Mathematics
Methods of Data Collection
Methods of data collection in mathematics refer to the various techniques used to gather numerical or categorical information for analysis. Common methods include surveys, experiments, observations, and interviews. Each method has its own strengths and limitations, and the choice of method depends on the nature of the data and the research objectives.
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7 Key excerpts on "Methods of Data Collection"
- Aparna Raghvan(Author)
- 2020(Publication Date)
- Society Publishing(Publisher)
The collection of information is a very essential step in conducting research and can affect results significantly. Once the research query and sources of information are identified, proper methods of gathering the data are determined. Data collection consists of a broad range of extra specific techniques. Historically, tons of the gathering of data carried out in educational research depended on techniques developed for research in the discipline of psychology, a discipline which took what is known as quantitative approach. This involves the use of instruments, scales, tests, and structured observation and interview. By the mid to late twentieth century, other forms of disciplines such as anthropology and sociology began to have an impact on academic researchers. Forms of information collection broadened to encompass what is now known as qualitative methods, with a focus on narratives, participant perspectives, and much less structured monitoring and interviewing. As modern instructional researchers also come from fields such as business, political science, and medicine, collection of data in education has turned out to be a multidisciplinary phenomenon. Data evaluation is the procedure of evaluating data by utilizing the analytical and statistical tools to discover beneficial data and support in business decision making. There are numerous data analysis methods that may refer to data mining, text analytics, business intelligence, and data visualization. Data Collection, Analysis, Interpretation, and Utilization 215 Data Analysis is the procedure of systematically implementing statistical or logical methods to describe and illustrate, condense, and summarize, and evaluate data. The different analytic tactics offer a path of drawing inductive inferences from data and distinguishing the sign (the phenomenon of interest) from the noise (statistical fluctuations) present in the data, as stated by Shamoo and Resnik in 2003.
eBook - PDFResearch Methods and Statistics for Cros
Handbook for Multidisciplinary Research
- Ephraim Matanda(Author)
- 2022(Publication Date)
- Langaa RPCIG(Publisher)
Data collection is defined as the process of gathering and measuring information on variables of interest in research studies. This is an established systematic fashion that enables a researcher to answer queries, stated questions, test hypotheses and evaluate research outcomes. Depending on the discipline or field under consideration, the nature of the data being sought, and the objective or goal of users, the Methods of Data Collection will vary from one researcher to another. The approaches to application of the methods may also vary or be customized to suit the purpose and prevailing circumstances, without compromising the integrity, accuracy, validity and reliability of the data. Conclusion This chapter discussed instruments and methods used to collect data from the field. Data collection was defined as a means or process data are gathered and information measured on a set of targeted variables in an established system or research survey. It was underlined that data collection as a process, is meant to capacitate the researcher to answer relevant research questions and evaluate their possible outcomes. It was found that data collection is a central component of research in all fields of study including humanities, physical and social sciences, commercials and arts. The most common instruments used in data are the question documents that researchers prepare and distribute to draw data from respondents on the study at hand. Research methods, on the other 137 hand, may vary by discipline but are approaches or techniques used in sending out and collecting instruments back from respondents. These research methods are powerful in that they lay emphasis on ensuring that accurate and honest collections of data remain the same in practice. The major purpose for all data collection methods is to capture quality evidence that allows data presentation and analysis to lead to formulation of convincing and credible answers to all the questions asked.
