24x7 (3) 1
Contact Us

Uncategorized

What considerations are taken into account for the best longitudinal data collection?

by
Global

What considerations are taken into account for the best longitudinal data collection?

data collection

 

Data Collection

Data collection is a systematic process of gathering observations or measurements. Whether you are performing research for business, governmental or academic purposes, data collection allows you to gain first-hand knowledge and original insights into your research problem.

While methods and aims may differ between fields, the overall process of data collection remains largely the same. Before you begin collecting data, you need to consider:

  • The aim of the research
  • The type of data that you will collect
  • The methods and procedures you will use to collect, store, and process the data

To collect high-quality data that is relevant to your purposes, follow these four steps.

LONGITUDINAL STUDIES: CONCEPT AND PARTICULARITIES

WHAT IS A LONGITUDINAL STUDY?

 The discussion about the meaning of the term longitudinal was summarized by Chin in 1989: for epidemiologists it is synonymous with a cohort or follow-up study, while for some statisticians it implies repeated measurements. He himself decided not to define the term longitudinal, as it was difficult to find a concept acceptable to everyone, and chose to consider it equivalent to “monitoring”, the most common thought for professionals of the time.

The longitudinal study in epidemiology

In the 1980s it was very common to use the term longitudinal to simply separate cause from effect. As opposed to the transversal term. Miettinen defines it as a study whose basis is the experience of the population over time (as opposed to a section of the population). Consistent with this idea, Rothman, in his 1986 text, indicates that the word longitudinal denotes the existence of a time interval between exposure and the onset of the disease. Under this meaning, the case-control study, which is a sampling strategy to represent the experience of the population over time (especially under Miettinen’s ideas), would also be a longitudinal study.

Likewise, Abramson agrees with this idea, who also differentiates longitudinal descriptive studies (studies of change) from longitudinal analytical studies, which include case-control studies. Kleinbaum et al. likewise define the term longitudinal as opposed to transversal but, with a somewhat different nuance, they speak of “longitudinal experience” of a population (versus “transversal experience”) and for them it implies the performance of at least two series of observations over a follow-up period. The latter authors exclude case-control studies. Kahn and Sempos also do not have a heading for these studies and in the keyword index, the entry “longitudinal study” reads “see prospective study.”

This is reflected in the Dictionary of Epidemiology directed by Last, which considers the term “longitudinal study” as synonymous with cohort study or follow-up study. In Breslow and Day’s classic text on cohort studies, the term longitudinal is considered equivalent to cohort and is used interchangeably. However, Cook and Ware defined the longitudinal study as one in which the same individual is observed on more than one occasion and differentiated it from follow-up studies, in which individuals are followed until the occurrence of an event such as death. death or illness (although this event is already the second observation).

longitudinal

Since 1990, several texts consider the term longitudinal equivalent to other names, although most omit it. A reflection of this is the book co-edited by Rothman and Greenland, in which there is no specific section for longitudinal studies within the chapters dedicated to design, and the Encyclopedia of Epidemiological Methods also coincides with this trend, which does not offer a specific entry for this type of studies.

The fourth edition of Last’s Dictionary of Epidemiology reproduces his entry from previous editions. Gordis considers it synonymous with a concurrent prospective cohort study. Aday partially follows Abramson’s ideas, already mentioned, and differentiates descriptive studies (several cross-sectional studies sequenced over time) from analytical ones, among which are prospective or longitudinal cohort studies.

In other fields of clinical medicine, the longitudinal sense is considered opposite to the transversal and is equated with cohort, often prospective. This is confirmed, for example, in publications focused on the field of menopause.

The longitudinal study in statistics

Here the ideas are much clearer: a longitudinal study is one that involves more than two measurements throughout a follow-up; There must be more than two, since every cohort study has this number of measurements, the one at the beginning and the one at the end of follow-up. This is the concept existing in the aforementioned text by Goldstein from 1979. In that same year Rosner was explicit when indicating that longitudinal data imply repeated measurements on subjects over time, proposing a new analysis procedure for this type of data. . Since that time, articles in statistics journals (for example) and texts are consistent in the same concept.

Two reference works in epidemiology, although they do not define longitudinal studies in the corresponding section, coincide with the prevailing statistical notion. In the book co-directed by Rothman and Greenland, in the chapter Introduction to regression modeling, Greenland himself states that longitudinal data are repeated measurements on subjects over a period of time and that they can be carried out for exposures. time-dependent (e.g., smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, or blood pressure) or recurrent outcomes (e.g., pain, allergy, depression, etc.).

In the Encyclopedia of Epidemiological Methods, the “sample size” entry includes a “longitudinal studies” section that provides the same information provided by Greenland.

It is worth clarifying that the statistical view of a “longitudinal study” is based on a particular data analysis (taking repeated measures into account) and that the same would be applicable to intervention studies, which also have follow-up.

To conclude this section, in the monographic issue of  Epidemiologic Reviews  dedicated to cohort studies, Tager, in his article focused on the outcome variable of cohort studies, broadly classifies cohort studies into two large groups, ” life table” and “longitudinal”, clarifying that this classification is something “artificial”. The first are the conventional ones, in which the result is a discrete variable, the exposure and the population-time are summarized, incidences are estimated and the main measure is the relative risk.

"artificial"

The latter incorporate a different analysis, taking advantage of repeated measurements in subjects over time, allowing inference, in addition to population, at the individual level in the changes of a process over time or in the transitions between different states. of health and illness.

The previous ideas denote that in epidemiology there is a tendency to avoid the concept of longitudinal study. However, summarizing the ideas discussed above, the notion of longitudinal study refers to a cohort study in which more than two measurements are made over time and in which an analysis is carried out that takes into account the different measurements. . The three key elements are: monitoring, more than two measures and an analysis that takes them into account. This can be done prospectively or retrospectively, and the study can be observational or interventional.

PARTICULARITIES OF LONGITUDINAL STUDIES

When measuring over time,  quality control  plays an essential role. It must be ensured that all measurements are carried out in a timely manner and with standardized techniques. The long duration of some studies requires special attention to changes in personnel, deterioration of equipment, changes in technologies, and inconsistencies in participant responses over time.

There is a  greater probability of dropout  during follow-up. The factors involved in this are several:

* The definition of a population according to an unstable criterion. For example, living in a specific geographic area may cause participants with changes of address to be ineligible in later phases.

* It will be greater when, in the case of responders who are not contacted once, no further attempts are made to establish contact in subsequent phases of the follow-up.

* The object of the study influences; For example, in a political science study those not interested in politics will drop out more.

* The amount of personal attention devoted to responders. Telephone and letter interviews are less personal than those conducted face to face, and are not used to strengthen ties with the study.

* The time invested by the responder in satisfying the researchers’ demand for information. The higher it is, the greater the frequency of abandonments.

* The frequency of contact can also play a role, although not everyone agrees. There are studies that have documented that an excess of contacts impairs follow-up, while others have either found no relationship or it is negative.

To avoid dropouts, it is advisable to establish strategies to retain and track participating members. The willingness to participate should be assessed at the beginning and what is expected of the participants. Bridges must be established with the participants by sending congratulatory letters, study updates, etc.

The frequency of contact must be regular. Study staff must be enthusiastic, easy to communicate, respond quickly and appropriately to participants’ problems, and adaptable to their needs. We must not disdain giving incentives that motivate continuation in the study.

