DATA COLLECTIONDATA COLLECTION

PURPOSE & TECHNIQUEPURPOSE & TECHNIQUE

WHY DO WE COLLECT DATA?WHY DO WE COLLECT DATA?

monitor progress get information evaluate performance effectively use of resources identify gaps between knowledge

and practice evaluate impact of a program decision making utilise in planning

Commonly Used Data CollectionCommonly Used Data Collection

ProceduresProcedures•experimentsurvey

Census & inter census projectionsIn-depth or detailed sample surveyQuick count or rapid survey

observational factsinterviewsfocus group discussion

Steps in Data CollectionSteps in Data Collection

Identification of the objective listing of targeted populationtime framedata collection instrumentmethod of data collectionselection of proper sampling design

Internal validityExternal validity

organisation - selection, responsibilities and training of staff

precodingpre-testingfield survey launching

Survey QuestionnaireSurvey Questionnaire

Careful consideration should be given to the following:

Type of question structure open endedclosed ended

Phrasing and wording of questionsLay-out of the questionAids to the respondentAids and instructions to the interviewer

Starting the QuestionnaireStarting the Questionnaire

Step 1: Write most important aims of the study

Step 2: List of information, relevant to step 1

Step 3: main sections

Step 4: questions which can be asked of the respondent

Step 5: revise step 4 against 1

Step 6: all information is recorded

Starting the QuestionnaireStarting the Questionnaire

Step 7: check if every question is

clear and unambiguoussimple and shorta reasonable question to askto be an open or closed questioncodedscales

Step 8: interview does not take too long

Phrasing and Wording of QuestionsPhrasing and Wording of Questions

clarity - ask short, specific questionssimplicity-use simple everyday wordsask one question at a timedouble barrelled questions-avoid multiple

or compound questionstime frameneutrality

Questionnaire Lay OutQuestionnaire Lay Out

easy to useguidance and reminders to the interviewerprevent confusioninstructions should not be overlookedeasy interpretation of answers

Question Sequence-respondent MustQuestion Sequence-respondent Must

understandmotivatedinterest maintainedenjoy the interview

Prepare Interviewer InstructionsPrepare Interviewer Instructions

explain carefullyexplain how to use the questionnaire

during an interviewserve as a reference

Data ManagementData Management

questionnaire identification numberquestionnaire editingdevelopment of coding sheet development of code bookmethods of data management

hand tallyinghand sortinguse of computers

FEW SIMPLE BUT IMPORTANT RULESFEW SIMPLE BUT IMPORTANT RULES WHILE PREPARING A QUESTIONNAIREWHILE PREPARING A QUESTIONNAIRE

Every questionnaire must include information onname of village/name of family or person intervieweddate of interviewidentification is usually put at the beginning of the questionnaire

Questions must be short, simple and easily understoodOnly important questions should be askedStart the questionnaire with questions that are easy to

answer and which deal with very familiar mattersLeave plenty of space for the interviewer to write down

the answers and to make notes of anything interesting s/he sees. If writing space is short then the handwriting

will become cramped and very difficult to read