Data collection is vital for getting helpful insight into your business, but in a seemingly endless sea of data, finding the most effective means of collecting it can be difficult. In this article, we’ve covered the best methods, and how to optimise your data collection to fit your business.
Methods
With any form of data collection, there are some essentials to keep in mind, starting with how you frame your research. You need to clearly state your question and intended outcomes in order to keep your focus tight and your achievements measurable. When preparing an interview, for example, having your questions adhere to the guidelines of your overarching research will provide the most valuable data. So, try not to go off on tangents.
You need to select multiple methods of data collection for the best results, including both qualitative and quantitative forms to give you a wide variety to analyse. Questionnaires and surveys can be effective for large-scale data collection, utilising multiple-choice responses to get a good impression of people’s opinions.
However, you also won’t get the precision and nuance that personal interviews can provide. Every method has its pros and cons, and keeping these factors in mind when preparing your data collection will allow you to collect the most valuable data for your personal objectives.
Not every method of data collection will be simple, especially on large-scale projects. However, you can find data collection company advice and services online, such as at shepper.com/.
Additional Tips
Planning will always be your best approach to data collection. A thorough, well-researched approach will be more effective than an improvised attempt, and you’re less likely to go wrong and have to retrace your steps.
Depending on your research objective, you may need to align your focus with secondary data over primary data. See here for information on the differences:
As for qualitative vs quantitative data, reflect on your objectives again. If you need precise measurements and statistics for a hypothesis, choose quantitative data. If you intend to understand personal experiences and contexts, opt for a more qualitative approach to your data collection.