Theme: Designing, Organising, and Executing Data Collection Aligned with Methodology
Duration: 1 week (self-paced)
Level: MA / MSc / PhD Preparation
Format: Fully self-contained lesson for independent study
🔷 10.1 Purpose of This Module
Data collection is the operational core of your research project. This module provides you with the tools to plan how you will gather reliable, relevant, and ethically collected data—in a way that aligns with your methodology, research question, and design.
By the end, you will be able to:
- Identify appropriate data sources and tools
- Plan your sampling strategy and recruitment process
- Define data types, instruments, and logistics
- Align data collection timing and structure with your study design
- Create documentation to support ethical and reliable data collection
📖 10.2 What Is Data Collection in Research?
Data collection is the systematic gathering of information from sources—people, texts, settings, or events—for the purpose of answering a research question. It must be valid, ethical, and aligned with your methodological approach.
📦 10.3 Types of Data by Research Method
| Methodology | Data Type | Example Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative | Numerical | Surveys, questionnaires, existing datasets, tests |
| Qualitative | Textual/visual/audio | Interviews, focus groups, observations, diaries |
| Mixed Methods | Both types | Parallel surveys + interviews; document + statistical analysis |
✅ Your data collection strategy must reflect your paradigm, question, and design (see Modules 2 and 5).
🧠 10.4 Data Collection Components
A. Sampling Strategy
| Term | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Population | The full group relevant to your research | All UK postgraduate students |
| Sample | Subset you actually study | 50 MSc students at 2 universities |
| Sampling Frame | Accessible source list | Class lists, mailing lists, event registrants |
| Sampling Method | How you choose participants | Random, stratified, purposive, snowball, convenience |
✅ Match sampling strategy to your design:
- Random: Good for generalisable surveys
- Purposive: Good for in-depth interviews or case studies
- Snowball: Useful for hard-to-reach populations
B. Recruitment Process
Your recruitment strategy must be:
- Clear: Who you’ll approach and how
- Voluntary: Participants are never coerced
- Informed: All participants understand their rights
Example Steps:
- Email department heads for access to mailing lists
- Share information sheet and consent form
- Use online sign-up form with eligibility criteria
- Follow up with confirmation and reminder emails
C. Instruments and Tools
| Instrument | Purpose | Example Software |
|---|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Structured survey with closed items | Google Forms, Qualtrics |
| Interview Guide | Flexible list of open-ended prompts | Word/Google Docs + Dictaphone |
| Observation Checklist | To standardise what’s recorded | Excel, Notion, paper template |
| Document Log | Tracks written or visual sources | Zotero, EndNote |
✅ Your instrument must be piloted to ensure clarity, consistency, and usability.
D. Timing and Duration
Plan how long each phase will take:
| Phase | Task | Estimated Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Recruitment emails and setup | 3–5 days |
| Week 2 | Pilot test of instrument | 2–3 days |
| Weeks 3–5 | Data collection (e.g. surveys or interviews) | 2–3 weeks |
| Week 6 | Data checking and cleanup | 1 week |
✅ Build a flexible but realistic timeline, including room for delays or low response rates.
🛠 10.5 Self-Learning Task Set (Independent Exercises)
✍️ TASK 1: Describe Your Sampling Strategy
Write 150–200 words explaining:
- Who is your target population?
- What sampling method will you use and why?
- What is your ideal sample size, and how will you reach it?
Example Output:
My target population is postgraduate education students in the UK. I will use purposive sampling to recruit participants with direct experience using AI in academic writing. I aim to recruit 12–15 students from two universities using course mailing lists and social media groups. This sample size supports in-depth qualitative analysis while ensuring thematic saturation.
📊 TASK 2: Draft a Recruitment Email or Message
Include:
- Short introduction to the research
- Eligibility criteria
- What participation involves
- Time commitment
- Assurance of anonymity and right to withdraw
- Contact details
✅ Keep the tone professional and under 250 words.
🧠 TASK 3: Build a Tool Overview Table
For your study, fill out the table below:
| Instrument | Purpose | Question Example / Observation Focus | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interview Guide | Explore perceptions of AI tools | “What challenges did you face when first using AI writing assistants?” | Word Doc |
| Survey | Measure study habits and outcomes | “How many hours per week do you study alone?” | Google Form |
| Document Analysis Log | Track policies on assessment practices | Assessments policy documents (2018–2023) | Spreadsheet |
✅ Aim to list at least two tools relevant to your study.
🧾 TASK 4: Create a Data Collection Timeline
Write a simple Gantt-style plan showing what will happen each week.
| Week | Task |
|---|---|
| 1 | Confirm ethics and finalise instruments |
| 2 | Pilot test and revise tools |
| 3–4 | Begin recruitment |
| 5–6 | Conduct interviews / collect surveys |
| 7 | Review data for completeness |
| 8 | Begin preliminary analysis |
✅ Adjust based on your project scope and time constraints.
🔍 10.6 Summary of Key Takeaways
- Data collection is not just about gathering information—it is about doing so in a planned, ethical, and methodologically sound way
- A well-defined sampling strategy and recruitment process ensure representativeness and rigour
- All tools (questionnaires, interview guides) must be purposeful and piloted
- Time, access, and feasibility must be balanced with academic depth and ethical responsibility
✅ End-of-Module Self-Evaluation Checklist
| Concept | Yes / No |
|---|---|
| I identified a suitable sample and justified my sampling strategy | ☐ |
| I wrote a professional recruitment message | ☐ |
| I selected appropriate tools for my data collection | ☐ |
| I developed a timeline for my research activities | ☐ |
| I understand how to align collection logistics with design and ethics | ☐ |