Data Collection Facilitator Assoc Prof Dr Abdul Hamid

Data Collection Facilitator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdul Hamid b. Hj. Mar Iman Director Centre for Real Estate Studies Faculty of Engineering and Geoinformation Science Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Skudai, Johor

Objectives of Lecture l Basic issues of data collection l Principles of data collection l Instrumentation l Sampling l What I will not do: To teach every bit and pieces of data collection

Basic Issues Main questions: * Study objectives? * What is being investigated? * Attributes & variables involved? * Variable measurement? * Method of data collection? l Main problems with data: * Sufficient amount but irrelevant * Relevant but insufficient * Too much data, some useless l Implications: * Waste of resources * Loose analysis * Non-fulfilling objectives * Unresolved research questions * Lack of quality thesis l

Determining Data Research issue, objectives, hypotheses? * Maintaining the “thesis” * What are involved in maintaining your idea, testing hypotheses, etc. * What “answers” to be required l In what way research issue is to be operationalised? * What cause-and-effect phenomenon to be explained? * What variables are involved? * What data required for the variables? * How to measure them? l Types of data * Primary * Secondary l

Principles of Data Collection What types of data required? l Collect only relevant data l Determine methods of data collection * Survey/questionnaire * Observation, participatory * Standard instruments * Content analysis, etc l Where, who, how, and when to collect * Research design * Sampling procedure * Prepare field work schedule/data plan * Conduct preliminary investigation l Assess situation and prepare further strategies l

Data plan Scope of data Type Method Source 1. Geography Secondary MPJBT, UTM 2. Jemaah Primary Sample Mosque in Skudai 3. Tenants Primary Sample Residential area in Skudai 4. Patrons Primary Sample Shops in Skudai 5. Public users Primary Sample Public facilities in Skudai

Instrumentation A process of selecting and developing research tool for the purpose of data collection l Examples of instrument: * Questionnaire * Interview checklist * Observational form * Attitude/view scale * Content analysis form * Researcher-designed achievement test l Depends on method of study l

Method of Study and Instrument Method of study Descriptive Correlation Ex-post facto Action Evaluation Questionnaire X X X Interview schedule X X X Observation form X X Attitude/opinion scale X X Content analysis form X X Researcher-designed achievement test X X X Standard achievement test X X X Aptitude test X Ability test X Interest inventory X X Projection measurement X X

Important aspects of instrumentation • Reliability: can it produce consistent results? • Validity: can it fulfill the required function? • Feasibility: can it fulfill the need of the researcher→ Reliable? Valid?

Questionnaire n n n Crystallise research issue and objectives List specific questions w. r. t. the issue & objectives Identify & list key words and their relationships Identify cause-and-effect explanation by relating all the keywords Identify how to operationalise the issue * define concepts * identify variables * variable measurement Construct questionnaire table * Related questions that address issue & objectives

Sampling • An important aspect of data collection • A requirement when the study attempts to make deduction about the population • A systematic process that post graduate researchers should be familiar with

Thank you!