THE PROCESS OF DATA GATHERING

Things to Consider in Data Gathering

Data Collection Techniques
REVIEW OF THE ETHICS IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH
Ethical Principles Based on the Belmont Report:
1. Respect for persons
- Treatment of people as autonomous individuals, capable of making
informed decisions when provided the information to do so
- Recognition of diminished autonomy for some due to age or disability
2. Beneficence
- Rules:
a. Do no harm.
b. Maximize benefits while minimizing risks.
3. Justice
- Implies that it is unfair to expect one group to take the majority of the risk
when a different group will likely realize the benefit
NASW Ethical Guidelines for Research and Evaluation
1. Social workers should monitor and evaluate policies, the implementation of
programs and practice interventions.
2. Social workers should promote and facilitate evaluation and research to
contribute to the development of knowledge.
3. Social workers should critically examine and keep current with emerging
knowledge relevant to social work and fully use evaluation and research
evidence in their professional practice.
4. Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should carefully consider
possible consequences and should follow guidelines developed for the
protection of evaluation and research participants. Appropriate institutional
review boards should be consulted.
5. Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should obtain voluntary and
written informed consent from participants, when appropriate, without any
implied or actual deprivation or penalty for refusal to participate; without
undue inducement to participate; and with due regard for participants wellbeing, privacy and dignity. Informed consent should include information about
the nature, extent and duration of the participation requested and disclosure
of the risks and benefits of participation in the research.
6. When evaluation or research participants are incapable of giving informed
consent, social workers should provide an appropriate explanation to the
participants, obtain the participants assent to the extent they are able, and
obtain written consent from an appropriate proxy.
7. Social workers should never design or conduct evaluation or research that
does not use consent procedures, such as certain forms of naturalistic
observation and archival research, unless rigorous and responsible review of
the research has found it to be justified because of its prospective scientific,
educational or applied value and unless equally effective alternative
procedures that do not involve waiver of consent are not feasible.
8. Social workers should inform participants of their right to withdraw from
evaluation and research at any time without penalty.
9. Social workers should take appropriate steps to ensure that participants in
evaluation and research have access to appropriate supportive services.
10.Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should protect participants
from unwarranted physical or mental distress, harm, danger or deprivation.
11.Social workers engaged in the evaluation of services should discuss collected
information only for professional purposes and only with people professionally
concerned with this information.
12.Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should ensure the
anonymity or confidentiality of participants and of the data obtained from
them. Social workers should inform participants of any limits of

confidentiality, the measures that will be taken to ensure confidentiality, and

when any records containing research data will be destroyed.
13.Social workers who report evaluation and research results should protect
participants confidentiality by omitting identifying information unless proper
consent has been obtained authorizing disclosure.
14.Social workers should report evaluation and research findings accurately.
They should not fabricate or falsify results and should take steps to correct
any error later found in published data using standard publication methods.
15.Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should be alert to and avoid
conflicts of interest and dual relationships with participants, should inform
participants when a real or potential conflict of interest arises, and should
take steps to resolve the issue in a manner that makes participants interests
primary.
16.Social workers should educate themselves, their students and their
colleagues about responsible research practices.
Informed Consent
= implies the potential participants full understanding of the following:
a. Purpose of the research
b. The auspices, that is, who is funding and conducting the research
c. Risks and benefits that may occur as a result of the research
d. Services that will be provided, such as transportation, food, child care, and
incentives to participate
e. Procedures in place to deal with any risks that may occur, for instance,
emotional distress that may arise as a result of the subject matter
f. The nature of the participation, including what is expected, when and where
g. How and when the information will be recorded, stored and destroyed
h. Who will have access to the information
i. How the information will be published and used, including procedures to
protect the identity of participants
Assent
= for those who are unable to legally or reasonably provide informed consent and
instead sign an assent form stating that they are aware that their parent/guardian
has consented to their participation and that they voluntarily agree to participate
Privacy
= not revealing identifying information (names, addresses, demographic
characteristics like race or ethnicity, age, position or title, membership in
organizations, details of an event)
Incentives
= small incentives like stipend or gift certificate to cover costs of transportation to
the research site or for compensation for their time
= may be considered coercion when the value is such that people would not
ordinarily participate in a study feel that they should because they need the
incentive
Confidentiality
= not to reveal identifying information the participant has provided
Anonymity
= not to record a participants name or other identifying information like addresses

