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St. Francis College

Allen Northern Samar

Learning Module in Practical Research 1

Module 5
Understanding Data and Ways to Systematically Collect Data

DURATION: 2 WEEKS
GRADE LEVEL: 11
LEARNING COMPETENCIES:

 Chooses appropriate qualitative research design CS_RS-11-Iva-c-1

 Describes sampling procedure and sample CS_RS-11-Iva-c-2
 Plans data collection and analysis procedures CS_RS-11-Iva-c-3
 Presents written research methodology CS_RS-11-Iva-c-4
 Utilizes materials and techniques to produce creative work CS_RS-11-Iva-c-5

I. CONCEPT

Qualitative Research Design

After having a research problem and hypothesis, you need to make an outline of your research. This
blueprint is what we called research design. Research Design is a type of inquiry within qualitative,
quantitative, and mixed methods approach that provides specific direction for procedures. Others have
called them strategies of inquiry (Denzin & Lincoln, 2011). It also includes collection of data,
research timeline and respondents used.

Data Collection is very important in the aspect of research. Researcher should choose the proper
sampling method to answer what was asked in the research problem. According to Alicia
Tuovila(2020), sampling is a process used in statistical analysis in which a predetermined number of
observations taken in larger population. The methodology used to sample from a larger population
depends on the type of analysis being performed.

In research methods, collection of data is included which can be interpreted or analyzed to answer
hypothesis. This lesson presents data collection in more detail, in particular how they work in
practice, the purpose of each, when their use is appropriate and what they can offer in students’
individual research.

II. EXAMPLES AND DISCUSSION

The following are types of Qualitative Research Design which could be used as technique in
collecting and analyzing data:

1. Case Study
– Analysis of persons, groups, events, decisions, periods, policies, institutions or other
systems that are studied holistically by one or more methods. It investigates a phenomenon within its
real-life context.

Advantages:
• More understanding on complex issue
• Apply variety of methodologies and sources to investigate a research problem.

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• Extend experience or add strength to what is already known through previous research.
• Most widely used by social scientists to examine contemporary real-life situations and provide the
basis for the application of concepts
• It can provide detailed descriptions of specific and rare cases.

Disadvantages:
• Intense exposure to the study may bias a researcher's interpretation of the findings • Design does not
facilitate assessment of cause and effect relationships.
• Vital information may be missing, making the case hard to interpret
• The case may not be representative or typical of the larger problem being investigated.

Example:

In the study of Acosta, Imee and Alexander Acosta(2016) entitled “SEEING THROUGH A
MAGNIFYING LENS: A QUALITATIVE INQUIRY OF K-12 READINESS OF FACULTY MEMBERS
FROM HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES”, adoption of the 12-year
program of formal basic education. This is the readiness of college faculty members on how to deal
the transition years of having no enrolees in college since high school were being added with 2 years
more. This research provides a real-life understanding on the issue of k-12 implementation on
education.

2. Ethnography
-Study of cultural patterns of people and their perspective as a group. It also involves their
beliefs, values and attitudes.

Example:
In the study of Peter Gill (2008) entitled “THE EVERYDAY LIVES OF MEN: AN
ETHNOGRAPHIC INVESTIGATION OF YOUNG ADULT MALE IDENTITY” wherein constructing
the issue of men’s identities, men’s health and well-being .The researcher describe in details the ways
which masculinities were observed every day. The researcher took two years as participant in
observing the pattern within the two groups engaging men’s social worlds, belongingness and sex
relationships.

3. Ground Theory
- It is a development of theory directly based and grounded in data collected by the
researcher. It is an approach that generates and modifies a theory.

Example:
Ilagan, Perla R. (2011) acquired an in depth understanding of the meaning of intimate
partner violence from the perceptions of Filipino men and women. A sample consisted of 37 Filipino
women and 2 Filipino men who were recruited from a Barangay Center (Health Center) in Manila,
Philippines. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The interviews were open-
ended, in-depth, and audio-taped. The description of the study participants was provided by the
quantitative-descriptive data. Constant comparison method was used in categorizing the narrative
data and in examining the data for examples of similar cases and themes.
The study revealed a rich and contextualized overview that lay a foundation for
understanding the perceptions and experiences of Filipino women and men living with intimate
partner violence. The data point to recurrent themes of poverty, gambling, alcohol and drug use, poor
communication skills, jealousy and philandering. Violation of the dignity of a person that brought
with it children as victims was implicated in the cycle of violence.

4. Narrative Inquiry

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-These are tales of experience or imagination and come naturally to human beings.
Example:

In the study of Theresa Andrea Nugent(2007) entitled “A NARRATIVE INQUIRY OF

TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS REGARDING THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
EXPERIENCES”, it describes what is happening or not from the viewpoint of the classroom teacher
towards their teaching experience to their students output. In this research, teachers then reflect how
they applied their learning to support student outcomes, the support that students received and the
barriers encountered. So in this research, there are stories constructed by the researcher,
respondents and the reader.

