Collecting Data in Research

One of the main part of conducting a research is data collection. Credible data gives reliable results and conclusions.

Study the PDF bellow (for academic uses only)

What is data? (Datum)

Data are the individual pieces of recorded facts and figures.

What is Research Data?

Systematically recorded factual materials commonly accepted in the scientific community as necessary to validate research findings.

Research Data can be in many forms:

Documents, Spreadsheets

Lab Notebooks, field notebooks, diaries (observational data)

Answered questionnaires, survey results, transcripts of marks

Experimental data

Photographs, Films, audio, video tapes/files

Focus group recordings, interview notes. Etc.

Kinds of Data

Quantitative Data is any data that is in numerical form.

They include numerical values such as measurements, cost, weight, frequency etc.

Qualitative Data is expressed in words, signs, images, videos; and analysed through interpretations and categorisations.

If the researchers aim is to explore ideas, understand experiences, or gain detailed insights into a specific context, she must collect qualitative data.

Primary Data: Data directly collected by the researcher for the purpose of analysing and arriving at conclusions.

Secondary Data: Data which has already been collected and documented somewhere.

The use of census data, use of hospital records

Data collected from sources such as articles, journals, magazines, books etc.

Data Collection Methods

Experiments: Manipulate variables and measure their effects on others, in order to test causal relationship.

Surveys: Distribute a questionnaire to a sample online, in person or over-the-phone to gather their opinions and trends.

Interviews/Focus group: Verbally ask questions in individual interviews or focus group interviews, to gain in-depth understanding.

Observation: Measure of survey a sample without trying to involve them, in order to understand something in a natural setting.

Ethnography: Join and participate in a community and record your observations and reflections.

Archival Research: Access manuscripts, documents or records from libraries, depositories or the internet.

Secondary Data Collection: Find existing datasets that have already been collected, from sources such as government agencies or research organisations.

Data Collection

Comments

The Male Gaze and the Construction of Gender in Visual Culture

Visual culture encompasses the totality of images, visuals, and visual practices that shape our lived experience. It manifests through art, photography, cinema, design, and countless other forms, representing the ideas, customs, and social behaviours that revolve around visual materials. Visual culture is not merely decorative or informational; it is a powerful force that produces, circulates, and interprets visual forms to construct meanings, shape beliefs, and convey power within specific cultural contexts. From traditional artworks such as paintings and sculptures to mass media like film, television, and advertising, from digital platforms including websites, apps, and video games to everyday objects like fashion, logos, and packaging—all these elements communicate meaning and fundamentally shape our understanding of the world. The quality and impact of visual culture depend on two critical factors: the quality of the visual content created and the nature of the act of see...

Indian Political Spectrum: Left, Right, and Centre

Left-wing, right-wing, and centre are terms used to describe different positions on the political spectrum. The terms left-wing and right-wing originated from the seating arrangements in the French National Assembly during the French Revolution (1789). Supporters of the King and the traditional social order sat on the president's right side. These were generally considered more conservative and resistant to change. Supporters of the revolution and those advocating for a more egalitarian society sat on the president's left side. These were seen as more progressive and willing to challenge the status quo. Over time, these seating positions became symbolic of broader political viewpoints. The terms "left" and "right" were eventually used to describe the entire spectrum of political ideologies, not just those present during the French Revolution. Left Wing focuses on equality, social justice, and reform. Left-wing ideologies generally believe in reducing econo...

Visual Analysis: SEMIOTICS

Visual analysis is a systematic and scientific approach to examining visual materials that goes far beyond casual observation. In our visually saturated world, images have become a inescapable universal language that shapes our perceptions, attitudes, and experiences. From the artworks adorning gallery walls to the advertisements lining city streets, visuals communicate narratives, evoke emotions, and reflect sociocultural ideologies . However, the process of seeing and interpreting visuals is not as spontaneous or natural as we often assume. As John Berger notably stated, " seeing is an active decision ," suggesting that the process of interpreting visuals is neither spontaneous nor natural, but rather requires conscious effort and critical thinking. The way we perceive and interpret visual content is heavily influenced by habits, conventions, and our individual perspectives. Serious visual analyses requires conscious effort and critical analysis to unravel the ...

Sigmund Freud on Creative Writing and Day-Dreaming

Freud in his essay, Creative Writers and Day-Dreaming, explores the psychological origins of artistic creativity and the impact of literature on readers. He draws parallels between the imaginative activity of creative writers and the day-dreaming of ordinary people. It is a discussion about the relationship between creative art and unconscious phantasy. In it, Freud talks about the role of daydreaming and fantasy in human behaviour, and how creative writers are able to express their daydreams without shame or self-reproach. Read the essay below (for academic use only) Creative Writers and Day Dreaming PDF Freud argues that the child's play and the adult's phantasies/daydreams share a common element—the desire to alter an unsatisfactory reality and fulfil unfulfilled wishes. The creative writer is like a successful daydreamer who is able to transform their private fantasies into works that provide pleasure to the audience. Freud suggests that the writer's choice of subject...

The History of Visual Analysis: The Power and Politics of the Image

The history of visual analysis represents humanity's evolving relationship with images—from cave paintings to digital screens, from religious icons to internet memes. This intellectual journey traces how we have moved from simple description to complex theoretical frameworks that reveal the hidden structures, ideologies, and meanings embedded in visual culture. While visual analysis has ancient roots, its most transformative developments have occurred in the modern and contemporary periods, fundamentally reshaping how we understand the power and politics of the image. Early Foundations The early history of visual analysis established essential methodologies that would later be challenged and expanded. Pliny the Elder 's first-century documentation of artists and techniques in his Natural History represented an empirical approach—cataloging rather than interpreting. This descriptive tradition continued through Giorgio Vasari 's biographical narratives in The Lives of the A...

Research: Hypothesis

A hypothesis states your predictions about what your research would find. Study the PDF below (only for academic use) Hypothesis in Research PDF Hypotheses propose a relationship between two or more variables . It is a tentative answer to your research question that has not yet been proved. A hypothesis is not just a guess — but based on existing theories and knowledge. For some research projects, you might have to write several hypotheses that address different aspects of your research question. A hypothesis has to be testable , which means you can prove or disprove it through scientific research methods, like experiments, observations, statistical analysis, etc. Hypothesis in Research How to develop a hypothesis? Ask a question : Writing a hypothesis begins with a research question that you want to answer. Do some preliminary research : Look for theories and previous studies to help you form educated assumptions about what your research will find. Collect as many observa...

Visual Analysis: LANGUAGE, ELEMENTS, AND GRAMMAR

Visual communication plays a powerful role in shaping our understanding of the world. Like written and spoken language, visuals employ a complex grammar and system of meaning. Study the PDF below (for academic use only) Visual language, elements, and grammar PDF At its core, visual grammar is comprised of fundamental elements like line, shape, colour, texture, space, and typography. These are the basic building blocks that visual creators assemble and organise using principles like emphasis, contrast, composition, size, proportion, balance, and lighting. Just as words are assembled following the syntactical rules of language, visuals are constructed by purposefully arranging and relating these elemental units. Lines, for instance, can convey a range of associations through their orientation and qualities. Horizontal lines suggest stability and calm, verticals impart a sense of strength and authority, while diagonals imbue dynamism and movement. The weight and curvature of lines fu...

photo.graph.art.design

Search This Blog