Thirdly, another major problem compared to other cohort studies is the  existence of missing data . If a participant is required to have all measurements made, it can produce a problem similar to dropouts during follow-up. For this purpose, techniques for imputation of missing values ​​have been developed and, although it has been suggested that they may not be necessary if generalized estimating equations (GEE analysis) are applied, it has been proven that other procedures give better results, even when the losses are completely random.

Frequently, information losses are differential and more measurements are lost in patients with a worse level of health. It is recommended in these cases that data imputation be done taking into account the existing data of the individual who is missing.

Analysis

In the analysis of longitudinal studies it is possible to treat time-dependent covariates that can both influence the exposure under study and be influenced by it (variables that simultaneously behave as confounders and intermediate between exposure and effect). Also, in a similar way, it allows controlling recurring results that can act on the exposure and be caused by it (they behave both as confounders and effects).

Longitudinal analysis can be used when there are measurements of the effect and/or exposure at different moments in time. Suppose that the relationship between a dependent variable Y is a function of a variable , which is expressed according to the following equation :

Y it  = bx it  + z i a + e it

where the subscript  i  refers to the individual, the t at the moment of time and e is an error term (Z does not change as it is stable and that is why it has a single subscript). The existence of several measurements allows us to estimate the coefficient b without needing to know the value of the stable variable, by performing a regression of the difference in the effect (Y) on the difference in values ​​of the independent variables:

Y it  – Y i1  = b(x it  – x i1  ) + a( z i  – z i  ) +
+ e it  – e i1  = b( x it  – x i1  ) + e it  – e i1

That is, it is not necessary to know the value of the time-independent (or stable) variables over time. This is an advantage over other analyses, in which these variables must be known. The above model is easily generalizable to a multivariate vector of factors changing over time.

The longitudinal analysis is carried out within the context of generalized linear models and has two objectives: to adopt conventional regression tools, in which the effect is related to the different exposures and to take into account the correlation of the measurements between subjects. This last aspect is very important. Suppose you analyze the effect of growth on blood pressure; The blood pressure values ​​of a subject in the different tests performed depend on the initial or basal value and therefore must be taken into account.

For example, longitudinal analysis could be performed in a childhood cohort in which vitamin A deficiency (which can change over time) is assessed as the main exposure over the risk of infection (which can be multiple over time). , controlling the influence of age, weight and height (time-dependent variables). The longitudinal analysis can be classified into three large groups.

a) Marginal models: they combine the different measurements (which are slices in time) of the prevalence of the exposure to obtain an average prevalence or other summary measure of the exposure over time, and relate it to the frequency of the disease . The longitudinal element is age or duration of follow-up in the regression analysis. The coefficients of this type of models are transformed into a population prevalence ratio; In the example of vitamin A and infection it would be the prevalence of infection in children with vitamin A deficiency divided by the prevalence of infection in children without vitamin A deficiency.

b) Transition models regress the present result on past values ​​and on past and present exposures. An example of them are Markov models. The model coefficients are directly transformed into a quotient of incidences, that is, into RRs; In the example it would be the RR of vitamin A deficiency on infection.

c) Random effects models allow each individual to have unique regression parameters, and there are procedures for standardized results, binary, and person-time data. The model coefficients are transformed into an odds ratio referring to the individual, which is assumed to be constant throughout the population; In the example it would be the odds of infection in a child with vitamin A deficiency versus the odds of infection in the same child without vitamin A deficiency.

Linear, logistic, Poisson models, and many survival analyzes can be considered particular cases of generalized linear models. There are procedures that allow late entries or at different times and unequally in the observation of a cohort.

In addition to the parametric models indicated in the previous paragraph, analysis using non-parametric methods is possible; For example, the use of functional analysis with  splines  has recently been reviewed.

Several specific texts on longitudinal data analysis have been mentioned. One of them even offers examples with the routines to write to correctly carry out the analysis using different conventional statistical packages (STATA, SAS, SPSS).

How is consent and data collection from minors best addressed?

by
comercio datos personales menores

How is consent and data collection from minors best addressed?

 

Data collection

Data collection

Data is a collection of facts, figures, objects, symbols, and events gathered from different sources. Organizations collect data with various data collection methods to make better decisions. Without data, it would be difficult for organizations to make appropriate decisions, so data is collected from different audiences at various points in time.

For instance, an organization must collect data on product demand, customer preferences, and competitors before launching a new product. If data is not collected beforehand, the organization’s newly launched product may fail for many reasons, such as less demand and inability to meet customer needs. 

Although data is a valuable asset for every organization, it does not serve any purpose until analyzed or processed to get the desired results.

Data collection methods are techniques and procedures used to gather information for research purposes. These methods can range from simple self-reported surveys to more complex experiments and can involve either quantitative or qualitative approaches to data gathering.

Some common data collection methods include surveys, interviews, observations, focus groups, experiments, and secondary data analysis. The data collected through these methods can then be analyzed and used to support or refute research hypotheses and draw conclusions about the study’s subject matter.

The right to the protection of personal data: origin, nature and scope of protection.

 Origins and legal autonomy

The approach to the study of any right with constitutional status requires, without a doubt, a reference to its origins, for which, on this occasion, the generational classification of human rights developed at a doctrinal level will be very useful.

In general, historically the recognition of four generations of fundamental rights, individual or first generation rights, has prevailed; public freedoms or second generation rights; social or third generation rights; and rights linked to the emergence of new technologies and scientific development, classified in the fourth generation, these have corresponded to ideological and social moments with their own characteristics and differentiating features.

In particular, the fourth generation is presented as a response to the phenomenon known as “liberties pollution” , a term coined by some authors to refer to the degradation of classic fundamental rights in the face of recent uses of new technology.

Indeed, the technological development that has occurred since the second half of the 20th century has shown the limitations and insufficiency of the right to privacy – first generation right – as the only mechanism to respond to the specific dangers contained in the automated processing of personal information. , which is why starting in the seventies, the dogmatic and jurisprudential construction of a new fundamental right began to take shape: the right to the protection of personal data.

From a theoretical point of view, the reformulation of the classic notion of the right to privacy – no longer as a right of exclusion, as it had initially been conceived, but rather as a power to control information relating to one itself, represented a clear breaking point in the conceptualization that had been maintained on it until that moment.

protection

On the other hand, in the jurisprudential context, the legal conformation of this right – which was classified as the right to informational self-determination – originates in a ruling issued by the German Federal Constitutional Court in 1983, declaring the unconstitutionality of a law that regulated the demographic census process at that time. In contrast, Chilean jurisprudence was particularly late in the configuration of the right to the protection of personal data, since its first approximation occurred in 1995, when the Constitutional Court linked it, precisely, to the protection of privacy.

It is true that the right to privacy constitutes an important, if not essential, antecedent in terms of the formation of the right that is the object of our study; however, this does not mean that both should be confused, an issue that in its moment sparked countless debates. Some authors, for example, stated that the right to the protection of personal data constituted a form of manifestation of the particular characteristics that the right to privacy acquires in the computer age, denying the autonomy that it is possible to attribute to it today.