5. Phenomenology
-A phenomenon is something you experience on Earth as a person. It is a sensory experience
that makes you perceive or understand things that naturally occur in your life such as death, joy,
friendship, care giving, defeat, victory, and the like.
-Comparing to ethnography, phenomenology aims at getting a thorough understanding of an
individual’s experience for the same person’s realistic dealings with hard facts of life. Ethnography
aims at defining, describing or portraying a certain group of people possessing unique cultural traits.
Example:
Vapor, Victor Rey Cui (2009) explored a new Philippine phenomenon that emerged involving
Filipino physicians who went back to school to take up nursing in the Philippines in order to migrate
to foreign countries to work as nurses. The purpose of his study was to describe and to interpret the
lived experiences of Filipino physician-turned nurses in the United States. Phenomenology was used
as research design, with data obtained from a purposive sample of eight (8) self-identified physician-
turned nurses in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Participants were interviewed using a single, open-ended central question. The audio taped
responses that described their lived experiences were eventually transcribed verbatim. To interpret
their experiences, clusters of themes were then generated using the Colaizzi's (1978) method of
Phenomenological Inquiry. The results of the study revealed that the experiences of Filipino
physician-turned nurses involved multidimensional issues, both in the contexts of emigration and a
professional shift from physician to nurse. Being the first of its kind, this study will enlighten society
of the lived experiences of Filipino physicians who compromise professional integrity by working as
nurses just to emigrate to the United States. Furthermore, this research study will contribute to the
existing literature on cross-cultural adaptation, particularly involving role compromise in an
unfamiliar social and cultural context.

Source: Sanders, "Application Of Colaizzi‘S Method: Interpretation Of An Auditable Decision Trail By A Novice
Researcher

Types of Sampling: Sampling Methods

1. Probability Sampling - is a sampling technique in which sample from a larger population are
chosen using a method based on the theory of probability.
For instance, a population of 1000 members, each of these members will have 1/1000 chances of
being selected to be a part of a sample. It gets rid of bias in the population and gives a fair chance to
all members to be included in the sample.

a. Simple Random Sampling – method of collecting data where every single member of a population
is chosen randomly, merely by chance and each individual has the exact same probability of being
chosen to be a part of a sample.
b. Cluster Sampling – a method where the researchers divide the entire population into sections or
clusters that represent a population. Clusters are identified and included in a sample on the basis of
defining demographic parameters such as age, location, sex etc.
c. Systematic Sampling - a method where members of a sample are chosen at regular intervals of a
population. It requires selection of a starting point for the sample and sample size that can be repeated

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at regular intervals. This type of sampling method has a predefined interval and hence this sampling
technique is the least time-consuming.
d. Stratified Random Sampling - a method where the population can be divided into smaller groups,
that don’t overlap but represent the entire population together. While sampling, these groups can be
organized and then draw a sample from each group separately.

2. Non-probability Sampling - is reliant on a researcher’s ability to select members at random. This

sampling method is not a fixed or pre-defined selection process which makes it difficult for all
elements of a population to have equal opportunities to be included in a sample.

a. Purposeful/Purposive Sampling -is the most common sampling strategy. In this type of sampling,
participants are selected or sought based on pre-selected criteria based on the research question.
For example, the study may be attempting to collect data from lymphoma patients in a
particular city or county. The sample size may be predetermined or based on theoretical saturation,
which is the point at which the newly collected data no longer provides additional insights.

b. Quota Sampling - is a sampling technique whereby participant quotas are preset prior to sampling.
Typically, the researcher is attempting to gather data from a certain number of participants that meet
certain characteristics that may include things such as age, sex, class, marital status, HIV status, etc.
For example , a cigarette company wants to find out what age group prefers what brand of
cigarettes in a particular city. He/she applies quotas on the age groups of 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, and
51+. From this information, the researcher gauges the smoking trend among the population of the city.

c. Snowball Sampling - is also known as chain referral sampling. In this method, the participants
refer the researcher to others who may be able to potentially contribute or participate in the study.
This method often helps researchers find and recruit participants that may otherwise be hard to reach.

The following were analysis of procedures in collecting data:

Observation

is a technique of gathering data whereby you personally watch, interact, or communicate with the
subjects of yours. It is a systematic data collection approach where researchers use all of their senses
to examine people in natural settings or naturally occurring situations.

Classification of Observational Method

1. Casual and Scientific Observation

- Casual involves observing the right thing at the right place and also at the right time
by a matter of chance or by luck while scientific observation involves the use of the tools of the
measurement, but remember that all the observations are not scientific in nature.