DATA COLLECTION
= marks the beginning of the implementation phase of the study

Objectives Involved in Data Collection Tasks

1. Minimize error
2. Maximize response rate

SELECTING A DATA COLLECTION METHOD

**Mail Surveys
Respondent Characteristics

Survey Questions and Presentation

Resource Requirements

Skill Requirements

Examples of Target Groups

**Telephone Surveys
Respondent Characteristics

Highly literate adult respondents

with mailing addresses
Motivated to respond thoroughly
with attention to detail
Suited
to
covering
large
geographic areas
Closed-ended questions that are
simple
and
require
no
explanation, piloted on a similar
population
Attention to formatting and
wording required
Questionnaire short to moderate
in length to minimize response
burden
and
encourage
motivation
Accurate and complete mailing
list
Incentives
provided
in
anticipation of response can
improve
response
rates.
Incentives are most commonly
used when the survey is targeted
to
the
general
public
or
consumers of a service.
Cost of printing and mailing the
questionnaire,
follow-up
requests, and return postage.
Design of the questionnaire.
Implementation
of
follow-up,
including design of the follow-up,
number
of
mailings,
and
response cards.
Alumni of a university, staff of
organizations, consumers of a
service, professionals

Any level of literacy, youth and

adult.
Must
be
able
to
concentrate and maintain focus.
Must have access to a telephone
and be able to hear well and
communicate orally.
Initial motivation to respond need
not be as high as in a mail

Survey Questions and Presentation

Resource Requirements

Skill Requirements

Examples of Target Groups

**In-Person Surveys
Respondent Characteristics

survey.
The researcher cannot provide
immediate incentives.
Suitable for large geographic
areas.
Suitable for simple closed-ended
(not
too
many
response
categories to choose from),
partially closed, and open-ended
questions.
The researcher can use prompts
and clarification.
Skip patterns can be used.
Less attention to formatting,
design, and quality of paper.
Can
be
administered
electronically
without
paper
copies.
Length of the survey will depend
on the characteristics of the
population surveyed.
Surveys can be longer than those
administered by mail.
Telephone costs if long-distance
calling involved.
Possibly data collection staff,
training for data collectors.
The researcher must have access
to telephone numbers or be able
to generate telephone numbers.
Possible supervision and support
for data collection staff.
Excellent
verbal
interviewing
skills.
Ability
to
record
answers
accurately and quickly.
Alumni of a university, staff of
organizations, consumers of a
service, professionals, youth,
general public

Appropriate when literacy and

motivation are questionable. If
incentives are important to
motivate participation, they can
be provided immediately.
Suitable for all age groups.
Accommodates disabilities such
as hearing and concentration as
well as some physical disabilities
that would prevent writing or
talking on the phone.
Allows the greatest control over
who answers the questions and
control over the administration of
the survey, including question
order and recording purposes.

Survey Questions and Presentation

Resource Requirements

Skill Requirements

Examples of Target Groups

**Internet Surveys
Respondent Characteristics

Survey Questions and Presentation

Resource Requirements

Most feasible with small sample

sizes and when respondents are
located in a relatively small
geographic area.
Appropriate
for
close-ended,
partially closed, and open-ended
questions.
Appropriate for long surveys;
response burdens not as much of
a concern as with the other
methods.
The ability to use visual aids
allows for the inclusion of
complex questions.
Can
include
observational
questions.
Appropriate for asking sensitive
information.
Formatting and presentation not
as
important,
unless
the
participant will be given a copy of
the interview schedule.
Transportation.
Training, paying and supervising
data collection staff.
Incentives, if applicable.
Formatting
and
printing
of
questionnaires.
Excellent interviewing skills and
attending behavior; attention to
speed and accuracy in recording
data.
Appearance and attire are added
considerations and must be
appropriate
for
the
target
population.
Attention
to
safety
while
interviewing.
Incarcerated
populations,
homeless individuals, children
and youth, elderly and disabled,
parents of preschool children

Professionals
in
businesses,
organizations and government
departments where computer
use is expected and access is
assured.
Inability to provide advance
incentives
to
increase
motivation.
Closed-ended
questions,
attention to formatting and
wording.
Short to moderate in length to
minimize response burden.
Web survey design requires
specialized knowledge and time

Skill Requirements
Examples of Target Groups

spent in development, but once

developed, both web and email
surveys are low cost.
Design of the survey.
Implementation and follow-up.
Staff of organizations, agencies,
government departments and
universities,
members
of
professional organizations.