Week 6 Post 1

More research for Assignment 3 - Googled "data collection techniques"

The International Development Research Centre website was the first one on the Google list. It reviewed similar methods as did the assigned class reading. This particular page went over the following types of data collection:

• Using available information
• Observing
• Interviewing (face-to-face)
• Administering written questionnaires
• Focus group discussions
• Projective techniques, mapping, scaling

I am glad to see the first one - using available information. I sometimes forget that in all probability, someone has already researched and solved a problem that I may be wanting to solve. It may only take a short survey to assess a prior solution's application to my environment. I would definitely recommend this site to anyone wanting in-depth explanations of data collection techniques. There are also specific applications to detailed research projects. I was also glad to find this site as it gave me a specific example I needed (and had been searching for) for IT 580.

The second site I reviewed from my Google list was full of useful information but the page was not labeled with any identifying information. The information provided here was similar to the Toolbox articles.

The third site on my Google list was from a research class at the University of Wisconsin. Again, the information presented on this page was similar to the Toolbox article and the previous webpages.

Thinking I should try one more site I clicked on link #4. This one listed services for a company called technometrica. They also provided the standard menu of services that one would expect: telephone interviews, focus groups, and surveys submitted in a variety of ways (electronic, mail, conference, etc.) This site had very little content applicable to my needs.

After four tries, I am confident that the information I read in the Toolbox articles is complete and adequate for my understanding of data collection methods.

http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-56606-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html
http://brent.tvu.ac.uk/dissguide/hm1u3/hm1u3text3.htm
http://people.uwec.edu/piercech/ResearchMethods/Data%20collection%20methods/DATA%20COLLECTION%20METHODS.htm
http://www.technometrica.com/collect.htm