NUR 80A/B Chapter : Fall Week 9 - Data Collection Methods
13 Dec 2011
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Document Summary
The concepts in which researchers are interested must be measured, observed, or recorded. Without appropriate data collection methods, validity of research findings can be questioned. The data examined can be existing or new. If existing data are unavailable or unsuitable for a research question, researchers must collect new data. Self-reports are participants" responses to questions posed by the researcher, as in an interview. It is the data collection method of choice in qualitative research. Direct observation of people"s behaviours or characteristics is an alternative to self-reports for certain research questions. It is also often a part of many qualitative studies. Nurses also use biophysiologic measures to assess important clinical variables. In qualitative studies, data collection may vary according to the qualitative tradition: Primarily participant observation and interviews, plus documents, artefacts, maps, photographs, social network diagrams, genealogies. Primarily in-depth interviews, sometimes diaries, artwork or other materials. Primarily individual interviews, sometimes group interviews, participant observations, journals.