2. Natural Observation
- involves observing the behavior in a normal setting, no efforts are made to bring any type
of change in the behavior of the observed.

3. Subjective and Objective Observation

-The subject refers to the observer whereas the object refers to the activity or any
type of operation that is being observed. - Subjective observation involves the observation of the
one’s own immediate experience whereas the observations involving observer as an entity apart
from the thing being observed, are referred to as the objective observation.

4.Direct and Indirect Observation

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- Indirect method of observation involves studies of mechanical recording or the recording by

some of the other means like photographic or electronic. Direct observation is relatively straighter
forward as compared to the indirect observation.

5. Participant and Non Participant Observation

- In participant observation,a researcher may interact with participants and become part of
their community . But in the non participant type of observation, no participation of the observer
in the activities of the group takes place and also occurs no relationship between the researcher
and the group. 6. Structured and Unstructured Observation -Structured observation works according
to a plan and involves specific information of the units that are to be observed and also about
the information that is to be recorded. But in the case of the unstructured observation, observer has the
freedom to note down what s/he feels is correct and relevant to the point of study.

6. Structured and Unstructured Observation

-Structured observation works according to a plan and involves specific information of the
units that are to be observed and also about the information that is to be recorded. But in the case
of the unstructured observation, observer has the freedom to note down what s/he feels is correct and
relevant to the point of study.

7. Controlled and Un-controlled Observation

- Controlled observations are the observations made under the influence of some of the
external forces and such observations rarely lead to improvement in the precision of the research
results. Un-controlled observations are made in the natural environment and reverse to the controlled.

8. Covert and Overt Observation

-Covert observations are when the researcher pretends to be an ordinary member of the group
and observes in secret. Overt observations are when the researcher tells the group s/he is conducting
research (i.e. they know they are being observed)

Interview
-defined as a qualitative research technique which involves “conducting intensive individual
interviews with a small number of respondents to explore their perspectives on a particular idea,
program or situation.”Boyce, C. & Neale, P. (2006)

Three different formats of interviews:

1. Structured interview- consist of a series of pre-determined questions that all interviewees answer
in the same order. Data analysis usually tends to be more straightforward because researcher can
compare and contrast different answers given to the same questions.

2. Unstructured interview- are usually the least reliable from research viewpoint, because no
questions are prepared prior to the interview and data collection is conducted in an informal manner.
Unstructured interviews can be associated with a high level of bias and comparison of answers given
by different respondents tends to be difficult due to the differences in formulation of questions.

3. Semi-structured interview- contain the components of both, structured and unstructured

interviews. In semi-structured interviews, interviewer prepares a set of same questions to be answered
by all interviewees. At the same time, additional questions might be asked during interviews to clarify
and/or further expand certain issues.

Source: Connaway, L.S.& Powell, R.P.(2010) “Basic Research Methods for Librarians” ABCCLIO

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Survey
-is often used to assess thoughts, opinions, and feelings. If possible the use of an already
designed and validated survey instrument will ensure that the data being collected is accurate. If
you design your own survey it is necessary to pilot test the survey on a sample of your target group to
ensure that the survey instrument is measuring what it intends to measure and is appropriate for the
target group.

Data Collection Method in Survey:

1. Self-completion Survey
-this is via mail, email, the internet or SMS are generally the least expensive
,particularly for a widespread sample. They allow respondents time to consider their answers, refer to
records or consult with others (which can be helpful or unhelpful, depending on the survey’s
objectives). They also eliminate interviewer errors and reduce the incidence of selected people (or
units) being unable to be contacted. A major disadvantage of self completion surveys is the
potentially high nonresponse.

2. Interviewer-based Surveys
- such as face-to-face or telephone surveys generally allow more data to be gathered than
self-completion surveys and can include the use of more complex questionnaires. Interviewers can
reduce non-response by answering respondents’ queries or concerns. They can often pick up and
resolve respondent errors. Face-to-face surveys are usually more expensive than other methodologies

Source:Kabir, Syed Muhammad Sajjad(2016). Methodsof data Collection. Basic Guidelines for Research: An
Introductory Approach for All Disciplines, Edition: First, Chapter: 9, Publisher: Book Zone Publication,
Chittagong-4203, Bangladesh, pp.201-275

III. EXERCISES

Activity 1:

Directions: Classify the following list of research topics according to the 5 types of qualitative
research design:

1. Perception of Filipino Women and Men on Intimate Partner Violence

2. Social Responsibility: Perceived Successful Student Leadership Experience
3. Study of Experiences of Helping Professionals With Learning Disabilities
4. Research among Drinking Youth Cultures: Reflections From Observing Participants 5. Gender and
Climate Change Finance
6. Being There: Study of Student Perceptions of Instructor Presence in Online Classes 7. Leadership
Journeys: Research Study exploring women school superintendent’s meaning-making of Leadership
8. Child Protection and Maltreatment in the Philippines: A Systematic Review of the Literature
9. The Kinship of Everyday Need: Relatedness and Survival in a Philippine Fishing Community
10. Biographical Research of Teacher’s Experiences of Supportive Relationships with Colleagues

Activity 2:

Analyze and answer the following.

