Research Method

Types of Instruments

Data Collection Instruments:

There are various instruments available which yield a wide variety of data for a wide variety of purposes. Selection of an instrument for a particular research involves identification and selection of the most appropriate one from among alternatives.

These are instruments that are used to collect data from participants of the study. They are important for collecting data in all types of research methods. They are mainly used by researchers to collect reliable data which will later be analyzed (Aina, 2004). They include questionnaire, interviews, observations, focus group discussion and experiment. Each of the instruments shall be discussed in turn and also point out their merits and demerits.

1    Questionnaire:

The questionnaire is the commonly used instrument for collecting research data from the participants of a study. “It basically seeks the opinions of individuals in a sample or a population on issues directly related to the objectives of the research study” (Aina, 2004:348). The questionnaire consists of a set of structured and unstructured questions designed by researchers to obtain data from the respondents. No research is better than its questionnaire and a faulty questionnaire means faulty research.

Hence, a questionnaire designed must be valid, reliable and must not be bogus so that the data collected can validate the research. Questionnaire has many advantages which include anonymity of the respondents is guaranteed; it facilitates the collection of large amounts of data in a relatively short period and it is cheap to administer. The major demerit of the method is that some confusing and misleading questions cannot be clarified as the researcher may not be there to explain the questions, and also, sometimes, the questions may not be easily comprehensible to individuals who are illiterate, thus, the method is restricted only to educated    respondents.

Types of Questionnaire:

1)      Closed Form:

The questions that calls for short, clock mark responses are known as the restricted or closed type part is easy to fill out, takes less time and is fairly easy to tabut6te and analyze, It is y  more acceptable and convenient for the responsibilities.

2)      Close Form:

It calls for a free response the respondents own words. The respondent frames and supplies his, own response. It is difficult to interpret, tabulate and summarize.

Advantages:

Moreover, the characteristics of a good questionnaire according to Popoola (2011) consist of:

·                     Questions must be easily understood.

·                     Questions should be capable of having a precise answer.

·                     Questions must not contain words of vague meaning.

·                     Questions should not require rigorous calculations.

·                     Questions should not require the respondent to decide upon classification.

·                     Questions must not be in such a form that the answers will be biased.

·                     The questionnaire should not be too long.

·                     It should not be too wordy.

·                     The questionnaire should cover the exact object of the inquiry.

Limitation:

·         The mailed questionnaires have low response rates.

·         If the response rate of mailed questionnaires is less than 40%, the data obtained are of limited validity.

·         The behaviours, gestures, emotions and reactions remain unnoticed.

·         The questionnaire has no potential to motivate the subjects to respond on a specific issue whereas in interview, interviewer can motivate the subjects.

·         It is impossible to put down certain delicate issues in writing.

2.      Interview:

Interview is a measurement instrument otherwise known as oral questionnaire. It involves a process where a researcher solicits information from respondents through verbal interaction. A researcher would have previously prepared a schedule list of structured questions pertinent to the study before meeting respondents for their opinions on a subject matter.Interview is a technique of collecting information orally forms. Others in a face to face situation.. The interviewer asks a series of open- ended probing 'questions. People are more willing to talk than Write. It can produce in depth data which is not possible with a questionnaire, although it is expensive and time consuming.

Types of Interview:

There are many types of interviews. These types are as under:

1.      Individual Interview:

It is an interview conducted with one person at a time. The subject feel free to express himself fully and truth fully.

2.      Group Interview:

It is an interview conducted with many persons at a time. They can help one another recall, verify or rectify. They can present wide range of information and varied view points.

3.      Single Interview:

When interview held by one interviewer it is single interview.

4.      Panel Interview:

When interview is conducted by many interviewers, it is panel interview. This panel may consist of various experts related to different fields e.g.; subject specialists, administrator, psychologist, social worker etc.

5.      Structured Interview

In structured interview pre-planned questions are asked in a specific sequence. The interviewer follows the rigid order. There is no flexibility of asking new or situation oriented questions.

