Best Data Collection Method
Introduction
Data collection is an important segment in every research activity that a researcher needs to be careful with to ensure quality information is collected. Data collection should be done systematically with carefully chosen collection styles that align with the research topic. It allows the researcher to get enough information, statistics, and data to address the research problem properly.
Data Collection Methods
There are different types of data collection methods that give room for collecting huge amounts of data that are in line with the research aims. Interviews, questionnaires, and observation are some of the best qualitative research methods to collect data for business research activities. Qualitative research methods are mostly applied in business research since they involve examining non-numerical data to help solve the business problem by deeply understanding opinions, concepts, and experiences.
Interviews are the top used methods of data collection where two or more people share information by asking and answering a set of questions. The researcher designed and developed questions asked in an interview to help retrieve information and data from the involved participants. In most cases, interviews are held in an in-person environment where the interviewee and the interviewer interact (Peters & Halcomb, 2015) directly. It is advantageous to use interviews in business research as huge amounts of information can be collected through verbal and non-verbal communication. Firstly, interviews are flexible; the interviewer can change the interview process to obtain more data. The interviewer can restructure the questions to get more clear information. The interviewer can get more research information by creating a good rapport with the respondents; hence, there is less resistance. Interviews allow respondents who cannot read or write, such as illiterate people and children, to participate in the research process (Alshenqeeti, 2014). Interviews are one-on-one; hence, the respondents are not prone to being influenced by other people, which allows for the sharing of honest information.
Questionnaires are the most popular business reach methods today due to their efficiency and inexpensive nature. A questionnaire comprises several questions derived with consideration of the business research problem to help derive important information and data from the respondents (Patten, 2016). Unlike interviews, there are different ways of administering questions. They can be answered online via the respondent’s phone or face-to-face. The open-ended questions allow the respondents to answer freely and share as much information as possible. The close-ended questions allow the respondents to share information by selecting answers to form predetermined responses. Questionnaires are cost-efficient as there is no need to hire respondents (Ebert et al., 2018). The questions can be emailed or put on a website for the respondent to answer at a very low cost. It is easy to analyze questionnaires since mostly there are tools that automatically interpret the research results.
The observation research method involves studying people’s behavior or the environment to collect data and information related to a certain research problem. It is easy to collect data using this method since it requires no special skills or instruments. Data collected through this method is always detailed, as every behavior and characteristic of people and their surroundings are always recorded (Jamshed, 2014). The respondents have less resistance as the researcher does not require the respondent’s active participation.
The best data collection method for my research proposal is conducting interviews. The research proposal involves studying the benefits of recycling for the environment. Interviews will offer a one-on-one interaction to help record respondents’ opinions, ideas, and reactions. Interviews will allow the collection of detailed data and information (Alshenqeeti, 2014). The observation method will not be suitable as only observations are recorded, not people’s responses and opinions. People from all demographics can respond to the interview questions even if they cannot read or write; hence, a lot of useful information is collected. Questionnaires are not suitable for this research since they are prone to influence by other people. Respondents can give dishonest answers due to a lack of personalization, whereas most people give unconscious responses (Jamshed, 2014).
My research questions include, “What is the role of recycling in preventing air pollution?”, “What is the role of recycling in preventing water pollution?” and “What waste can be recycled to prevent water, air, and general environmental pollution?”. Based on these research questions, the key variables that will be measured in the interview process are the importance of recycling, materials that can be recycled, major causes of water and air pollution, and ways of recycling different materials. The target population suitable for the research will be people who live in urban areas and mostly purchase products that can be recycled. People between 15 and 60 years old will be needed in the research activity since they are actively involved in household decision-making regarding dumping waste. The target population is in a position to decide what products to recycle, which ones to dispose of away, and how to dispose of them to reduce environmental pollution.
It is important to ensure that research ethics are considered when using the interview data collection method. When the interview is informed by sound and ethical research principles, the respondents’ opinions will be respected, and no harm will be imposed on them. As indicated in the Belmont Report, the main research ethics that should be considered in the interview process are beneficence, respect for a person, and justice (Friesen et al., 2017). Respect for persons will ensure that interview respondents are treated as autonomous to allow respondents to make their own decision on involving themselves in the interview process. The interviewers should explain all about the research before the interview begins for the respondent to make a decision. People with diminished autonomy, such as mentally ill people and children, should be protected since they cannot make informed decisions. The beneficence principle will ensure that the purpose of the interview process does not harm anyone. The benefits of participating in the interviews should be many, with less exposure to risk. Justice ensures that the interview process is fair in selecting the individuals to be part of the research and where the interview will occur. The dominating biblical principle that aligns with the Belmont report is being sensitive to the type of information and literature the researcher is in (Klein, Blomberg, & Hubbard 2017). every respondent has unique characteristics that should be considered during information interpretation to ensure beneficence, respect for a person, and justice.
Reference
Alshenqeeti, H. (2014). Interviewing as a data collection method: A critical review. English linguistics research, 3(1), 39-45.
Ebert, J. F., Huibers, L., Christensen, B., & Christensen, M. B. (2018). Web-based questionnaire invitations as a method for data collection: a cross-sectional comparative study of differences in response rate, completeness of data, and financial cost. Journal of medical Internet research, 20(1), e8353.
Friesen, P., Kearns, L., Redman, B., & Caplan, A. L. (2017). Rethinking the Belmont report? The American Journal of Bioethics, 17(7), 15-21.
Jamshed, S. (2014). Qualitative research method-interviewing and observation. Journal of basic and clinical pharmacy, 5(4), 87.
Klein, W. W., Blomberg, C. L., & Hubbard Jr, R. L. (2017). Introduction to biblical interpretation. Zondervan Academic.
Patten, M. (2016). Questionnaire research: A practical guide. Routledge.
Peters, K., & Halcomb, E. (2015). Interviews in qualitative research. Nurse Researcher (2014+), 22(4), 6.
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Question 
Data collection is a very critical stage of the overall research process as it provides the information needed to answer the research questions. Since data collection also involves a large investment of resources, it is important to plan properly to ensure data is collected on the key variables specified by the research question(s) and conceptual approach and that the data collection plan is appropriate for the target population to secure constructive participation in the study (Kviz, 2020).
Best Data Collection Method
As presented in the textbook, three core data collection methods are used most often in business research: Interviewing, Observation, and Questionnaires (Semarang & Bougie, 2016). For this assignment, you will be required to analyze these three methods of data collection and determine which method might be most suitable for the study to be conducted in your business research proposal. This assignment will also require you to explore biblical principles that might help to inform ethical data collection processes and research practices.
Please address the following areas for this assignment:
Briefly analyze the data collection methods of interviewing, observation, and questionnaires and how they can be advantageous in business research.
Which data collection method will best align with the research question identified in your business research proposal? Provide a rationale for your selection.
Based on your research question, what key variables will you measure in the data collection process?
What will be the target population?
Describe how you will ensure your selected data collection process is informed by sound ethical principles. Discuss the overarching biblical principles that align, at a minimum, with the ethical guidelines outlined in the Belmont Report, such as respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. Scriptural references should be included.