From our perspective, and as the Spanish Constitutional Court was responsible for announcing at the beginning of this century, two fundamental rights closely linked to each other, as well as clearly differentiated, coexist in our legal system: the right to privacy and the right to the protection of personal data. With the first, the confidentiality of the information related to an individual is protected, while with the second the proper use of the information related to a subject is guaranteed, once it has been revealed to a third party, since the confessed data It is therefore not public and, consequently, cannot circulate freely.

Thus, the legal power to have and control at all times the use and traffic of this information belongs entirely to its owner. In other words, the fundamental right to data protection does not constitute a right to secrecy or confidentiality, but rather a power to govern its publicity. In this way, while the right to privacy would be a power of exclusion, the right to protection of personal data is consecrated, instead, as one of disposition.

In accordance with what was stated  above , the latter seems to be the position finally adopted by the Chilean Constitution. In this regard, it is worth remembering that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) pointed out, in 2015, that our country was in compliance with its personal data protection regulations, pointing out that among its member states, only Chile and Turkey had not yet perfected their legislation on the matter.

On this level, the reform of article 19 number 4 of the constitutional text was framed, which since June 16, 2018 has assured all people “ respect and protection of private life and the honor of the person and their family.” , and also, the protection of your personal data “, adding that ” the treatment and protection of these data will be carried out in the manner and conditions determined by the law .”

As can be seen, the new wording of the Chilean fundamental norm now enshrines the right to the protection of personal data in an autonomous and differentiated manner, a trend adopted for several years by the fundamental charters of other countries in Europe and Latin America, with Chile joining the this majority trend.

 Natural capacity as an essential element for the exercise of personality rights

The tendency followed by the Chilean legal system to give relevance to what is known as natural capacity – or maturity – as an essential substrate on which to base the exercise capacity of children and adolescents, is especially marked in the field of the rights of personality – or in other words, in the field of extra-patrimonial legal acts, and it is precisely in this context that the first voices in favor of maintaining that, although the dichotomy “capacity for enjoyment/capacity for exercise” could still have some relevance in the patrimonial sphere, it was, on the other hand, unsustainable in the extra-patrimonial personality sphere.

It seems that denying the capacity to exercise personality rights in the space when the subject, despite his or her chronological age, meets the intellectual and volitional conditions sufficient to exercise them on his or her own, becomes a plausible violation of dignity and freedom. free development of the personality of the individual, recognized in article 1 of our Constitution as superior values ​​of the regulatory system ( People are born free and equal in dignity and rights ).

child or adolescent

Certainly, it has been discussed whether the distinction between the capacity to enjoy and the capacity to exercise is applicable in the field of personality rights, since the enjoyment or exercise of these rights is personal. Hence, it is difficult to speak of authentic legal representation in this environment, with this representation being very nuanced or being configured rather as assistance or action by parents or guardians/curators in compliance with their duty to care for the child or adolescent especially justified when it comes to avoiding harm.

Given the above and in accordance with the principle of  favor filii , the implementation of personality rights by their legitimate holders can only be limited when their will to activate them is contrary to preponderant interests in attention to the full development of their personality, in the same way that the will of their representatives can be limited   when their intervention is contrary to the interests of the child or adolescent.

Well, it is precisely in that context, in which the idea of ​​adopting the criterion of sufficient maturity, self-government or natural capacity emerges strongly, as a guideline to follow to delimit the autonomous exercise of personality rights, avoiding With this, the person who has not yet reached the age of majority is simply the holder of the right, but cannot, however, exercise it. In this way, the general rule becomes that the girl, boy or adolescent who is sufficiently mature can freely dispose of her or his rights.

With the above meaning, it should be noted that in this new scenario the question is limited to specifying what is meant by showing sufficient maturity, since we are faced with an indeterminate legal concept around which there is no unified legal definition. Each boy and girl is different, and therefore it is very difficult to establish when or not they have the necessary exercise capacity, due to their intellectual development, to be the master of their own person.

How do you ensure the best validity of your data?

by
inteligencia artificial para el diagno stico temprano de la esquizofrenia foto freepik 1

How do you ensure the best validity of your data?

data

Data

 

What is Data Collection?

Data collection is the procedure of collecting, measuring, and analyzing accurate insights for research using standard validated techniques.

Put simply, data collection is the process of gathering information for a specific purpose. It can be used to answer research questions, make informed business decisions, or improve products and services.

To collect data, we must first identify what information we need and how we will collect it. We can also evaluate a hypothesis based on collected data. In most cases, data collection is the primary and most important step for research. The approach to data collection is different for different fields of study, depending on the required information.

Validity is an evaluation criterion used to determine how important the empirical evidence and theoretical foundations that support an instrument, examination, or action taken are.  Also, it is understood as the degree to which an instrument measures what it purports to measure or that it meets the objective for which it was constructed. This criterion is essential to consider a test valid. Validity along with reliability determine the quality of an instrument.

Currently, this has become a relevant element within the measurement due to the increase in new instruments used at crucial moments, for example when selecting new personnel or when determining the approval or disapproval of an academic degree. Likewise, there are who point out the need to validate the content of existing instruments.

The validation process is dynamic and continuous and becomes more relevant as it is further explored. The  American Psychological Association  (APA), in 1954, identified 4 types of validity: content, predictive, concurrent and construct.  However, other authors classify it into appearance, content, criterion and construct validity.

Content validity is defined as the logical judgment about the correspondence that exists between the trait or characteristic of the student’s learning and what is included in the test or exam. It aims to determine whether the proposed items or questions reflect the content domain (knowledge, skills or abilities) that you wish to measure.

To do this, evidence must be gathered about the quality and technical relevance of the  test ; It is essential that it is representative of the content through a valid source, such as: literature, relevant population or expert opinion. The above ensures that the test includes only what it must contain in its entirety, that is, the relevance of the instrument.

validity

This type of validity can consider internal and external criteria. Among the internal validity criteria are the quality of the content, curricular importance, content coverage, cognitive complexity, linguistic adequacy, complementary skills and the value or weighting that will be given to each item. Among the external validity criteria are: equity, transfer and generalization, comparability and sensitivity of instruction; These have an impact on both students and teachers.

The objective of this review is to know the methodologies involved in the content validity process. This need arises from the decision to opt for a multiple-choice written exam, which measures knowledge and cognitive skills, as a modality to obtain the professional title of nurse or nurse midwife in a health school at a Chilean university. This process began in 2003 with the development of questions and their psychometric analysis; however, it is considered essential to determine the content validity of the instrument used.

To achieve this objective, a search was carried out in different databases of the electronic collection, available in the University’s multi-search system, using the key words:  content validity, validation by experts, think-aloud protocol/ spoken thought . For the selection of publications, the inclusion criteria used were: articles published from 2002 onwards; full text, without language restriction, it should be noted that bibliography of classic authors on the subject was incorporated. 58 articles were found, of which 40 were selected.

The information found was organized around the 2 most used methodologies to validate content: expert committee and cognitive interview.

Content validity type

There are various methodologies that allow determining the content validity of a  test  or instrument, some authors propose that among them are the results of the  test , the opinion of the students, cognitive interviews and evaluation by experts; others perform statistical analyzes with various mathematical formulas, for example, they use factor formulas with structural equations,  these are less common.

In cognitive interviews, qualitative data is obtained that can be delved into; unlike expert evaluation that seeks to determine the skill that the exam questions are intended to measure. Some experts point out that to validate the content of an instrument, the following are essential: review of research, critical incidents, direct observation of the applied instrument, expert judgment and instructional objectives. The methods frequently mentioned in the reviewed articles are the expert committee and the cognitive interview.