6.      Unstructured Interview:

The Unstructured interview is informal. The questions being asked are not planned. The interviewer asks questions according to the situation. Unstructured interviews are flexible•

7.      Non-directive Interviews:

It is in-depth interview in which interviewer Peron it’s subject to talk free to take insight into nature of is used to take insight into hidden motives. Attitude so, Motives, feelings and beliefs. It is Psychoanalytical in nature'

8.      Focused Interview:

In focused interview, the respondent is allowed to express 'himself completely but the interviewer directs the line of thought. It focuses attention on specific experiences: It confines the conversation to the relevant issues.

Advantages of Interview:

·         The percentage of response is likely to be much higher than in case of questionnaire.

·         It permits greater depth and provides a true picture of opinions and feelings.

·         The interview is more flexible than questionnaire. The interviewer can elaborate and clarify the questions when the respondent is unable to understand.

·         Establishment of Rapport.

·         The interview permits establishment of greater rapport and stimulates respondent to give compete and valid answer. By establishing rapport, interviewer can get delicate and confidential information.

·         The interviewer can give assurance that the facts will be kept confidential and will be used properly.

Limitations:

·         Interview is comparatively a costly affair. The cost per interview is higher than any technique used to collect data.

·         A busy person may, prefer to fill out a questionnaire at convenient time rather than submit to along interview.

·         A large no of trained field workers are required to take interview which entails a lot of expenditures.

·         The data obtained from interview is difficult to record. Writing during interview affect rapport and recording affect conduct of interview. Writing after interview leads toward unconscious selection of the material.

·         Interview does not suit infants, sky people, and deaf peoples.

3.      Observation:

Observation is more natural way of assessing children. 0bservation seeks to ascertain what children think and do by watching them in action as they express themselves in various situations and activities.This is an instrument that is employed by a researcher in which an individual behavior or situation is observed and recorded. There are two types of observation

1.      Non-Participant Observation:

 In non-participant observation, the researcher is not directly involved in the situation to be observed.

2.      Participant Observation

In participant observation, the researcher is directly involved in a situation to be observed.

However, Akinade & Owolabi (2009) assert that observation method is popular tool in research especially in behavioural and social sciences; the authors argue that it requires special skills to make and assess behavioural observation in research. The authors further reiterated that researchers may observe the following guidelines when developing observation method:

·         “Clearly define the goal of the instrument;

·         Carry out preliminary observations of your subjects under the conditions that will prevail in the course of the study with the aim of identifying behaviours exhibited by the subjects; and

·         Construct a complete list of the identified behavior. Also, behavioural categories can also be developed through literature search. These will provide opportunity to determine whether a similar study had previously been conducted. The result of such similar study may be adopted or adapted in the present study” (Akinade & Owolabi, 2009:97).

·                     Focus Group Discussion:

This data collection instrument refers to a process whereby researchers obtain data from large group of people at the same time. This method is different from interview method; in an interview method, researcher focuses on one person at a time but in a focus group discussion method, the researcher obtains data from large number (group) of people for his research activity. Focus group discussion method is very popular when carrying out research in the field of behavioural science, library and information science, archival science, records and information technology. It could be noted here that a need may arise for a researcher to use more than 2 or 3 approaches to obtain data for his research activity.

However, in focus group discussion; a researcher identifies key informants that may be contacted to elicit the deserved information on the variable(s) of interest in a study. It is very important to note that in evaluator study or when accessing the performance of a system or a project or when working at a policy and its impact on a particular operation in a society or organization; focus group discussion method could employed. The approach is used to generate qualitative data in explaining a phenomenon under study or investigation. Membership of the focus group discussion should not exceed 10 members at a time.

It is like a mini conference where members of a group could be assembled in a conducive location. Before now, it is needful for the researcher to have obtained their consent to take part in the         study. Besides, the researcher must design a focus group discussion guide. The guide must contain outlines that capture variables of interest in the study. For example, in a study like: “Customers’ satisfaction with information services or products of Babcock university library”. The following guidelines may be prepared by the researcher:

·                     Nature of the library services

·                     Nature of the products

·                     Level of satisfaction of the users

·                     Quality of the users, etc.