eBook - PDF- Audrey Paterson, David Leung, Audrey Paterson, David Leung(Authors)
- 2016(Publication Date)
- Goodfellow Publishers(Publisher)
9 Quantitative Data Gathering Methods and Techniques Ahmed Salhin, Anthony Kyiu, Babak Taheri, Catherine Porter, Nikolaos Valantasis-Kanellos and Christian König Researchers are concerned with analysing and solving problems. These problems come in many forms, can have common features and often include numerical information. It is therefore important that researchers should be competent in the use of a range of quantitative methods. Data is required in order to perform quantitative analyses. This chapter focuses on methods of collecting quantitative data, sampling and measure-ment issues, surveys, collecting secondary data and experimental research. The nature of quantitative research According to our Methods Map (see Chapter 4 ), quantitative methods are part of an objective ontology and a positivist epistemology. Social science research is mainly influenced by the hypothetico-deductive paradigm (a research approach that starts with a theory about how things work and derives test-able hypotheses from it). According to Malhotra (2009), quantitative research aims at quantifying the collected data and employs some kinds of statistical analysis based on a representative sample. The following phrases are linked with quantitative methodology and are often used interchangeably: deductive approach, etic view, objective epistemology, structured approach, systematic approach, numerically based data collection, statistical analyses and replicable research design. 169 9 Quantitative Data Gathering Methods and Techniques In other words, quantitative studies have four main characteristics: 1 systematic/reconstructed logic and linear path (step-by-step straight line); 2 data which is hard in nature (e.g. numbers); 3 a reliance on positivist principles and an emphasis on measuring variables and testing hypotheses and 4 they usually verify or falsify a pre-existing relationship or hypothesis.
eBook - PDFWomen in the Informal Sector and Poverty Reduction in Morocco
The City of Fez as a Case Study
- Souad Belhorma(Author)
- 2019(Publication Date)
- Peter Lang Group(Publisher)
Data Collection Techniques Every fieldwork in the social sciences is about the use of specific techniques to collect data. These techniques are essential to get information about the population under investigation. In this respect, quantitative and qualita- tive methods are designed to count, compare, understand, interpret and 39 See Nancy L. Leech and Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie. ‘A typology of mixed methods research designs.’ Springer Science, Vol. 43 (2009): 265. See Creswell, Vicki and Clark, op. cit., 2–6; Bryman, op. cit., 603. 40 Babbie defines the term population as the group or collection that we are inter- ested in generalizing about. More formally, a population is the theoretical specified aggregation of study elements (2013: 134). Equiventaly, Neuman stated: ‘the large pool is the population, which has an important role in sampling […] to define the population, a researcher specifies the unit being sampled, the geographical location, and the temporal boundaries of populations’ (2006: 224). 41 Hanson, et al., as cited in Gray (2009: 204). 80 Chapter 2 give meaning of the findings based on the situation under investigation, taking into account various variables. It is for this reason that the present study includes two main research instruments. First, it is based on the use of interviews to get non-numerical data. Second, it focuses on the use of questionnaires to get statistical data. The following is a description of both data collection techniques. Interviewing is a technique that the researcher uses to collect in depth and comprehensive information about a particular research subject. The col- lection of data, which rely on interviews, includes mostly people’s attitudes, opinions, behaviors, motives, feelings and so forth. Typically, interviews deal with words and observations not numbers. This means that the interview is considered as a qualitative research method opposite to questionnaires by which information is quantifiable.
eBook - PDFSuccessful Dissertations
The Complete Guide for Education, Childhood and Early Childhood Studies Students
- Caron Carter(Author)
- 2018(Publication Date)
- Bloomsbury Academic(Publisher)
The overall aim of this chapter is to convey the essence of what is involved when using quantitative methods. The chapter begins by exploring the suitability of quantitative methods to an area of study. Variables, the mainstay of quantitative research, are discussed at length, in terms of how they are defined, categorized and measured. Quantitative data can be obtained in a number of ways, such as by asking questions (using questionnaires or interview schedules), observing and recording behaviour, and through reviewing existing documents. This chapter therefore outlines some of the key features of the more common methods used by undergraduate students, with reference to some of their strengths and limitations. The what, why and when of quantitative methods What are quantitative methods? Quantitative methods are used to gather factual or attitudinal information in numerical form. Therefore, they are used to ascertain how much, how many, how frequently and/or, to what extent something occurs or exists, be this a fact or an attitude. It is worth noting that quantitative data do not necessarily start off in numerical form; they can often take the form of words which researchers later translate, by means of applying numerical codes, into numbers. Quantitative research conceptualizes reality in terms of variables and the relationships between them and relies on numbers, counts and measurements in order that these relationships can be portrayed using tables, charts and graphs. Data is generated through asking questions and getting responses (self-report methods) or by observing and recording past (secondary) or present behaviour. Why and when is it appropriate to use quantitative methods? Students are often unsure as to whether quantitative, qualitative or a combination of both methods are called for, hence the inclusion here of some information that will hopefully aid this crucial decision.