Expert Committee

It is a methodology that allows determining the validity of the instrument through a panel of expert judges for each of the curricular areas to be considered in the evaluation instrument, who must analyze – at a minimum – the coherence of the items with the objectives of the courses, the complexity of the items and the cognitive ability to be evaluated. Judges must have training in question classification techniques for content validity. This methodology is the most used to perform content validation.

It is therefore essential that before carrying out this validation, two problems are resolved: first, determine what can be measured and second, determine who will be the experts who will validate the instrument. For the first, it is essential that the author does an exhaustive bibliographic review on the topic, he can also work with focus groups; This period is defined by some authors as a stage of development.

Expert Committee

For the second, although there is no consensus that defines the characteristics of an expert, it is essential that he or she knows about the area to be investigated, whether at an academic and/or professional level, and that, in turn, he or she knows about complementary areas. However, other authors are more emphatic when defining who is an expert and consider it a requirement, for example, that they have at least 5 years of experience in the area. All this requires that the sample be intentional.

The characteristics of the expert must be defined and, at the same time, the number of them determined. Delgado and others point out that there should be at least 3, while  García  and  Fernández , when applying statistical variables, concluded that the ideal number varies between 15 and 25 experts;  However,  Varela  and others point out that the number will depend on the objectives of the study, with a range between 7 and 30 experts.

There are other less strict authors when determining the number of experts; they consider the existence of various factors, such as: geographical area or work activity, among others. Furthermore, they point out that it is essential to anticipate the number of experts who will not be able to participate or who will defect during the process.

Once it is decided what the criteria will be to select the experts, they are invited to participate in the project; During the same period, a classification matrix is ​​prepared, with which each judge will determine the degree of validity of the questions.

For the process of preparing the matrix, the Likert scale of 3, 4 or 5 points is used where the evaluation of the possible answers could be classified into different types, for example: a) excellent, good, average and bad; b) essential; useful; useful, but not essential or necessary. The above depends on the type of matrix and the specific objectives pursued.

Furthermore, other studies mention having incorporated spaces where the expert can provide their contributions and appreciations regarding each question. Subsequently, each expert is given – via email or in person in an office provided by the researcher – the classification matrix and the instrument to be evaluated.

Once the results of the experts are obtained, the data is analyzed; The most common way is to measure the agreement of the evaluation of the item under review, reported by each of the experts, it is considered acceptable when it exceeds 80%; those that do not reach this percentage can be modified and subjected to a new validation process or simply be eliminated from the instrument.

Other authors report using Lashe’s (1975) statistical test to determine the degree of agreement between the judges; they observe a content validity ratio with values ​​between -1 and +1. When the value is positive it indicates that more than half of the judges agree; On the contrary, if this is negative, it means that less than half of the experts are. Once the values ​​are obtained, the questions or items are modified or eliminated.

To determine content validity using experts, the following phases are proposed: a) define the universe of admissible observations; b) determine who are the experts in the universe; c) present – ​​by the experts – the judgment through a concrete and structured procedure on the validity of the content and d) prepare a document that summarizes the data previously collected.

The literature describes other methodologies that can be used together or individually. Among them are:

– Fehring Model: aims to explore whether the instrument measures the concept it wants to measure with the opinion of a group of experts; It is used in the field of nursing, by the American Nursing Diagnostic Association (NANDA), to analyze
the validity of interventions and results. The method consists of the following phases:

a) Experts are selected, who determine the relevance and relevance of the topic and the areas to be evaluated using a Likert scale.

b) The scores assigned by the judges and the proportion of these in each of the categories of the scale are determined, thereby obtaining the content validity index (CVI); This index is achieved by adding each of the indicators provided by the experts in each of the items, and, finally, it is divided by the total number of experts. Each of these particular indices are averaged, those whose average does not exceed 0.8 are discarded.

c) The format of the text is definitively edited, taking into account the CVI value, according to the aforementioned parameter, those items that will make up the final instrument and those that, due to their low CVI value, are considered critical and must be reviewed are determined. .

An example of a specific use of this model was the adaptation carried out by  Fehring  to carry out the content validity of nursing diagnoses; In this case, the author proposes 7 characteristics that an expert must meet, which are associated with a score according to their importance. It is expected to obtain at least 5 of them to be selected as an expert.

The maximum score is obtained by the degree of Doctor of Nursing (4 points) and one of the criteria for the minimum scores (1 point) is having one year of clinical practice in the area of ​​interest; It is important to clarify that the authors recognize the difficulty that exists in some countries due to the lack of expertise of professionals.

– Q Methodology: it was introduced by  Thompson  and  Stephenson  in 1935, in order to identify in a qualitative-quantitative way common patterns of opinion of experts regarding a situation or topic. The methodology is carried out through the Q ordering system, which is divided into stages: the first brings together the experts as advised by  Waltz  (between 25 and 70), who select and order the questions according to their points of view. on the topic under study, in addition, bibliographic evidence is provided as support.

The second phase consists of collecting this information, by each of the experts, according to relevance, which goes along a continuum, from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree”; Finally, statistical analyzes are carried out to determine the similarity of all the information and the dimensions of the phenomenon. 30

– Delphi Method: allows obtaining the opinion of a panel of experts; It is used when there is little empirical evidence, the data are diffuse or subjective factors predominate. It allows experts to express themselves freely since opinions are confidential; At the same time, it avoids problems such as poor representation and the dominance of some people over others.

During the process, 2 groups participate, one of them prepares the questions and designs exercises, called the monitor group, and the second, made up of experts, analyzes them. The monitoring group takes on a fundamental role since it must manage the objectives of the study and, in addition, meet a series of requirements, such as: fully knowing the Delphi methodology, being an academic researcher on the topic to be studied and having skills for interpersonal relationships.

The rounds happen in complete anonymity, the experts give their opinion and debate the opinions of other peers, make their comments and reanalyze their own ideas with the feedback of the other participants. Finally, the monitoring group generates a report that summarizes the analysis of each of the responses and strategies provided by the experts. It is essential that the number of rounds be limited due to the risk of abandonment of the process by the experts.

The latter is the most used due to its high degree of reliability, flexibility, dynamism and validity (content and others); Among its attributes, the following stand out: the anonymity of the participants, the heterogeneity of the experts, the interaction and prolonged feedback between the participants, this last attribute is an advantage that is not present in the other methods. Furthermore, there is evidence that indicates that it is a contribution to the security of the decision made, since this responsibility is shared by all participants.

 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of different data collection methods?

by
shutterstock 103080416 1280x720 1

What are the advantages and disadvantages of different data collection methods?

data collection

What is Data Collection?

Data collection is the procedure of collecting, measuring, and analyzing accurate insights for research using standard validated techniques.

Put simply, data collection is the process of gathering information for a specific purpose. It can be used to answer research questions, make informed business decisions, or improve products and services.

To collect data, we must first identify what information we need and how we will collect it. We can also evaluate a hypothesis based on collected data. In most cases, data collection is the primary and most important step for research. The approach to data collection is different for different fields of study, depending on the required information.

Collecting data helps your organization answer relevant questions, evaluate results, and better anticipate customer probabilities and future trends.

