Data Collection Methods and Tools for Research; a step-by-Step Guide to Choose Data Collection Technique for Academic and Business Research Projects

Data Collection Methods and Tools for Research; A Step-by-Step Guide to Choose Data Collection Technique for 
Academic and Business Research Projects
Hamed Taherdoost
 
www.elvedit.com
 
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● The opportunity of more objective and scientific analysis; 
● The achieved quantitative data can be used to compare and contrast the results of the study with 
others to measure the changes; 
● The possibility of achieving comprehensive design and tests, and administrating the research with 
required details; 
● Creating novel theories or/ and testing an existing hypothesis using the achieved quantitative data 
(Frechtling, 2002; Kabir, 2016; Taherdoost, 2021);
● Suitable in a wide range of study fields; 
● Suitable and reliable in special cases (Pandey & Pandey, 2015). 
E) Disadvantages of Questionnaires 
However, there are also several demerits that are not negligible. There are several difficulties researchers 
may face using questionnaires as the following: 
● Hard or inadequate to perceive gathered data in some cases such as emotional, feelings, and 
behavioral changes; 
● Human errors for example if the respondent is forgetful and cannot consider the whole concept 
truly; 
● Determining the reliability of answers is not possible; 
● The possibility of misunderstanding the questions which can overshadow the answers; 
● The effects of differences in human beliefs on their answers in some cases since even a standard 
subject can be considered good for one group and bad for others (Kabir, 2016); 
● Facing difficulties when participants need clarifications for particular questions in impersonal 
administrations and the possibility of failing to answer those questions (Taherdoost, 2021); 
● Low response rates if respondents’ low interests cannot be addressed to answer questions 
(Frechtling, 2002); 
● The possibility of illegible answers; 
● Useless and wrong answers are prevalent (Pandey & Pandey, 2015). 
3.1.2. Interviews 
In interviews, as a fundamental way of social interaction, questions are asked and data is collected using 
provided answers and it is in contrast to the questionnaire with indirectly collected data methodology. 
Thus, the chance of getting confidential data from interviewees is also possible; however, it requires 
special skills which are not necessary for questionnaires. Researchers can employ different methods to 
conduct an interview (Pandey & Pandey, 2015; Taherdoost, 2021) and perform them in individual, or 
group face-to-face interviews, as well as not personally for example using telephone, computer, etc. 
(Kabir, 2016). Both forms bring along merits and demerits which can be listed in Table.1.

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