Imagine that you have arrived in Malate, Manila to conduct a case study on working street children. A
local social worker introduces you to two former street working children and you learn that they still
have lots of friends still working on the street. As a way to identify participants for your study, you
ask the two former street working children if they can recommend and invite some of their friends on

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the street to participate in the study. You also ask them to spread word of the study in anticipation that
their friends will also help you to identify potential participants.

How would you classify this kind of sampling? 1. Quota sampling? 2. Snowball sampling? 3.
Random purposeful sampling? Explain your answer.

 This kind of sampling is called Snowball Sampling, also known as chain referral sampling.
In this method, the participants refer the researcher to others who may potentially contribute
or participate in the study, which is clearly shown in the situation given where "A two
former street working children recommended and invited some of their friends on the street
to participate in my study." Also, this method often helps researchers find and recruit
participants that may otherwise be hard to reach, like the part where I ask them to spread the
word of the study in anticipation that their friends will also help me identify potential
participants.

IV. EVALUATION

Directions: Choose the letter that corresponds to the correct answer.

1. It described as Analysis of persons, groups, events, decisions, periods, policies, institutions or other
systems that are studied holistically by one or more methods.
a. case study b. ground theory c. ethnography d. narrative inquiry

2. It defined as is a technique of gathering data whereby you personally watch, interact, or

communicate with the subjects of yours.”
a. interview b. object c. observation d. survey

3. The following statements described Structured Interview EXCEPT:

a. Can compare and contrast different answers given to the same questions
b. Additional questions might be asked during interviews to clarify and expand certain issues
c. Consist of series of pre-determined questions
d. Data analysis seems to be straightforward

4. Instructors teaching research methods are interested in knowing what study techniques their
students are utilizing. Rather than assessing all students, the researchers randomly select 10 students
from each of the sections to comprise their sample. What sampling method do you think would be the
best fit to use?
a. Systematic Sampling b. Cluster Sampling
c. Stratified Random Sampling d. Simple Random Sampling

5. Which of the following statements described ethnography?

a. Analysis of persons, groups, events, decisions, periods, policies, institutions or other systems that
are studied holistically by one or more methods
b. It is an approach that generates and modifies a theory.
c. understanding of an individual’s experience for the same person’s realistic dealings with hard facts
of life
d. Study of cultural patterns of people and their perspective as a group

6. It refers to an observational method which involves studies of mechanical recording or the

recording by some of the other means like photographic or electronic.
a. Covert observations b. Structured observation
c. objective observation d. Indirect method

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7. Which of the following is TRUE about self-completion survey?

a. Interviewers can reduce non-response by answering respondents’ queries concern
b. allow respondents time to consider their answers, refer to records or consult with others
c. Allows more data to be gathered
d. More expensive than other methodologies

8. Say you were interested in sampling students who deal drugs on campus. What sampling technique
could you use to build this sample?
a. snowball sampling b. quota sampling c.
cluster sampling d. purposive sampling

9. Which of the following statement is true about systematic sampling?

a. researchers divide the entire population into sections that represent population
b. groups can be organized and then draw a sample from each group separately
c. each individual has the exact same probability of being chosen to be a part of a sample
d. members of a sample are chosen at regular intervals of a population

10. It refers to a sampling method which requires selection of a starting point for the sample and
sample size that can be repeated at regular intervals?
a. Simple Random Sampling b. Systematic Sampling c.
Cluster Sampling d. Stratified Random Sampling

V. RESOURCES

Acosta, Alexander and Imee Acosta(2016). “Seeing Through a Magnifying Lens: A qualitative
Inquiry of K-12 Readiness of Faculty Members from Higher Education Institutions in the
Philippines”. International Refereed Research Journal. Vol VII. October 4, 2016

Adi Bhat. Types of Sampling: Sampling Methods with Examples.

https://www.questionpro.com/blog/types-of-sampling-for-social-research/

Bhattacharya,Kakal i( 2017). Fundamentals of Qualitative Research : A practical Guide. Routledge,

New York 10017

Boyce, C. & Neale, P. (2006) “Conducting in-depth Interviews: A Guide for Designing and
Conducting In-Depth Interviews”, Pathfinder International Tool Series

Braceros, E.L. 2016. Practical Research 1.. Rex Bookstore. Manila, Philippines. Caleb Castillo
(2018). Identifying Sampling Methods Worksheet.
https://www.scribd.com/document/394603083/Identifying-Sampling-