In this article you will learn what data collection is, what it is used for, the advantages and disadvantages it has, the skills or abilities that a professional requires to carry out correct data collection, the methods used and some tips to carry it out. cape.

What is data collection?

According to Dr. Luis Eduardo Falcón Morales, director of the Master’s Degree in Applied Artificial Intelligence at the Tecnológico de Monterrey, he explains to us that currently everything generates data in any format, whether written, by video, comments on social networks, tweets, etc. .

“The issue here is that then this data collection begins to collect information to try to find information about the processes on which these data are being generated,” said Falcón Morales.

So we can say that data collection is the process of searching, collecting and measuring data from different sources to obtain information about the processes, services and products of your company or business and to be able to evaluate these results so that you can make better decisions.

What is data collection used for?

Teacher Luis Eduardo indicated that data collection mainly serves to improve continuous improvement processes but it must be understood that it also depends to a large extent on the problem being attacked or the objective set for which said collection is being carried out.

Next, he gives us some uses of data collection:

  • Identify business opportunities for your company, service or product.
  • Analyze structured data (data that is in a standardized format, meets a defined structure, and is easily accessible to humans and programs) in a simple way to understand the context in which said data was generated.
  • Analyze unstructured data (data sets, typically large collections of files, not stored in a structured database format, such as social media comments, tweets, videos, etc.) in a simple way to understand context in which said data were developed.
  • Store data according to the characteristics of a specific audience to support the efforts of your marketing area.
  • Better understand the behaviors of your clients, users and leads.

Data Collection Methods

There are many ways to collect information when doing research. The data collection methods that the researcher chooses will depend on the research question posed. Some data collection methods include surveys, interviews, tests, physiological evaluations, observations, reviews of existing records, and biological samples.

Phone vs. Online vs. In-Person Interviews

Essentially there are four choices for data collection – in-person interviews, mail, phone, and online. There are pros and cons to each of these modes.

  • In-Person Interviews
    • Pros: In-depth and a high degree of confidence in the data
    • Cons: Time-consuming, expensive, and can be dismissed as anecdotal
  • Mail Surveys
    • Pros: Can reach anyone and everyone – no barrier
    • Cons: Expensive, data collection errors, lag time
  • Phone Surveys
    • Pros: High degree of confidence in the data collected, reach almost anyone
    • Cons: Expensive, cannot self-administer, need to hire an agency
  • Web/Online Surveys
    • Pros: Cheap, can self-administer, very low probability of data errors
    • Cons: Not all your customers might have an email address/be on the internet, customers may be wary of divulging information online.

In-person interviews always are better, but the big drawback is the trap you might fall into if you don’t do them regularly. It is expensive to regularly conduct interviews and not conducting enough interviews might give you false positives. Validating your research is almost as important as designing and conducting it.

We’ve seen many instances where after the research is conducted – if the results do not match up with the “gut-feel” of upper management, it has been dismissed off as anecdotal and a “one-time” phenomenon. To avoid such traps, we strongly recommend that data-collection be done on an “ongoing and regular” basis.

This will help you compare and analyze the change in perceptions according to marketing for your products/services. The other issue here is sample size. To be confident with your research, you must interview enough people to weed out the fringe elements.

A couple of years ago there was a lot of discussion about online surveys and their statistical analysis plan. The fact that not every customer had internet connectivity was one of the main concerns.

Although some of the discussions are still valid, the reach of the internet as a means of communication has become vital in the majority of customer interactions. According to the US Census Bureau, the number of households with computers has doubled between 1997 and 2001.

online surveys

Data Collection Examples

Data collection is an important aspect of research. Let’s consider an example of a mobile manufacturer, company X, which is launching a new product variant. To conduct research about features, price range, target market, competitor analysis, etc. data has to be collected from appropriate sources.

The marketing team can conduct various data collection activities such as online surveys or focus groups.

The survey should have all the right questions about features and pricing, such as “What are the top 3 features expected from an upcoming product?” or “How much are your likely to spend on this product?” or “Which competitors provide similar products?” etc.

For conducting a focus group, the marketing team should decide the participants and the mediator. The topic of discussion and objective behind conducting a focus group should be clarified beforehand to conduct a conclusive discussion.

Data collection methods are chosen depending on the available resources. For example, conducting questionnaires and surveys would require the least resources, while focus groups require moderately high resources.

Advantages and disadvantages of data collection

Falcón Morales pointed out that the main advantage, and the most important, is knowledge itself, because knowing is power in some way in your company, it is knowing what your customers [4] think is something negative or positive about your product, service or process.

methods

However, he indicated that the main disadvantage is that people often think that “data collection is magic” and that is not the case. It is a process of continuous improvement, therefore it has no end.

“It is not I apply it once and that’s it, no, it is an endless cycle,” said the director of the Master’s Degree in Applied Artificial Intelligence.

The other disadvantage is the ethical question of the professional or the company to handle the data, “since we do not know what use they may give it.”

Skills to carry out data collection

The director of the Master’s Degree in Applied Artificial Intelligence explained that the main skills are soft skills. They are between them:

  1. Critical thinking
  2. Effective communication
  3. Proactive problem solving
  4. Intellectual curiosity
  5. Business sense

Methods for data collection

Data collection can be carried out through research methods, which are:

  • Analytical method : this method reviews each data in depth and in an orderly manner; goes from the general to the particular to obtain conclusions.
  • Synthetic method : here the information is analyzed and summarized; Through logical reasoning he arrives at new knowledge.
  •  Deductive method : this method starts from general knowledge to reach singular knowledge.
  •  Inductive method : from the analysis of particular data, general conclusions are reached.

research methods

Tips for carrying out data collection

Falcón Morales provided 5 tips to the professional to collect data:

  • Make a plan with the objective to be solved.
  • Gather all the data.
  • Define the data architecture.
  • Establish data governance.
  • Maintain a secure data channel.

 

What best strategies will you use to minimize response bias in data collection?

by
Que es la Inteligencia Artificial y por que es importante 885x500 1

What best strategies will you use to minimize response bias in data collection? Data collection Data collection is the process of collecting and analyzing information on relevant variables in a predetermined, methodical way so that one can respond to specific research questions, test hypotheses, and assess results. Data collection is the procedure of collecting, measuring, and analyzing accurate … Read more

Have you considered the worst possible biases in your data collection process?

by
gettyimages 1374779958 612x612 1

Have you considered the worst potential biases in your data collection process?

 

data collection

Data collection

Data collection es very important. Is   the  process  of collecting and measuring information on established variables in a systematic way, which allows obtaining relevant answers, testing hypotheses and evaluating results. Data collection in   the  research process  is common to all fields of study.

Research bias

Data collection process is very important. In a purely objective world, bias in research would not exist because knowledge would be a fixed and immovable resource; Either you know about a specific concept or phenomenon, or you don’t know. However, both qualitative research and the social sciences recognize that subjectivity and bias exist in all aspects of the social world, which naturally includes the research process as well. This bias manifests itself in the different ways in which knowledge is understood, constructed and negotiated, both within and outside of research.

Research bias

 

Understanding research bias has profound implications for data collection and analysis methods, as it requires researchers to pay close attention to how to account for the insights generated from their data.

What is research bias?

Research bias, often unavoidable, is a systematic error that can be introduced at any stage of the research process, biasing our understanding and interpretation of the results. From data collection to analysis, interpretation, and even publication, bias can distort the truth we aim to capture and communicate in our research.

