Data Collection (People, Researcher, Institutional, Event Problems)?

¶ … data collection (people, researcher, institutional, event problems)?

Unfortunately, there are a number of common problems that routinely occur when scientists or professionals are attempting to collect data for a specific study. These problems usually revolve around four integral elements for a study -- those that pertain to people or subjects involved within the study, the researchers themselves, institutional problems, as well as problems with specific events that take place during the research. Although it is best to go about the process of conducting a study by adhering to any number of scientific methods, one of the most common problems occurs when researchers do not adhere to a specific methodology that is backed by a concrete research theory. This omission can happen for a variety of reasons and, although not all of them are necessarily planned, it is still a common problem during the data collection phase of several studies.

It is also essential that researchers preserve the integrity of the data that they are collecting. Problems arise when researchers fail to do so. Quite often, depending on what type of study is being performed, researchers may fail to preserve the integrity of the data they are collecting when people skewer the data by providing responses that have been influenced by some component of the collection method. Additionally, institutional problems can occur when researchers are remiss in selecting the proper tools that are used during the data collection process (No author, 2005). This tendency can happen due to event problems or because of a general lack of diligence on the part of a research team for ascertaining the mettle of equipment that is used during the data collection process. In that respect, it greatly behooves researchers to implement methods of quality control (Whitney et al., 1998, p. 73) and quality assurance to successfully preserve the integrity of their data and to avoid some of the common problems associated with data collection.

There are a number of different factors that researchers must consider when determining the sampling criteria for a particular study. These factors pertain to both inclusion and exclusion criteria, which are largely determined by the needs of a study. Exclusion criteria applies to subjects who meet inclusion yet have other facets that compromise the integrity of the study (Lunsford & Lunsford, 2005). The sampling criteria, therefore, is primarily based upon finding a representative sample group that can address the focus of a study. Literature reviews are essential to identifying what sort of research has previously occurred before one's study. By ascertaining what area of research requires more information, researchers can come up with a research problem to base their studies on and which helps informs the sampling criteria that will be included and excluded.

Once a purpose has been identified, researchers are then left to figure out the criteria for their sample selection that can best address the needs of the research. By denoting what specific information a study is looking to obtain, researchers are able to determine the exclusion and inclusion criteria for their samples. Sample size plays an important role in determining what sort of characteristics should be included or excluded in a study. Studies that have too small a population size will not necessarily be an accurate reflection of the population that is being considered in the study. Alternately, sample sizes that are too broad contain a plethora of variables that effectively dilutes the findings of a study (No author, 2011).