This document defines and compares different types of research instruments: surveys, interviews, questionnaires, observations, and experiments. Surveys can be interviews or questionnaires and contain questions to measure attitudes. Interviews allow qualitative data collection through open-ended questions. Questionnaires list written questions to gather specific information. Observations describe behaviors in natural or lab settings. Experiments test hypotheses through controlled procedures and analysis of results. Each instrument has advantages like flexibility or establishing causation, and disadvantages like time requirements or artificial settings.
This document defines and compares different types of research instruments: surveys, interviews, questionnaires, observations, and experiments. Surveys can be interviews or questionnaires and contain questions to measure attitudes. Interviews allow qualitative data collection through open-ended questions. Questionnaires list written questions to gather specific information. Observations describe behaviors in natural or lab settings. Experiments test hypotheses through controlled procedures and analysis of results. Each instrument has advantages like flexibility or establishing causation, and disadvantages like time requirements or artificial settings.
This document defines and compares different types of research instruments: surveys, interviews, questionnaires, observations, and experiments. Surveys can be interviews or questionnaires and contain questions to measure attitudes. Interviews allow qualitative data collection through open-ended questions. Questionnaires list written questions to gather specific information. Observations describe behaviors in natural or lab settings. Experiments test hypotheses through controlled procedures and analysis of results. Each instrument has advantages like flexibility or establishing causation, and disadvantages like time requirements or artificial settings.
This document defines and compares different types of research instruments: surveys, interviews, questionnaires, observations, and experiments. Surveys can be interviews or questionnaires and contain questions to measure attitudes. Interviews allow qualitative data collection through open-ended questions. Questionnaires list written questions to gather specific information. Observations describe behaviors in natural or lab settings. Experiments test hypotheses through controlled procedures and analysis of results. Each instrument has advantages like flexibility or establishing causation, and disadvantages like time requirements or artificial settings.
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RESEARCH
INSTRUMENT WHAT IS RESEARCH INSTRUMENT?
It is a tool used to gather
data on a specific topic of interest. TYPES OF RESEARCH INSTRUMENT SURVEY It contains planned questions which are used to measure attitudes, perceptions and opinions. It contains responses directly related to each specific research question. It can either be in the form of an interview or a questionnaire. THREE TYPES OF QUESTION FOR SURVEY RECALL- type of questions asks for specific information such as years in service, age and address. RECOGNITION- type of question asks for a response to a specific question where options are given such as in the case of multiple choice, dichotomous (yes/no), and rating scale format. OPEN-MINDED- type of question that elicits brief explanation or impressions from the respondents. INTERVIEW Itis an instrument that allows the researcher to qualitatively gather data. Responses during an interview are usually open- minded. Different Stages Of Interview Pre- interview Stage- It is when an interview guide is prepared and respondents are identified and contacted. Warm- up Stage- It is the initial part of the interview when questions make the respondents more at ease are asked. Main Interview Stage- It is when the main questions directly related to the research questions are asked. Closing Stage- It is when questions are asked to wind down the interview and respondents are acknowledged and thanked. GUIDELINES WHEN CONDUCTING AN INTERVIEW Before the interview arrange the questions logically to make the flow of the interview smoother. Begin by introducing yourself and the purpose for the interview. Tell the respondents that you will handle the information with utmost confidentiality and care. Have a warm-up stage to make the respondents more comfortable. Adjust your language to the respondents. Makethe length of the interview reasonable. Otherwise, your respondents might get bored or annoyed. Record the interview because you may need to transcribe the gathered data. However, make sure you inform