Microsoft Word research method fm doc

 
 Stages in the Data Collection Process 
Three main stages can be distinguished: 
Stage 1: Permission to proceed 
Stage 2: Data collection 
Stage 3: Data handling 
 
Stage 1: permission to proceed 
Consent must be obtained from the relevant authorities, individuals and the community in 
which the project is to be carried out. This may involve organizing meetings at national or 
provincial level, at district and at village level. For clinical studies this may also involve 
obtaining written informed consent. 
Stage 2: Data collection 
When collecting our data, we have to consider: 
• 
Logistics: who will collect what, when and with what resources
• 
Quality control

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Research methodology 
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I. Logistics of data collection 
WHO will collect WHAT data?
When allocating tasks for data collection, it is recommended that you first list them. Then you 
may identify who could best implement each of the tasks. If it is clear beforehand that your 
research team will not be able to carry out the entire study by itself, you might plan to look for 
research assistants to assist in relatively simple but time-consuming tasks. 
 
HOW LONG will it take to collect the data for each component of the study? 
Step 1:
Consider: 
• 
The time required to reach the study area(s);
• 
The time required to locate the study units (persons, groups, records); If you have to 
search for specific informants (e.g., users or defaulters of a specific service) it might 
take more time to locate informants than to interview them.
• 
The number of visits required per study unit. For some studies it may be necessary to 
visit informants a number of times, for example if the information needed is sensitive 
and can only be collected after informants are comfortable with the investigator or if 
observations have to be made more than once (for example, follow-up of pregnant 
mothers or malnourished children). Time needed for follow-up of non-respondents 
should also be considered.