Once you’ve identified the Who, What, Where, When and Why for your research, it’s time to choose a method of collecting data that will best answer your What and Why questions. This chapter will provide a detailed overview of several methods that can be helpful for collecting public opinion data.
This video by MelBel provides a brief overview of some types of qualitative data. Watch until about two minutes and 50 seconds to see two specific types of data collection methods that we cover in this handbook (4.5 mins):
At the end of this chapter, you should be able to answer the following questions:
- What method or combination of methods should I be using to collect data that meets my objectives and answers my research question?
- How do I successfully use the method to collect public opinion data?
- Where can I go for more information on qualitative data collection methods?
This chapter is divided into the following nine sections:
- Surveys
- Interviews and Email Interviews
- Focus Groups
- World Café
- Indigenous Methods
- Appreciative Inquiry
- Mixed or Multi Methods
- Note Taking Best Practices For All Data Collection Methods
- Choosing Your Direction