It is also important to distinguish between bias and subjectivity, especially in qualitative research. Most qualitative methodologies are based on epistemological and ontological assumptions that there is no fixed or objective world “out there” that can be measured and understood empirically through research.

In contrast, many qualitative researchers accept the socially constructed nature of our reality and therefore recognize that all data is produced within a particular context by participants with their own perspectives and interpretations. Furthermore, the researcher’s own subjective experiences inevitably determine the meaning he or she gives to the data.

These subjectivities are considered strengths, not limitations, of qualitative research approaches, because they open new avenues for the generation of knowledge. That is why reflexivity is so important in qualitative research. On the other hand, when we talk about bias in this guide, we are referring to systematic errors that can negatively affect the research process, but that can be mitigated through careful effort on the part of researchers.

To fully understand what bias is in research, it is essential to understand the dual nature of bias. Bias is not inherently bad. It is simply a tendency, inclination or prejudice for or against something. In our daily lives, we are subject to countless biases, many of which are unconscious. They help us navigate the world, make quick decisions, and understand complex situations. But when we investigate, these same biases can cause major problems.

Bias in research can affect the validity and credibility of research results and lead to erroneous conclusions. It may arise from the subconscious preferences of the researcher or from the methodological design of the study itself. For example, if a researcher unconsciously favors a particular study outcome, this preference could affect how he or she interprets the results, leading to a type of bias known as confirmation bias.

Research bias can also arise due to the characteristics of the study participants. If the researcher selectively recruits participants who are more likely to produce the desired results, selection bias may occur.

Another form of bias can arise from data collection methods. If a survey question is phrased in a way that encourages a particular response, response bias can be introduced. Additionally, inappropriate survey questions can have a detrimental effect on future research if the general population considers those studies to be biased toward certain outcomes based on the researcher’s preferences.

What is an example of bias in research?

Bias can appear in many ways. An example is confirmation bias, in which the researcher has a preconceived explanation for what is happening in his or her data and (unconsciously) ignores any evidence that does not confirm it. For example, a researcher conducting a study on daily exercise habits might be inclined to conclude that meditation practices lead to greater commitment to exercise because she has personally experienced these benefits. However, conducting rigorous research involves systematically evaluating all the data and verifying one’s conclusions by checking both supporting and disconfirming evidence.

example of bias in research

 

What is a common bias in research?

Confirmation bias is one of the most common forms of bias in research. It occurs when researchers unconsciously focus on data that supports their ideas while ignoring or undervaluing data that contradicts them. This bias can lead researchers to erroneously confirm their theories, despite insufficient or contradictory evidence.

What are the different types of bias?

There are several types of bias in research, each of which presents unique challenges. Some of the most common are

– Confirmation bias:  As already mentioned, it occurs when a researcher focuses on evidence that supports his or her theory and ignores evidence that contradicts it.

– Selection bias:  Occurs when the researcher’s method of choosing participants biases the sample in a certain direction.

– Response bias:  Occurs when participants in a study respond inaccurately or falsely, often due to misleading or poorly formulated questions.

– Observer bias (or researcher bias):  Occurs when the researcher unintentionally influences the results due to their expectations or preferences.

– Publication bias:  This type of bias arises when studies with positive results are more likely to be published, while studies with negative or null results are usually ignored.

– Analysis bias:  This type of bias occurs when data is manipulated or analyzed in a way that leads to a certain result, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

different types

What is an example of researcher bias?

Researcher bias, also known as observer bias, can occur when a researcher’s personal expectations or beliefs influence the results of a study. For example, if a researcher believes that a certain therapy is effective, she may unconsciously interpret ambiguous results in ways that support the therapy’s effectiveness, even though the evidence is not strong enough.

Not even quantitative research methodologies are immune to researcher bias. Market research surveys or clinical trial research, for example, may encounter bias when the researcher chooses a particular population or methodology to achieve a specific research result. Questions in customer opinion surveys whose data are used in quantitative analysis may be structured in such a way as to bias respondents toward certain desired responses.

How to avoid bias in research?

Although it is almost impossible to completely eliminate bias in research, it is crucial to mitigate its impact to the extent possible. By employing thoughtful strategies in each phase of research, we can strive for rigor and transparency, improving the quality of our conclusions. This section will delve into specific strategies to avoid bias.

How do you know if the research is biased?

Determining whether research is biased involves a careful review of the research design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation. You may need to critically reflect on your own biases and expectations and how they may have influenced your research. External peer reviews can also be useful in detecting potential bias.

Mitigate bias in data analysis

During data analysis, it is essential to maintain a high level of rigor. This may involve the use of systematic coding schemes in qualitative research or appropriate statistical tests in quantitative research. Periodically questioning interpretations and considering alternative explanations can help reduce bias. Peer debriefing, in which analysis and interpretations are discussed with colleagues, can also be a valuable strategy.

By using these strategies, researchers can significantly reduce the impact of bias in their research, improving the quality and credibility of their findings and contributing to a more robust and meaningful body of knowledge.

Impact of cultural bias in research

Cultural bias is the tendency to interpret and judge phenomena according to criteria inherent to one’s own culture. Given the increasingly multicultural and global nature of research, understanding and addressing cultural bias is paramount. This section will explore the concept of cultural bias, its implications for research, and strategies to mitigate it.

Bias and subjectivity in research

Keep in mind that bias is a force to be mitigated, not a phenomenon that can be completely eliminated, and each person’s subjectivities are what make our world so complex and interesting. As things continually change and adapt, research knowledge is also continually updated as we develop our understanding of the world around us.

Why is data collection so important?

Collecting customer data is key to almost any marketing strategy. Without data, you are marketing blindly, simply hoping to reach your target audience. Many companies collect data digitally, but don’t know how to leverage what they have.

Data collection allows you to store and analyze important information about current and potential customers. Collecting this information can also save businesses money by creating a customer database for future marketing and retargeting efforts. A “wide net” is no longer necessary to reach potential consumers within the target audience. We can focus marketing efforts and invest in those with the highest probability of sale.

Unlike in-person data collection, digital data collection allows for much larger samples and improves data reliability. It costs less and is faster than in-person data, and eliminates any potential bias or human error from the data collected.

data collection

Best 10 AI Tools for Creating Images

by
ai tools

Best 10 AI Tools for Creating Images “A picture says a thousand words” is a well-known and true saying. Today, with the advancement of information technologies and the immediacy in the creation and dissemination of messages, Artificial Intelligence (AI) dedicated to this purpose has taken on great relevance, especially if we talk about the creation … Read more

What tools or methods will you use best for data collection?

by
images

 

What tools or methods will you use best for data collection?

data collection

Data collection

Data collection is the process of gathering and measuring information on variables of interest, in an established systematic fashion that enables one to answer stated research questions, test hypotheses, and evaluate outcomes. The data collection component of research is common to all fields of study including physical and social sciences, humanities, business, etc. While methods vary by discipline, the emphasis on ensuring accurate and honest collection remains the same.

The importance of ensuring accurate and appropriate data collection

Regardless of the field of study or preference for defining data (quantitative, qualitative), accurate data collection is essential to maintaining the integrity of research. Both the selection of appropriate data collection instruments (existing, modified, or newly developed) and clearly delineated instructions for their correct use reduce the likelihood of errors occurring.

