PROCEDURE FOR DATA COLLECTION:

The planning for research continues till a pilot study is conducted  to  see that the whole research design works. The next step is the stage of  implementation. Before we  actually act into the process of data collection,  it  is necessary to make a meticulous plan,  so that data collection process  is completed smoothly. By now the instrument is prepared  and it  is necessary  to  find  out  i) what data are to be  collected?  ii) From whom  are  the data  to be collected? iii) Who will collect  the data? iv) From where will  the data be collected? And  v) When is the data to be  collected? 

i)  What data are  to  be  collected 

At this stage  the  researcher  need  to  consult statistician  to make sure that the type  or  the form of data that  she gets would match data analysis plan. For  example, certain statistical test can only be done if the level of data  is interval or ratio.  In  this case the data has to be  intervallratio  level. 

ii)  From whom are the data to be collected? 

This  involves consideration on sample subjects. For example, who are  the study subjects? How  are  they selected? How many are they? That is, the researcher needs to list  the  criteria for selection of the sample. In  cities and cosmopolitan areas, institutions have established committees which review research proposals to assure the rights  of human subjects.  In fact one may call  it  th'e Committee  on Human Rights. And, some governments  will not sponsor research activities unless  and until the rights of subjects are shown  to be  protected. This degree of development has not reached many villages; however, all plans for conducting research should be  cleared with government and/or village authorities. Usually, a detailed project proposal is required indicating the nature  of  the study, the subjects involved, the kind of independent variable  or  treatment which will be introduced and by whom data would  be  collected. All activities, procedures, treatments,  and/or methods must be delineated  so that authorities can assess the study from a human  rights point  of view. This not only protects the villager, but protects the investigator as well.  

iii) Who will collect the data? 

One of the common questions asked is  "who will collect the  data'!"  The researcher  andor hislher  team  is solely responsible for collection  of  data.  If you  are going  to  collect data yourself,  it  is  important to  try  out  the procedure on a small sample on similar subjects. This  is  called pre-testing, and  is often carried out during a pilot phase of  research process. Pre-testing is a  step  in  the development of the instrument. Besides  its  function  in establishing reliability  of the tool,  it  also helps  the researcher in finding out whether the data collection procedure  is  feasible.