Collection Methods

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)

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.