There’s more than just one way to collect data, so here’s the rundown of the various data collection methods for you.
Surveys and questionnaires
Planned surveys or questionnaires are incredibly useful ways to collect specific data, as you are able to ask direct questions and record answers relevant to those queries. Respondents will either complete the form with open-ended entries or they will be asked to select a rating, tick some boxes or choose from a selection of multiple-choice answers.
How do you then analyse the data? Consult a data collection company that will be able to extract what you need from the data collected!
Interviews
Interviews allow for pre-prepared questions to be asked, but because an interview is structured like a conversation with one person asking questions and the other answering them, the interviewer may feed off responses and ask follow-up questions. As such, interviews are more customisable as the questions are asked in real-time – this also makes them more expensive to carry out. The key is for the interviewer to know all the right questions to ask, to collect valuable data clearly and concisely.
Direct observation
Direct observation means that data is directly collected with no questions asked. For instance, an observer may collect data using notes through an observational role. It’s typically used to analyse things like the efficiency of operations and other such non-quantitative data.
Existing documents or records
Data collection can, in fact, be carried out using research that has already been recorded, perhaps for a different purpose altogether. For example, a data collection company may help you discover a considerable amount of valid points to observe from old documents thought to have no value. This is an inexpensive way of collecting data as the data is already there.
Focus Groups
Last but not least, focus groups are helpful in collecting a wide range of open-ended results. Rather than being offered from an individual’s point of view, answers take on a broader voice and are more about the shared experience than one person’s opinion.
