Collecting Data

Finally you have all the approvals and get to collect your data! A few pointers for this phase. Make sure you follow the procedures that were listed in your IRB application exactly, this is also called your research protocol. The IRB does random audits of students’ data, so be sure you are scrupulous about maintaining your protocol. Any changes (even minor ones) must be approved by the IRB through the “Change of Procedure” form. If you make any major changes, also be sure you notify your committee member and URR, and get their okay on it. 

One detail that is rarely mentioned, is the need for organization of your data. Let’s consider a couple of different scenarios. If you are using any type of paper collection methods (surveys, questionnaires, etc.) keep everything in one place, such as a file folder or large envelope. Don’t throw away or destroy anything until your total project is complete (even if you enter the data into software), you may need to double check your originals and if you are audited by the IRB, you will need the originals. 

If you are downloading your data directly from an outside source, e.g., survey monkey, secondary data, be sure that you double check that the data makes sense. Sometimes things get messed up in the transfer. Save your data in a couple of places, just in case of computer issues. 

Always double check your data entry, it is worth having someone else check you. Your results are only as accurate as your data entry. 

One question that students doing qualitative often have is whether they can deviate from their IRB approved interview questions. You are allowed to ask follow up questions to clarify the participants’ responses, but you may not go into new topics. If you believe that you need an additional interview question(s), you must complete a “change of procedure” form with the IRB, you will also need to show how the new interview questions relate to your research questions. 

If you are interacting directly with your participants through interviews or other methods, keep in the back of your mind that these people are doing you a great favor by being in your study. You could not get your degree without them. So be accommodating to their schedule, be polite, and thank them for participating. You have an obligation to all future researchers to show your participants that involvement in research is important and enjoyable. 

As you wait for the data to come in, use this time to go back through your proposal and change everything related to your study from future tense (“the study will explore…”) to past tense (“the study explored…”). Do not rely on a search and replace, I guarantee you will have to later go back and fix errors. Instead, read through the paper and correct them. You can also save yourself time in the future by double checking the Dissertation Guidebook as to form and style issues. Make sure you have followed the rules of grammar and writing as closely as possible. 

Sometimes, things don’t go as planned during data collection. Next time we will explore data collection problems and their resolution.