Data collection methods
-Questionnaire
-interview
-environmental quality survey
1. Questionnaire
Primary data
It is a set of pre- designed questions used to gather data from a selected sample of respondents
It involves people’s opinions, attitudes, experiences and behaviours related to specific Geographical
topics.
It gathers first hand information that is relevant to the investigation.
What makes a good questionnaire
It has an introduction, containing all the information about who is asking questions
Includes thank you at the end
Simple vocabulary: Use easy-to-understand language.
Avoid jargon: Avoid technical terms or specialized language.
Clear instructions: Provide clear instructions on how to complete the questionnaire.
Aligned with research objectives: Questions should be relevant to the research goals.
Specific and well-defined: Questions should be specific and well-defined.
Avoid unnecessary questions: Only ask questions that are necessary for the research.
Avoid leading questions: Questions should not influence respondents' answers.
Avoid biased language: Language should be neutral and unbiased.
Avoid double-barreled questions: Ask one question at a time.
Advantages
1. Cost-effective: Questionnaires can be distributed to a large number of people at a relatively low
cost.
2. Time-efficient: Questionnaires can be completed quickly, and responses can be collected and
analyzed efficiently.
3. Wide reach: Questionnaires can be distributed to a large and geographically diverse population.
4. Anonymity: Respondents can remain anonymous, which can encourage honest responses.
5. Standardization: Questionnaires can ensure that all respondents are asked the same questions in
the same way.
Disadvantages
1. Limited depth: Questionnaires may not allow for in-depth response
2. Response bias: Respondents may not answer questions truthfully or accurately.
3. Low response rate: Some people may not respond to the questionnaire, which can lead to biased
results.
4. Lack of context: Questionnaires may not provide enough context for respondents to fully
understand the questions.
5. Difficulty in clarifying responses: It can be challenging to clarify or follow up on responses, which
can lead to misunderstandings.
Carrying out a questionnaire
Questionnaire makes use of close and open ended questions
Advantages and disadvantages of open ended and closed questions
2. interview
An interview is a conversation between two or more people, where one person, the interviewer,
asks questions to gather information, insights, or opinions from the other person, the interviewee.
Advantages
Detailed information: Interviews can provide rich, detailed information about the interviewee's
thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Nuanced understanding: Interviews can help to gain a deeper understanding of complex issues.
Adaptable: Interviews can be adapted to various contexts and purposes.
Follow-up questions: Interviews allow for follow-up questions to clarify or probe further.
Building rapport: Interviews can establish a personal connection between the interviewer and
interviewee.
Trust and openness: Interviews can foster trust and openness, leading to more honest and revealing
responses.
Contextual information: Interviews can provide contextual information about the interviewee's
experiences and perspectives.
Nonverbal cues: Interviews
can pick up on nonverbal cues, such as body language and tone of voice.
Disadvantages
Personal biases: Interviewers may bring their own biases and prejudices to the interview.
Leading questions: Interviewers may ask leading questions that influence the interviewee's
responses.
Small sample size: Interviews often involve a small sample size, which may not be representative of
the larger population.
Limited generalizability: Findings from interviews may not be generalizable to other contexts or
populations.
Interpretation bias: Interviewers may interpret responses subjectively, which can lead to biased
conclusions.
Data analysis challenges: Analyzing interview data can be challenging, especially when dealing with
large amounts of qualitative data.
Social desirability bias: Interviewees may respond in a way that is socially desirable, rather than
truthfully.
Lack of honesty: Interviewees may not always respond honestly, especially if the topic is sensitive or
personal.
Cost: Conducting interviews can be resource-intensive, especially if travel or equipment is required.
Training: Interviewers may require training to conduct effective interviews.
Environmental Quality Survey
