Lesson 36: Data Gathering Procedure 

This phase of research undertaking is done in a systematic and logical manner while research ethical considerations are always ensured. 

Ethical Considerations in the Conduct of Data Collection 

Prior to the actual procedure of data collection with the most preferred research instrument, the researcher must bear on his/her mind the important considerations in conducting such activity. Here, engagement with the participants must be ensured to be moral and right. Fouka and Mantzorou (n.d.) as cited from Health Science Journal present the ethical considerations in data collection. The following are as follows: 

1. Informed consent. Providing a consent letter informing the target participants is necessary to be done by the researcher. The said letter or form should primarily state the objective of the study justifying their need for participation. Their roles, responsibilities, and rights should also be clearly discussed (e.g., the involvement of the participants is solely voluntary, and they have the right to withdraw from the activity without coercion). 

2. Beneficence – do not harm. The data collection procedure should not bring any harm with the participants. The researcher should avoid decisions and actions that may cause harms such as physical, emotional, and the like to the participants (e.g., the researcher should be sensitive enough with the place, time, and even the manner the data will be collected to the participants). In addition, it is also to note that the researcher should inform the participants of the possible risk and harm prior to the process of data collection. 

3. Respect for anonymity and confidentiality. Securing the safety of the obtained information, data, and even the identity of the participants should always be considered by the researcher. Here, the participants should be informed that all the data they will provide are secured and safe and will only be used for the study purposes. Securing the anonymity of the participants is done by not collecting personal and identifying information to the participants. Thus, they are not fully known by others, even the researcher himself/herself. On the contrary, confidentiality is secured by means of obtaining data and personal information to the participants with some sorts of modification (e.g., the names of the participants are not identified by others except the researcher through modifying them into pseudonyms). 

4. Respect for privacy. One of the prerogatives of the participants is to have freedom of what information they want to provide to the researcher. Hence, it is important to consider that the researcher should not coerce the participants to provide his desired responses or data. In addition, the researcher should also be considerate in collecting the data to the participants. Here, the data should be collected in the most convenient time and most comfortable place for the participants. Finally, the collected data should be secured and be kept in a locked location where other people have no access to it. 

5. Vulnerable group of people. Some researches require other groups of people who are considered vulnerable as the provider of data. However, these groups which may pertain to children, minor students, aged people, people with disabilities and the like cannot protect themselves and are also at risk of being deceived and forced to participate in the study. Therefore, the researcher should seek permission to the parent or guardian of the target participant (e.g., parent consent form is sent to inform and seek permission to let the student/child be a participant of the study). 

Procedure of Data Collection 

After the researcher determined the research instrument that he/she would utilize in the study, planning of data collection procedure should be then followed. Here, phases such as pre-data gathering, data gathering, and post-data gathering serve as patterns for the researcher to collect the needed data efficiently. 

1. Pre-data Gathering. This phase is also termed as “preliminary data gathering” wherein the researcher solicits necessary data in order to determine if the study can really be pursued. Here, the researcher conducts pre-interview with the possible sources of data and the target participants of the study. It is to note that before conducting the actual data collection, the researcher must ensure that participants are available, and the needed data can be obtained. 

2. Data Gathering. This phase pertains to the actual procedure of data collection. Here, the researcher has already known his/her participants. Hence, securing their participation through a consent form has already been made. Similarly, administering the instrument is done in the most convenient time and most comfortable place for the participants to provide the data needed for the study. 

3. Post-data Gathering. This phase is conducted after the data have been already collected and transcribed. Here, the researcher will present the transcribed data to the participants in order to check the accuracy of the collected and transcribed data. In addition, the researcher may also perform some follow-up activities such as informal interviews to clarify some unclear information as well as to ensure the rigor of the possible results of the study. 

Data Analysis 

Once the researcher has collected the needed data from the sources or participants, he/she then performs data analysis. The procedure of data analysis plays an important role so that the researcher can come up with the accurate findings of a study. 

Transcribing, Coding, and Drawing Themes from Data 

As cited by Cristobal and Cristobal (2017) from their book titled, “Practical Research 1 for Senior High School,” qualitative data analysis aims to identify, examine, and interpret patterns and themes in textual data. Hence, the researcher should consider procedures that will help him/her attain the purpose of analysis. The said data analysis procedure pertains to the following: 

1. Transcribing. The first step the researcher should do once he/she has obtained data is to transcribe them. Data transcription aims to create an organized textbased version of data gathered from interview, observation, and other types of qualitative research tools (e.g., the researcher creates a text version of an audio recording of the interview conducted). Moreover, data transcription enables the researcher to immerse into the data he/she collected. This further helps him/her to sort and organize data for easy understanding and analysis. 

2. Coding. The next step the researcher should perform after transcribing the data is to code them. Coding aims to categorize the data by creating smaller groupings for easy analysis of the transcribed data. The formulated codes can be a word or phrase that are used by the researcher to describe the meaning and context of the data. These can be further created using either the prior knowledge of the researcher as a result of reviewed literature or the observed apparent codes of the researcher as he/she reviews the actual data. In addition, the researcher may employ either manual or automated coding. 

3. Drawing themes. The final step of data analysis deals with drawing of themes based on the transcribed and coded data. Here, the researcher may utilize different qualitative analyses such as the commonly used content and thematic analysis. 

Ensuring Trustworthiness of Data 

After the researcher takes the data analysis procedure, he/she then will ensure that the result of the said procedure provides trustworthy data and results. Unlike quantitative research that employs validity and reliability tests, qualitative research establishes the rigor of data by considering Lincoln and Guba’s (1985) Trustworthiness Criteria. These include the following: 

1. Credibility. It pertains to the confidence in the truth value of the data and their corresponding interpretations. One way to ensure the credibility of data is by conducting peer debriefing with other researchers and experts who can substantiate the study. Likewise, member checking with the sources or participants of data is done to confirm the accuracy of data. 

2. Transferability. It means that the findings revealed from the data can be applied in other settings and groups. To establish transferability, the researcher should present a thick description of scope and delimitation, method and technique, and participants and setting of the study that will justify how he/she arrived at the findings presented in the study. 

3. Dependability. It suggests that the findings should be consistent. The researcher can ensure dependability by adopting relevant theories, literature, and studies which should be cited in the current study. Such an action can prove that the findings of the researcher are consistent with the claims of existing theories and with other available research literature and studies. 

4. Confirmability. It implies that the data and the findings of the study should be neutral and objective. This can be established by the researcher through securing documents and records such as raw data and field notes that will justify the findings of the study. These data-evidence can be presented in the appendix part of the research manuscript for confirmation purposes.