Data Collection

On day nine we reflect that whilst we have chosen our methods, there are some considerations to take into account when it comes to actually ‘doing the collecting’ of data.

For instance:

If we are leading interviews, and instead of having open ended questions, or even just prompts to encourage a free flow conversation, we ask specific questions and want to be able to compare the exact answers given to each of the questions. The interviewer influence must be considered in more detail. As this can change how participants answer the questions. For instance:

is the interviewer responsible to mark the participants assignments or exams,
how senior in the interviewer,
if there are different interviewers could this in itself have an impact on the participants answers

If we run focus groups, do we have a strategy if one or two people take the lead of the conversation and create either peer pressure or a group think effect?

Do we let the conversation flow or are we asking very clear and specific questions, and prevent participants from straying off topic?