Consequences from improperly collected data include

  • inability to answer research questions accurately
  • inability to repeat and validate the study
  • distorted findings resulting in wasted resources
  • misleading other researchers to pursue fruitless avenues of investigation
  • compromising decisions for public policy
  • causing harm to human participants and animal subjects

Quantitative data collection methods

1. Closed-ended Surveys and Online Quizzes

Closed-ended surveys and online quizzes are based on questions that give respondents predefined answer options to opt for. There are two main types of closed-ended surveys – those based on categorical and those based on interval/ratio questions.

Categorical survey questions can be further classified into dichotomous (‘yes/no’), multiple-choice questions, or checkbox questions and can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no” or a specific piece of predefined information.

Interval/ratio questions, on the other hand, can consist of rating-scale, Likert-scale, or matrix questions and involve a set of predefined values to choose from on a fixed scale. To learn more, we have prepared a guide on different types of closed-ended survey questions.

Without a doubt, customer data is your company’s most valuable asset. Your sales, marketing, and service teams rely on the insights you have about them to deliver satisfying experiences at the right time—from lead generation to long-term retention. This requires maintaining an accurate and up-to-date customer database so that the interactions you offer are personalized and at scale.

Obviously data collection is a challenge, since it is not easy to determine what is the fundamental information for each department. In addition, storing and using it correctly also represents a great challenge.

Research Methods

Data collection can be carried out through 4 research methods:

  • Analytical method . Review each data in depth and in an orderly manner; goes from the general to the particular to obtain conclusions. 
  • synthetic method . Analyzes and summarizes information; Through logical reasoning he arrives at new knowledge.
  • Deductive method . Starting from general knowledge to reach singular knowledge. 
  • Inductive method . From the analysis of particular data, he reaches general conclusions. 

What is data collection for?

  • It allows you to analyze quantitative or qualitative data in a simple way to understand the context in which the object of study develops.
  • The company can store and classify the data according to the characteristics of a specific audience, so that it can later carry out marketing efforts aimed especially at it (which translate into sales).
  • Helps identify business opportunities.
  • Shows in which processes there is an opportunity for optimization to prevent friction in the buyer’s journey.
  • It provides data for businesses to better understand the behaviors of their customers and leads by collecting information about the sites they visit, the posts they interact with, and the actions they complete.   

9 data collection techniques

  1. Observation
  2. Questionnaires or surveys
  3. Focus group
  4. Interviews
  5. Contact forms
  6. Open sources
  7. Social media monitoring
  8. Website analysis
  9. Conversation history

1. Observation 

If what you want is to know the behavior of your object of study directly, making an observation is one of the best techniques. It is a discreet and simple way to inspect data without relying on a middleman. This method is characterized by being non-intrusive and requires evaluating the behavior of the object of study for a continuous time, without intervening.

To execute it properly, you can record your field observations in notes, recordings or on some online or offline platform (preferably from a mobile device, from where you can easily access the information collected during the observation).

Although this technique is one of the most used, its superficiality usually leaves out some important data to obtain a complete picture in your study. We recommend that you record your information in an orderly manner and try to avoid personal biases or prejudices. This will be of great help when evaluating your results, as you will have clear data that will allow you to make better decisions.

Observation 

2. Questionnaires or surveys

It consists of obtaining data directly from the study subjects in order to obtain their opinions or suggestions. To achieve the desired results with this technique, it is important to be clear about the objectives of your research.

Questionnaires or surveys provide broader information; however, you must apply them carefully. To do this you have to define what type of questionnaire is most efficient for your purposes. Some of the most popular are:

  • Open Questionnaire : Used to gain insight into people’s perspective on a specific topic, analyze their opinions, and obtain more detailed information.
  • Closed questionnaire : used to obtain a large amount of information, but people’s responses are limited. They may contain multiple-choice questions or questions that are easily answered with a “yes/no” or “true/false.”

This is one of the most economical and flexible types of data collection, since you can apply it through different channels, such as email, social networks, telephone or face to face, thus obtaining honest information that gives you more results. precise.

Note : Keep in mind that one of the main obstacles in applying surveys or questionnaires is the low response rate, so you should opt for an attractive and simple document. It uses simple language and gives clear instructions when applying it.

3. Focus group

This qualitative method consists of a meeting in which a group of people give their opinion on a specific topic. One of the qualities of this tool is the possibility of obtaining various perspectives on the same topic to reach the most appropriate solution.

If you can create the right environment, you will get honest opinions from your participants and observe reactions and attitudes that cannot be analyzed with another data collection plan. 

To do  a focus group  properly you need a moderator who is an expert on the topic. Like observation, order is essential for evaluating your results. Remember that a debate can always get out of control if it is not carried out in an organized manner. 

Focus group

4. Interviews

This method consists of collecting information by asking questions. Through interpersonal communication, the sender obtains verbal responses from the receiver on a specific topic or problem.

The interview can be carried out in person or by telephone and requires an interviewer and an informant. To conduct an interview effectively, consider what information you want to obtain from the subject under investigation in order to guide the conversation to the topics you need to cover. 

Gather enough information on the topic and prepare your interview in advance, listen carefully and generate an atmosphere of cordiality. Remember to approach the interviewee gradually and ask easy-to-understand questions, as you will have the opportunity to capture reactions, gestures and clarify the information in the moment.

5. Contact forms

A form on a website is a great source of data that users contribute voluntarily. It helps your brand to know their name, email, location, among other relevant data; They also help you segment the market so that you generate better conversion results. 

You can obtain this data by offering a special discount, subscribing to your newsletter, ebooks, infographics, videos, tutorials, and more content that may be of interest to your site visitors. If you don’t have one yet, try our  free online form builder .

6. Open sources

To understand your business even more, turn to open sources to obtain valuable data. Find free and public information on government pages, universities, independent institutions, non-profit organizations, large companies, data analysis platforms, agencies, specialized magazines, among others. 

7. Social media monitoring

Through social networks it is possible that they collect data about the sector in which your brand operates, your main competitors and, above all, your potential clients. This way you can also communicate with them and get to know your audience more closely. 

The best of all is that most of these types of platforms already have integrated performance analysis tools for your profile and your marketing campaigns, for free; including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. 

8. Website Analysis

Another technique to collect really useful data from visitors to your website is to implement a tracking pixel or cookies. This way you will easily know the user’s location, their behavior patterns within the page, which sections they interact with the most, the keywords they used in the search engine to get there, if they came from another website, among others.

This will also help you improve the user experience on your website. One of the most popular tools to perform this task is Google Analytics. It is worth mentioning that the handling of this type of data is legally regulated in each country differently, so you must comply with the guidelines that apply to you.

9. Conversation history

Saving the conversations generated in the chat on your website, on social networks, chatbots, emails, even calls and video calls with customers is also an efficient data collection technique. This will give you excellent feedback to optimize your products or services, improve customer service, accelerate the sales cycle, deliver products on time, resolve complaints, etc. 

Are there five common best data collection methods?

by
Translation

Are there five common best data collection methods?

data collection methods

Are there five common best data collection methods? Data has proved to be important in every sector of the modern world ranging from research to business. Only through the presence of adequate data can proper analysis be carried out to understand the processes for which the data is collected. However, there are certain ways through which the information is collected. The article will focus on the various methods that are used for the collection of data. Also, it will list the top five methods that are applicable for data collection.   