eBook - PDF- Caroline J. Hollins Martin(Author)
- 2023(Publication Date)
- Wiley-Blackwell(Publisher)
135 Research Recipes for Midwives, First Edition. Caroline J. Hollins Martin. © 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Published 2024 by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. CHAPTER 7 Data Collection Methods 7.1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DATA Primary data is new and original data gathered directly by the researcher as part of following a research proposal. As such, primary data is collected firsthand by the researcher through their direct endeavours and for the purpose of answering their specified research question. As such, primary data is raw data gathered via specified methods, which may include collected physical samples, completed surveys, recorded observations, audiotaped interviews or focus groups, or analysed histor- ical records. In contrast, secondary data is secondhand material gathered from already published research papers, organizational records, reports, websites, meeting minutes, letters, case notes, etc. Often the midwifery researcher will carry out secondary data analysis in the form of a literature review (see Chapter 3). To view a summary of differences between primary and secondary data, see Table 7.1). We will now move on and discuss types of data collection tools, but first, we will define this term. The phrase ‘data collection tools’ refers to the instruments the researcher uses to gather data for their study, which may include paper or online questionnaire(s), gathering specimens, interviews, or focus groups. 7.2 DATA COLLECTION METHODS AND TOOLS Data are a compilation of information, evidence, or facts from which the researcher draws conclusions. In relation to the two research approaches (see Chapter 2), data collected can be quantitative (deductive and numeric in form) or qualitative (inductive and involve individualized discussion with participants to induce many themes). Whatever approach you take, the data collection tools you select are implemented for the purpose of gathering data that will provide evidence to answer the research question(s).
eBook - PDFEvaluation Research
An Introduction to Principles, Methods and Practice
- Alan Clarke(Author)
- 1999(Publication Date)
- SAGE Publications Ltd(Publisher)
The pre-determined nature of the response categories affords respondents lit tle opportuni ty to express their individual feelings. In contrast, informal interviews or open-ended questionnaire items provide scope for indi-viduals to respond in their own terms, thus producing a wealth of unstructured data. The primary purpose in selecting a method or research technique is to gather data that will help to provide answers to the evaluation questions formulated during the conceptualization stage in the evaluation process. However, the evaluator would do well not only to bear in mind the fallibility of all evaluative methods but also to pay attention to the circumstances in which data are generated and gathered. With regard to the latter point, it needs to be acknowledged that data are the product of the procedures applied in their collection. It follows from this that data are only understandable with in the context of these procedures, which are themselves determined by the purposes of the evaluation. Con-sequently, it is important that both evaluation practitioners and users of evaluation findi ngs have a clear ins ight into the characteristic features of the various data collection techniques available. Methods of collecting data It is rare to find an evaluation study based on only one method of data collection. Normally a range of techniques form the core of an overall research strategy, thus ensuring that the informat ion acquired has the depth and detail necessary to enable the evaluator to produce a report from which conclusions can be drawn with a certain degree of con-fidence. The methods described below are some of the ones most commonly used in process and outcome evaluations. As previously stated, the purpose of this chapter is not to provide a full-b lown critique of these data collection techniques, but merely to identify some of their 68 Evaluation Research salient features and raise some issues surrounding their selection and application.
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