Primary Data – also called “raw data”, information are taken directly from the respondents or samples.

Secondary Data – data are collected from writings such as reports and books and web and more.

4 TYPES OF DATA COLLECTION

1. Interview
Structured Interviews – use a set of questions prepared by the researcher only.
Semi – structured Interviews – uses both closed and open – ended questions. May state follow up questions
and dig deeper for clarifications and build rapport.
Unstructured Interviews – use open – ended questions which the interviewee or research participant
answers freely. Uses pointers only and spontaneous in nature.

a. Participant Observation – the researchers immerses himself/ herself in the natural setting of the
research participant enabling him or her to see, hear, feel and experience the participant’s daily life.
b. Focused Group Interview – 6 – 8 persons participate in the interview. The advantage of this is that
critical issues or sensitive ones can be more freely discussed with a group.
c. Observation Evaluation – the researcher may or may not participate in activities of the group being
observed.
d. Autobiography / Biography – personal biographies offer a rich source of data or evidence that can shed
light to provide tentative answers to research questions.

2. Observation
Covert – the researcher observes the sample or group unnoticed.
Overt – the researcher asked for permission to observe his or her sample or group.

3. Documents
a. Public Documents – documents available for public viewing.
b. Private Documents – documents made for personal reasons or notes.

4. Audio and Visual Materials

-may take the form of photographs, art objects, videotapes, or any form of sounds.
  Sampling – is the process of selecting and getting the respondents of the study within the minimum cost such
that resulting observations will be the representative of the entire population. The ultimate purpose of all the
sampling designs is to imitate the behavior of the entire population based on a few observations only.

 Sampling – is the process of getting information from a proper subset of population.

 Sampling Frame – list of the entire population you are interested in.

 Population – Group of people you are interested in studying.

 Sample – a subset of people from the population.

Sampling Techniques
1. Probability Sampling – is a sampling technique in which samples are obtained using some objective chance
mechanism, thus involving randomization. Gives everyone a chance to be a sample.
a. Simple random sampling – basic probability sampling design, in which the sample is selected by a
process that does not only give each element in the population a chance of being included in the sample
but also makes the selection of every possible combination of the desired number of cases equally likely.
b. Systematic Random Sampling – is affected by drawing units at regular intervals from a list.
c. Stratified random sampling – selecting sub-samples proportionate on size to the significant
characteristics of the total population.
d. Cluster Sampling – a technique in which the unit of sampling is not the individual but the naturally
occurring group of individuals. After categorizing the sample frame, researcher can use other probability
sampling.

2. Non-Probability Sampling – a technique where there is no way of estimating the probability that each element
has of being included in the sample and no assurance that every element has a chance of being included.
a. Convenience Sampling – involves choosing respondents at the convenience of the researcher.
b. Purposive Sampling or Judgement Sampling – used when practical considerations prevent the use of
probability sampling. In this sampling, you sample with a purpose in mind. Usually you seek with one or
more specific predefined group.
c. Snowball Sampling (Snowballing) – also called “friendship pyramiding”, is a multistage technique. Begins
with ne or few people or cases and spreads out on the basis of links to the initial cases. The sample is built
through linkages.
Methodology - is an essential chapter in any research undertaking. This contains sets of instruments and procedures in
dealing with research problems.

The following are the components of the section on research methods:

 RESEARCH DESIGN – the section describes the specific research approach you will use in the study. The research
design is dependent on the purpose of the study and the set of specific research questions you have formulated.

 RESEARCH LOCALE – this section describes the setting or location of the study. This specific description of the
setting is very important in a qualitative research since the setting or context may have an effect or impact on
the behavior of the respondents.

 SAMPLE OR THE RESPONDENTS – this section describes the respondents of the study. The description may
include the demographic profile of the respondents such as age, educational background, occupation, and other
information that may be relevant in understanding the (behavior of the) respondents.

 RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS – This section outlines the instruments you will use in the study such as interview
questions, interview protocols, observation guide, survey form, focus group discussion questions, and other.

 DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE – This section describes the specific steps you will undergo in order to collect
the data for your study. In some types of research, particularly ethnographic and case studies, the specific date
(and sometimes, exact time) of doing the steps (i.e., observing the participants) are important. The instruments
used to record data (e.g., pen and paper, audio/or video recorder) may also be mentioned.

 DATA ANALYSIS PROCEDURE – this section describes how you will analyze the data that you will gather.

The Writing of Methodology

Tips:
1. Always write the method section in the past tense. (Use the future tense if it is the research design).
2. Provide enough details that another researcher could replicate your experiment, but focus on brevity. Avoid
unnecessary detail that is not relevant to the outcome of the experiment.
3. Remember to use proper American Psychological Association (APA) format.
4. Take a rough draft of your method section with your teacher or research adviser for additional assistance.
5. Proofread your paper for typos, grammar problems, and spelling errors. Do not just rely on computer spell
checkers. Always read through each section of your paper for agreement with other sections. If you mention
steps and procedures in the method section, these elements should also be present in the results and discussion
sections.

This three chapters comprise your research proposal. Let’s recall each chapter.
Chapter 1 – The Problem and Its Setting. This chapter presents the problem of your study. You can also find here the
significance, scope and delimitation, and some terms that need to be defined in your study.
Chapter 2 – Review of Related Literature. This chapter discusses the literature and studies related to your present study
which forma=s the theoretical and conceptual basis of your research.
Chapter 3 – Methods. This chapter presents the qualitative research approach that you will use including the sample and
the strategy for collecting and analyzing the data.

Oral Presentation of the Proposal

After you have written your research proposal, the next phase of your work is to present orally your research proposal to
a panel of experts. The panel is usually composed of three to five members who are experts in the discipline.
The following guidelines are recommended before and during the research proposal.
1. Always consult your research adviser. Your adviser will not only help you improve the content of your research
proposal; he or she may also give you suggestions on how to defend your paper.
2. Study your proposal carefully. Expect questions that may be asked by the panel about your paper and prepare to
answer each.
3. Prepare a PowerPoint presentation of your proposal in bullet form. Focus the content of your presentation on
the research problem and the methods you will use to answer the specific research questions.
4. Usually, the allotted time for the presentation of the proposal is 10 to 15 minutes to give more time for
questions. Thus summarize your proposal in a few slides.
5. During the question and answer, refrain from arguing with the panel of experts. Consider their comments and
feedbacks as suggestions to improve your study.
6. Record the suggestions of the panel. This will help you in revising/finalizing your proposal. You can ask someone
to write down the suggestions of the panel for you. Be confident. The defense is not meant to “grill” you bet
help you improve and finalize the direction of your research study.
7. Follow the dress code. The proposal defense is often a formal activity; thus, schools set certain dress codes
during such occasion. Be sure you know this before the schedule of your defense.