Tools and Technique
Getting the facts
- In order to answer the key questions and validate the hypotheses (presented in the earlier steps), collection of factual information is necessary.
- First critical steps are to identify what information, i.e. data elements, is required and develop a data collection approach/technique.
- Depending on the type of problem being solved, different data-collection techniques may be used.
- Combining a number of different techniques allows looking at problems from different perspectives
- Data collection is a critical stage in problem solving – if it is superficial, biased or incomplete, data analysis will be difficult.
Using the Issue Diagram to identify data and information need
Data Collection Technique
| Technique | Description | Tools |
| Using Information Available | Using Data that has already been collected by others | ChecklistData Compilation forms |
| Observing | Systematically selecting, watching and recording behaviour and characteristics of people, objects or events | Eyes and EarsData Compilation forms |
| Interviewing | Oral questioning of respondents, either individually or as a group | Interview guide Data Compilation forms |
| Administering Written Questionaries | Collecting data based on answers provided by respondents in written form | SurveyQuestionnaire |
| Conducting Focus Groups | Facilitating free discussions on specific topics with selected group of participants | Filp Charts |
Importance of Combining Different Data Collection Techniques
