Research Instruments Essentials

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Research Instruments

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Tools used to obtain, measure, and analyze data from subjects around the research topic. You need to decide the instrument to use based on the type of study you are conducting: quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method

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Surveys

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Means collecting information about a group of people by asking them questions and analyzing the results

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Interviews

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Direct questioning

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Focus Groups

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A research method that brings together a small group of people to answer questions in a moderated setting. The group is chosen due to predefined demographic traits, and the questions are designed to shed light on a topic of interest.

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Observations

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A way of collecting data through observing. This data collection method is classified as a participatory study, because the researcher has to immerse herself in the setting where her respondents are, while taking notes and/or recording.

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Experiments

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A study in which the researcher manipulates the level of some independent variable and then measures the outcome

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Questionnaires

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A questionnaire is a research instrument consisting of a series of questions designed to collect data from respondents. It is widely used in surveys, academic research, market studies, and evaluations to gather information about individuals’ thoughts, preferences, behaviors, or experiences.

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Sampling

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To draw valid conclusions from your results, you have to carefully decide how you will select a sample that is representative of the group as a whole. This is called a sampling method. There are two primary types of sampling methods that you can use in your research:

• Probability sampling and

• Non-probability sampling method.

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Data Validity

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Accuracy of data

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Data Reliability

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Consistency of data