or get the approval of the interviewee. Always thank the respondents for their time. QUESTIONNAIRE Itlists written questions to get specific information. Responses in the questionnaire are usually dichotomous and use identification type of test. In some cases, open- minded questions are incorporated in the questionnaire. PARTS OF A QUESTIONNAIRE PERSONAL INFORMATION SECTION- includes the name (optional), age, date of birth, address, educational background and other personal information about the respondents. Note that only personal information relevant to the research study should be asked. BASIC QUESTION SECTION- It serves two purposes. The first one is to establish that the person you are asking is the right person for the study. The second purpose (which is only applicable to interview) is to establish rapport with the interviewees. MAIN QUESTIONS SECTION- It contains question that are directly related to your research. It is ideal to have multiple questions for each specific research question. The greater the number of questions, the greater the possibility of more conclusive results. OPEN- ENDED QUESTIONS SECTION- Asks for a brief explanation or response to an open- ended questions. OBSERVATION It allows the description of the behaviour in a naturalistic or laboratory settings. Usually, this instrument is used to cross- validate the results of other instruments. An observation is most useful when the answers to research questions require description of behaviour and setting and when the respondents cannot literally answer interview questions and questionnaire for some valid reasons such as inability to speak and write (e.g., infants). TYPES OF OBSERVATION PARTICIPANT AND NON- PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION * A non- participant type of observation allows the researcher to observe the subjects without interacting with them. Hence, the subjects do not know that they are being observed. This type of observation is usually employed by psychologists when observing animals and children. *A participant observation, allows the researcher to interact actively with the subjects. In some case, researchers immerse themselves in a group or community for a long period of time. STRUCTURED AND UNSTRUCTURED OBSERVATION *Structured observation occurs when the researcher has a list of behaviours that he/she wants to observe. *Unstructured observation occurs when the researcher allows behaviours to emerge. These behaviours are then documented through an in-depth narrative account. COVERT AND OVERT OBSERVATION *Covert Observation occurs when the subjects are not aware that they are being observed. *Overt Observation occurs when the subjects are aware that they are being observed. EXPERIMENT It is a procedure undertaken scientifically and systematically to make a discovery and to test hypothesis. An experiment can be performed in a laboratory or in a natural setting following these steps; 1.Make observations. 2.Develop the hypothesis. 3.Design the experiment. 4. Conduct the experiment. Replicate the experiment to ensure the reliability of the results. 5. Analyze the results. 6. Decide on whether to accept or reject the hypothesis based on the results. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF QUESTIONNAIRE ADVANTAGES • LEAST EXPENSIVE • LEAST TIME CONSUMING • FLEXIBLE IN TERMS OF ADMINISTRATION (ONLINE OR OFFLINE) • MAY GENERATE MORE CONSISTENT RESPONSES • EASIER TO ANALYZE DATA • INVOLVES MORE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS DISADVANTAGES HAS THE LOWEST RESPONSE RATE DOES NOT GENERALLY PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR RESPONDENTS TO CLARIFY QUESTIONS/ ITEMS REQUIRES PARTICIPANT TO READ AND UNITE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF INTERVIEW ADVANTAGES HIGH RESPONSE RATE ALLOWS PROBING CAN CLARIFY ITEMSTO BE ASKED DOES NOT REQUIRE PARTICIPANTS TO READ AND WRITE LENGTHLY CAN ADDRESS COMPLEX QUESTIONS DISADVANTAGES TIME-CONSUMING EXPENSIVE DIFFICULT TO ANALYZE DATA REQUIRES TRANSCRIPTION ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF OBSERVATION ADVANTAGES PROVIDES DIRECT ACCESS TO A PHENOMENON APPLICABLE TO A WIDE RANGE OF CONTEXTS COMPLEMENTS OTHER INSTRUMENT DISADVANTAGES PROVIDES NO CONTROL FOR SITUATION MAY BE BIASED DOES NOT PROVIDE DATA FOR A MORE STABLE CONCLUSION TIME-CONSUMING MAY INFLUENCE DATA BECAUSE OF OBSERVER’S EFFECTS ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF EXPERIMENT ADVANTAGES PROVIDES CONTROL OF SITUATION AND VARIABLES ESTABLISHES CAUSE AND EFFECTS CAN BE REPLICATED YIELDS QUANTITATIVE DATA THAT CAN BE STATISTICALLY ANALYZED DISADVANTAGES MAY BE RESULT IN AN ARTIFICIAL SITUATION PRONE TO EXPERIMENT’S EFFECT