Generally there are three types of data collection and they are
- Surveys: Standardized paper-and-pencil or phone questionnaires that ask predetermined questions.
- Interviews: Structured or unstructured one-on-one directed conversations with key individuals or leaders in a community.
- Focus groups: Structured interviews with small groups of like individuals using standardized questions, follow-up questions, and exploration of other topics that arise to better understand participants
Consequences from improperly collected data include:
- Inability to answer research questions accurately.
- Inability to repeat and validate the study.
The main data collection methods are:
- Registration: registers and licences are particularly valuable for complete enumeration, but are limited to variables that change slowly, such as numbers of fishing vessels and their characteristics.
- Questionnaires: forms which are completed and returned by respondents. An inexpensive method that is useful where literacy rates are high and respondents are co-operative.
- Interviews: forms which are completed through an interview with the respondent. More expensive than questionnaires, but they are better for more complex questions, low literacy or less co-operation.
- Direct observations: making direct measurements is the most accurate method for many variables, such as catch, but is often expensive. Many methods, such as observer programmes, are limited to industrial fisheries.
- Reporting: the main alternative to making direct measurements is to require fishers and others to report their activities. Reporting requires literacy and co-operation, but can be backed up by a legal requirement and direct measurements.
When deciding which data-collection method/s and instrument/s to use consider the following:
- Availability of resources for data-collection. Consider the resources budgeted to the evaluation when determining data-collection. These resources include not only the fiscal amount budgeted to evaluation, but also the availability of staff time. If sufficient resources have not previously been budgeted, additional resources may need to be requested.
- Sensitivity to the respondents/participants of the project. Consider the different backgrounds of various stakeholders. Large numbers of non-English speakers participating in the project, for example, might necessitate data-collection tools translated into other languages.
- When determining data-collection methods consider whether one form or instrument is more or less credible than the others. Is the measure reliable? Using more than one measure can increase credibility.
Importance of the information. Consider the cost and difficulty involved in collecting information and what is most important to various stakeholders.”