The following materials are needed for this method of data collection:

·                     Research assistants

·                     Video recorder and cassette

·                     Biro and paper;

·                     Tape recorder and cassette, and

·                     Light refreshment to entertain the participants.

Advantages:

·         Observation as a research data-gathering process demand rigorous adherence to the spirit of scientific inquiry.

·         Observation is carefully planned, systematic, and perceptive.

·         Observers are aware of the wholeness of what is observed.

·         Observers are objective. They recognize their likely biases.

·         Observers separate the facts from the interpretation of the facts.

Limitations:

·         There is a great chance for personal prejudices and bias of the observer.

·         As observation is recorded after some time of occurrence of events so records written may not be 100% accurate.

·         Observation is self interfering. The act of observing produces distortion of the phenomenon.

·         Lack of competency of observer may hamper validity and reliability of observation.

·         The people being observed become Conscious and begin to behave in an unnatural manner. The situation does not remain real and natural.

·         It is a- costly affair. It involves expenses on travelling, staying and purchasing of sophisticated equipment.

3.      Experiment:

This type of data collection instrument takes place in pure and applied science research. Here the researchers carry out some experiments in the laboratory setting in order to test some reactions that may take place in the object of research. The advantages of this method is that it produces immediate result, its results are viable and error free if it is well carry out under normal condition/circumstances. While, its problems include: it is too costly to undertake and those chemicals used may cause permanent damage to the researcher if they are          carelessly         handled.
Classification of Research Based on Data Collection Instruments

S/N Types of Research Data Collection Instruments 1. Applied Questionnaire, Interview and observation. 2. Survey Questionnaire, focus group discussion, interview and observation. 3. Case study Questionnaire, interview, focus group discussion and observation. 4. Ethnographic e.g. co relational research Observation, questionnaire, focus group discussion and interview 5. Historical Observation, focus group discussion and interview 6. Evaluation Focus group discussion, interview and observation 7. Pure science Experiment and observation 8. Action Questionnaire and interview 9. Longitudinal Questionnaire, observation, focuses group discussion, interview and experiment in case of pure science research. 10. Exploratory Questionnaire, observation and interview. Source: Japheth Yaya, 18th June, 2014

Conclusion:

It could be re-emphasized here that researchers are not restricted only to different methods of data collection instruments and their classification as presented in this paper but the choice of which method to apply depends on the researcher, nature or problem to be investigated and prevailing circumstances at the time of carrying out the study. Thus, researchers are free to use any method they deem fit for their research.

References:

1.      Parveaiz Iqbal (2015-16) Research Methods in Education 1st Edition Majeed Book Depot Lahore.

2.      Prof.Dr Muhammad Shahid Allied Material of Educational Research  Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad

3.      Adedokun, J.A. (2003). Basics of Research Methodology. Sagamu: New Hope Publisher.
Adeniyi, A.L.; Oyekanmi, A.O. & Tijani, M.O. (2011). Essentials of Business Research Methods.Lagos: CSS Bookshops      Limited.

4.      Aina, L.O. (2004). Library and Information Science Text for Africa. Ibadan: Third World Services Limited.

5.      Akinade, E.A. & Owolabi, T. (2009). Research Methods: A Pragmatic Approach for Social     Sciences, Behavioural Sciences and Education. Lagos: Connel Publications.
Avwokeni, J.A. (2006). Research Methods: Process, Evaluation & Critique. Portharcourt: Unicampus Tutorial Services.

6.      Popoola, S.O. (2011, September). Research Methodologies in Library and Information Science.A paper presented at a training workshop on building research capacity for Library and Information Science professionals. Organized by the Nigerian Library Association, Ogun State Chapter, held at Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria on 18th – 22nd September, 2011.