Activity 1: Identifying Different Forms of Data Collection

Theme 6: Collecting Data

You can use this log book file to record any thoughts, reflections or useful materials, as well as doing the suggested activities.

/ Student Name:
Student Number:

Activity 1: Identifying different forms of data collection

Task 1:

a)Read through the brief online presentation of another researcher's preliminary results under Activity 1 in this core theme. Pay particular attention to the various methods of data collection employed.

b)How many data collection methods did you spot?

c)Make a note of these in your log book.

Activity 2: Data collection acts within different methodologies

Task 1:

Read about the 'Connected Lives' research project at Think about the methods they describe.

Task 2:

Answer the following questions

1. Which data collection acts are involved in 'participatory social mapping'? (Tick all that apply)

/ Observing
/ Measuring
/ Recording

2. Which data collection acts are involved in 'interactive diaries, with qualitative interviews'? (Tick all that apply)

/ Observing
/ Measuring
/ Recording

3. Which data collection acts are involved in 'quantitative techniques for representing neighbourhood and networks'? (Tick all that apply)

/ Observing
/ Measuring
/ Recording

Activity 3: Collecting primary data about people.

Task 1:

a)Jot down all the different methods you can think of for collecting primary data about people.

b)Send this list to your tutor for feedback.

Activity 4: Mixed methods research involving people

Task 1:

Read sections 1 - 3 (pages 4 - 11) of Julia Brannen's discussion paper on 'Mixed Methods Research' available as a PDF at

Task 2:

a)Make notes in your log book about methods that Brannen describes.

b)Does your research involve working with people?

c)If yes, what are your reflections on their potential usefulness in your project?

Activity 5: Data collection methods in animal research

Task 1:

a)Read this 2005 online press release from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (Too many sheep spoil the eggs:

b)State the data collection methods you think the researchers must have employed.

Activity 6: Approaches to collecting data from artefacts.

Task 1:

a)Read the summary of the Papyrus Storage at:

The artefacts (papyrus) are rare and fragile.

b)Now read this article about how Scottish and American curators of rare, fragile artefacts attempt to find "a method to allow researchers to search the collections without actually handling objects until they were certain they had found what they needed."

Devine, J and Hansen, C. C. (2003) SHADE Smithsonian-Hunterian Advanced Digital Experiments (

Task 2:

a)Are any of the issues discussed relevant to your own research?

b)If yes, make a note of the relevant issues in your log book.

Task 3:

Once you have finished Activities 4, 5 and 6, send your lists to your tutor for discussion

Activity 7: Developing checklists for data collection

Task 1

a)Develop a checklist for the questions about data collection you will need to answer for your own research.

b) How many can you answer now?

c)Send this list to your tutor for discussion.

Activity 8: Sources of secondary data that you may use

Task 1:

a)With reference to your own research topic, consider and investigate possible sources of secondary data.

b)Below, record brief details of any that you might use.

c)Discuss them with your tutor.

Activity 9:Aspects of your research project that requires formal policies and procedures

Task 1:

List all the aspects of your research project that you think are likely to be subject to formal policies and procedures.

Activity 10: Your School or Department’s ethics review procedure

Task 1:

a)Identify the ethics review procedures within your School or Department.

b)Record them here

Activity 11: Issues of informed consent in research

Task 1:

Consider the definition of 'informed consent':

A procedure for ensuring that research participants understand what is being done to them, the limits to their participation and awareness of any potential risks they incur. (Social Research Association, 2003).

Task 2:

a)Imagine you are a PhD researcher conducting a study of children’s school-based friendships via particularly appealing and child-friendly research methods, including art work and video diaries. The headteacher of your case study school insists on parental consent in addition to the children’s own consent. Eight year old Sarah’s mum and dad have not given their consent, yet Sarah is desperate to take part, to the point that she has forged her parents’ signature on the consent form that was sent home to all parents, and has expressed anxiety about feeling excluded if she is unable to participate.

b)Make notes about the issues arising and how they might be resolved.

c)Then send your notes to your tutor for discussion.

Activity 12: Reviewing data collection policies and procedures.

Task 1:

Revisit the list you made in your log book for Activity 9 of all the policies and procedures you expected to be relevant to your own research and update it, if necessary, with what you have learned.