In any scientific or market research, data is considered an important aspect. If the data collected is not accurate, that will negatively impact the study’s results. Situations can also arrive where the acquired results can be invalid. 

One of the most important requirements for data collection is to answer all the questions that are generated. Only then can quality information be extracted from the data, which will help in the decision-making process of any business, organization, or research.

Do you have to conduct research but do not know where to start? Does the thought of collecting data scare you? Well, data collection is not at all challenging. If you are sure about your topic, the collection procedure will be a piece of cake. 

In this article, you will get 5 data collection methods without much hassle.

  1. Questionnaire and survey
  2. Interviews
  3. Focus Groups
  4. Direct Observations
  5. Document Review

That said, you must know that data collection is not difficult, but it requires you to follow a certain approach. Before getting to the nitty-gritty of the five vital methods, you must understand all about data collection. Read on to learn about the various types of data, collection, and more.

Data Collection

data collection

In simple terms, data collection refers to the collection of data. In another way, it can be defined as gathering information from different sources, analyzing it, and then offering solutions based on the data gathered. It is a systematic process that aims to search for all the available information related to a specific subject. The data collected is mainly in the form of primary data or secondary data. Primary data is collected by the user from first-hand sources, while secondary data is collected through third-party sources.

The collected data can be in the form of facts, images, events, or objects. In business, data collection in the form of customer reviews seems to be extremely valuable as it helps understand its customers, thereby meeting the customer’s expectations. Data can be collected at various points from different sets of audiences. Based on this data, the company can make informed decisions.

Data Collection Methods 

Broadly data collection methods are classified into primary data collection and secondary data collection. The primary data collection is further divided into qualitative and quantitative data collection methods.

1. Qualitative data collection methods:

  • In this data collection method, the quality of data is emphasized rather than the quantitative or the numerical aspects.
  • The data is mostly based on the instincts of the researcher or their emotions.
  • The type of data collection methods are primarily open-ended, and they are not structured. The researchers or the users are allowed to change the strategy for data collection at any moment.
  • A lot of time is required in the qualitative data collection method. The researcher must carefully note down every detail through the help of notes, pictures, audios, or any other suitable forms.
  • The qualitative methods mostly used for data collection are in-depth interviews, document reviews, online forms, web surveys, chats, and observation methods.

2. Quantitative data collection method

  • As the name suggests, the quantitative data collection method involves using numbers rather than quality.
  • Mostly a mathematical calculation is required to deduce the data.
  • The different forms of data collection methods included in the quantitative method are interviewing, such as face-to-face interviews, telephonic interviews, computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI), and questionnaires, including the web-based and the paper-pencil modes.

Top 5 Ways of Collecting Data

Reports have stated various ways of data gathering. Below are a few ways through which data can be collected in the modern world:

1. Surveys

They are one way of data collection through which the customers can be directly asked for their information. Both qualitative and quantitative data can be collected through surveys. They mostly consist of a series of questions or queries related to a certain product or service. The customers need to answer these queries, mostly in the form of multiple-choice questions, or sometimes they demand an explanation in a few words. Researchers can conduct surveys in an online, offline manner or through telephonic interaction. However, the easiest way to conduct a survey is in the online mode. You just have to generate the survey and then share the survey link across social media or different websites or through email.

2. Monitoring social media

Nowadays, social media has become a trend, with so many users sharing their day-to-day lives in their feeds. This is the benefit of technology, where the internet plays a significant role in sharing information. Also, for collecting customer reviews, social media proves to be an important source.

By looking at the list of followers of a product or brand, the researcher can get an idea about what the customers commonly desire. This will help in understanding the target audience for a specific product. Also, people who love using certain brands will use the names of the brands in their profiles. Regular searching of the brand names will help in knowing which type of customers are using the products. Several tools are also available that aid in getting better insights from third-party analytics.

3. Online tracking

If the business or the organization has an app of its own or its website, it can act as a source for a lot of customer data. Technology has provided a lot of tools that will help in the collection of customer data. Even if a customer visits a particular website, data points are generated. When this data is reviewed, it helps the user know how many viewers have viewed or accessed the website. Also, along with this, the information of what tabs were clicked by the viewers and for how long they browsed the website, everything gets stored. All this type of information can be gathered, and then the data can be analyzed through proper analytics software.

4. Marketing analytics

In businesses, marketing campaigns help promote any product developed by the company. It has been reported that even though marketing campaigns, a lot of information can be collected on any webpage, email, or anywhere on the internet. The information related to which customers or viewers clicked on the marketing ad can be collected from the software used for placing the ad. It also provides information related to the time the customer viewed the ad and what device they used.

5. Registration and subscription data

Whenever a customer signs up for an organization’s email list, it automatically shares information about itself. Then, some basic information from the customers can be gathered, which can be further used for sharing relevant information with them. 

data collection methods

Uses of Data Collection

Following are the reasons for which data collection is required:

  • Through the way of data collection, the organization will be able to understand its customers more clearly. Knowing the customers provides a benefit for the organization, as it will know the customers’ expectations. Therefore, it will be able to meet their needs and expectations. It won’t be possible otherwise, as knowing every customer as an individual is not feasible. Moreover, when the organization is too large, it becomes difficult to know every customer. Data collection provides a solution in this respect as it helps businesses know who their customers are.  
  • The collection of data and its analysis helps the company know if it is doing well or requires any improvement. Also, through data analytics, the company will know if it has the chance of expanding its business. For example, transactional data will help the company know which products are mostly sold and not sold. This will help in the development of more similar products or improving the most sold products. Sometimes the data collected will show if there are any complaints from any customers. This will help in focusing on the improvement for a satisfactory delivery.
  • Through the data collection and its analysis, future trends can be predicted. In turn, it will help the company prepare for future products beforehand. It is supposed while checking the data for websites that videos are watched more than the articles. In such cases, the company can focus on providing more content through videos rather than through articles.
  • Data collection enables the business to get a clear idea of the demands and expectations of the customers. Based on the customer data, personalized products can be developed that will meet the customer’s needs. Also, in some cases, specialized messages can be created for a target audience.

Uses of Data Collection

 

Collecting customer data is key to almost any marketing strategy. Without data, you are marketing blindly, simply hoping to reach your target audience. Many companies collect data digitally, but don’t know how to leverage what they have.

Data collection allows you to store and analyze important information about current and potential customers. Collecting this information can also save businesses money by creating a customer database for future marketing and retargeting efforts. A “wide net” is no longer necessary to reach potential consumers within the target audience. We can focus marketing efforts and invest in those with the highest probability of sale.

Unlike in-person data collection, digital data collection allows for much larger samples and improves data reliability. It costs less and is faster than in-person data, and eliminates any potential bias or human error from the data collected.

Want to create something great in AI ML? Let’s talk.

Put a request in our contact form and our team will connect with you soon.
Contact Us
24x7 (3) 1

24x7offshoring is the one-stop solution for multinational organizations all over the world, with experience in over 100 mediums to large scale projects across five continents.

Service

Resources

Company

Newsletter

Signup our newsletter to get update information, news or insight.
Facebook-f Linkedin-in Twitter Youtube Whatsapp Instagram
Copyright © 2021 Made with ♥ by Unovative