3.Determining the object or subjects to be

observed and their profile.4.Observing the specific behavior and

objectives of the observation.5.Specification and outcomes of the

observation.

DIFFERENT KINDS OF OBSERVATIONS

Direct Observation- When the researcher is one of the

respondent.

Indirect Observation- When one observes hoe fractions are taught in the classroom.

Structured Observation is guided by some rigid rules and focus on a particular activity or a set of activities. It focuses on important and relevant information, and is also based on a given observation guideline which delimits the observation activities.

In an observation, the researcher records the information trough:Methodological Notes (MN) - written instructions to oneself or reminders about the things done.Personal Notes (PN) - referrals to one’s reactions, opinions and attitudes.

THE MEASUREMENT OF OBJECTIVE METHOD

• Delineation of what needs to be measured in terms of the research problem.• The selection of the appropriate techniques for measurement.• The selection or development of an instrument.• The collection and analysis of data

THE END