Collection Methods

This controlled vocabulary is a DDI Alliance vocabulary. It defines the procedure, technique, or mode of inquiry used to attain the data. The CLOSER version uses the same values but uses bespoke descriptions drawn from the Descriptive Term and Definition fields.

ID	Code	Description (as used on CLOSER discovery)
1	Interview	A pre-planned communication between two (or more) people - the interviewer(s) and the interviewee(s) - in which information is obtained by the interviewer(s) from the interviewee(s).
1.1	Interview.FaceToFace	Data collection method in which a live interviewer conducts a personal interview, presenting questions and entering the responses.
1.1.1	Interview.FaceToFace.CAPI/CAMI	Face-to-face computer-assisted personal interviewing.
1.1.2	Interview.FaceToFace.PAPI	Face-to-face paper-and-pencil interviewing.
1.2	Interview.Telephone	Interview administered on the telephone.
1.2.1	Interview.Telephone.CATI	Computer-assisted telephone interviewing.
1.3	Interview.Email	Interviews conducted via email, usually consisting of several email messages that allow the discussion to continue beyond the first set of questions and answers, or the first email exchange.
1.4	Interview.WebBased	An interview conducted via the internet e.g. via a forum or video conferencing.
2	SelfAdministeredQuestionnaire	Data collection method in which the respondent reads or listens to the questions and enters the responses by his/herself; no live interviewer is present, or participates in the questionnaire administration.
2.1	SelfAdministeredQuestionnaire.Email	Self-administered survey in which questions are presented in an email (in the text body or as an attachment) and returned via email.
2.2	SelfAdministeredQuestionnaire.Paper	Self-administered survey using a traditional paper questionnaire.
2.3	SelfAdministeredQuestionnaire.SMSorMMS	Self administered survey in which the respondents receive the questions incorporated in SMS or MMS and send their responses in the same format.
2.4	SelfAdministeredQuestionnaire.WebBased	Computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI). Data are collected using a web questionnaire, produced with a program for creating web surveys.
2.4.1	SelfAdministeredQuestionnaire.FixedForm.WebBased	Self-administered survey via a custom interviewing programme using real time data transfers (CAWI) .
2.5	SelfAdministeredQuestionnaire.ComputerAssisted	Computer assisted self-interview (CASI). Respondents enter the responses into a computer by themselves.
3	FocusGroup	A group discussion on a particular topic, organized for research purposes.
3.1	FocusGroup.FaceToFace	A group discussion on a particular topic, organized for research purposes. The focus group participants met in person to conduct the discussion.
3.2	FocusGroup.Telephone	A group discussion on a particular topic, organized for research purposes. The focus group discussion is conducted over the telephone.
3.3	FocusGroup.Online	A group discussion on a particular topic, organized for research purposes. The focus group discussion is conducted over the internet in an interactive manner.
4	SelfAdministeredWritingsAndDiaries	Narratives, stories, diaries and written texts created by the research subject.
4.1	SelfAdministeredWritingsAndDiaries.Email	Narratives, stories, diaries and written texts created by the research subject. These are submitted by email.
4.2	SelfAdministeredWritingsAndDiaries.Paper	Narratives, stories, diaries and written texts created by the research subject. These are collected on paper.
4.3	SelfAdministeredWritingsAndDiaries.WebBased	Narratives, stories, diaries and written texts created by the research subject. These are collected via the web.
5	Observation	Research method that involves observing and collecting data as they occur without attempting to manipulate any of the independent variables.
5.1	Observation.Field	Research method that involves observing and collecting data as they occur without attempting to manipulate any of the independent variables. Observation conducted in a natural environment.
5.1.1	Observation.Field.Participant	Research method that involves observing and collecting data as they occur without attempting to manipulate any of the independent variables. Observation conducted in a natural environment. The researcher interacts with the subjects and often plays a role in the situation under observation.
5.1.2	Observation.Field.Nonparticipant	Research method that involves observing and collecting data as they occur without attempting to manipulate any of the independent variables. Observation conducted in a natural environment. There is no interaction between the researcher and his/her subjects.
5.2	Observation.Laboratory	Research method that involves observing and collecting data as they occur without attempting to manipulate any of the independent variables. Observation is conducted in a controlled, artificially created setting.
5.2.1	Observation.Laboratory.Participant	Research method that involves observing and collecting data as they occur without attempting to manipulate any of the independent variables. Observation is conducted in a controlled, artificially created setting. The researcher interacts with the subjects and often plays a role in the situation under observation.
5.2.2	Observation.Laboratory.Nonparticipant	Research method that involves observing and collecting data as they occur without attempting to manipulate any of the independent variables. Observation is conducted in a controlled, artificially created setting. There is no interaction between the researcher and his/her subjects.
5.3	Observation.ComputerBased	Research method that involves observing and collecting data as they occur without attempting to manipulate any of the independent variables. Type of observation in which data regarding computer usage are being collected by software that can be built into the programme itself or can be a separate programme.
6	Experiment	Research method involving the manipulation of some or all of the independent variables included in the hypothesis.
6.1	Experiment.Laboratory	Research method involving the manipulation of some or all of the independent variables included in the hypothesis. The experiment is conducted in a controlled, artificially created physical setting.
6.2	Experiment.FieldIntervention	Research method involving the manipulation of some or all of the independent variables included in the hypothesis. The experiment is conducted in natural, uncontrolled setting.
6.3	Experiment.WebBased	Research method involving the manipulation of some or all of the independent variables included in the hypothesis. The experiment is conducted in a virtual setting.
7	Recording	Registering by mechanical or electronic means, in a form that allows the information to be retrieved and/or reproduced.
8	ContentCoding	As a mode of secondary data collection, content coding applies coding techniques to transform qualitative data into quantitative data using pre-defined category schemes.
9	Transcription	Capturing information in writing from a different source or from a different medium, alphabet or form of notation, like scientific formulae or musical notes.
10	CompilationSynthesis	Collecting and assembling data from multiple, often heterogeneous sources that have one or more reference points in common, and at least one of the sources was originally produced for other purposes.
11	Summary	Presentation of information in a condensed form, by reducing it to its main points.
12	Aggregation	Statistics that relate to broad classes, groups or categories. The data are averaged, totalled or otherwise derived from individual-level data, and it is no longer possible to distinguish the characteristics of individuals from within those classes, groups or categories.
13	Simulation	Modelling or imitative representation or real-world processes, events or systems, often using computer programmes.
14	MeasurementsAndTests	Assessing specific properties (or characteristics) of beings, things, phenomena (and/or processes) by applying pre-established standards and/or specialized instruments or techniques
14.1	MeasurementsAndTests.Educational	Assessment of knowledge, skills, aptitude or educational achievement by means of specialized measures or tests.
14.2	MeasurementsAndTests.Physical	Assessment of physical properties of living beings, objects, material or natural phenomena. This includes medical and geographic data.
14.3	MeasurementsAndTests.Psychological	Assessment of personality traits or psychological/behavioural responses by means of specialised measures or tests.
15	Other	Other modes of data collection

The vocabulary is also available as a XKOS package at https://github.com/linked-statistics/DDI-controlled-vocabularies/blob/master/ModeOfCollection/ModeOfCollection_1.1.rdf.