Collection Methods
This controlled vocabulary is a DDI Alliance vocabulary. It defines the procedure, technique, or mode of inquiry used to attain the data. The CLOSER version uses the same values but uses bespoke descriptions drawn from the Descriptive Term and Definition fields.
| ID | Code | Description (as used on CLOSER discovery) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interview | A pre-planned communication between two (or more) people - the interviewer(s) and the interviewee(s) - in which information is obtained by the interviewer(s) from the interviewee(s). |
| 1.1 | Interview.FaceToFace | Data collection method in which a live interviewer conducts a personal interview, presenting questions and entering the responses. |
| 1.1.1 | Interview.FaceToFace.CAPI/CAMI | Face-to-face computer-assisted personal interviewing. |
| 1.1.2 | Interview.FaceToFace.PAPI | Face-to-face paper-and-pencil interviewing. |
| 1.2 | Interview.Telephone | Interview administered on the telephone. |
| 1.2.1 | Interview.Telephone.CATI | Computer-assisted telephone interviewing. |
| 1.3 | Interview.Email | Interviews conducted via email, usually consisting of several email messages that allow the discussion to continue beyond the first set of questions and answers, or the first email exchange. |
| 1.4 | Interview.WebBased | An interview conducted via the internet e.g. via a forum or video conferencing. |
| 2 | SelfAdministeredQuestionnaire | Data collection method in which the respondent reads or listens to the questions and enters the responses by his/herself; no live interviewer is present, or participates in the questionnaire administration. |
| 2.1 | SelfAdministeredQuestionnaire.Email | Self-administered survey in which questions are presented in an email (in the text body or as an attachment) and returned via email. |
| 2.2 | SelfAdministeredQuestionnaire.Paper | Self-administered survey using a traditional paper questionnaire. |
| 2.3 | SelfAdministeredQuestionnaire.SMSorMMS | Self administered survey in which the respondents receive the questions incorporated in SMS or MMS and send their responses in the same format. |
| 2.4 | SelfAdministeredQuestionnaire.WebBased | Computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI). Data are collected using a web questionnaire, produced with a program for creating web surveys. |
| 2.4.1 | SelfAdministeredQuestionnaire.FixedForm.WebBased | Self-administered survey via a custom interviewing programme using real time data transfers (CAWI) . |
| 2.5 | SelfAdministeredQuestionnaire.ComputerAssisted | Computer assisted self-interview (CASI). Respondents enter the responses into a computer by themselves. |
| 3 | FocusGroup | A group discussion on a particular topic, organized for research purposes. |
| 3.1 | FocusGroup.FaceToFace | A group discussion on a particular topic, organized for research purposes. The focus group participants met in person to conduct the discussion. |
| 3.2 | FocusGroup.Telephone | A group discussion on a particular topic, organized for research purposes. The focus group discussion is conducted over the telephone. |
| 3.3 | FocusGroup.Online | A group discussion on a particular topic, organized for research purposes. The focus group discussion is conducted over the internet in an interactive manner. |
| 4 | SelfAdministeredWritingsAndDiaries | Narratives, stories, diaries and written texts created by the research subject. |
| 4.1 | SelfAdministeredWritingsAndDiaries.Email | Narratives, stories, diaries and written texts created by the research subject. These are submitted by email. |
| 4.2 | SelfAdministeredWritingsAndDiaries.Paper | Narratives, stories, diaries and written texts created by the research subject. These are collected on paper. |
| 4.3 | SelfAdministeredWritingsAndDiaries.WebBased | Narratives, stories, diaries and written texts created by the research subject. These are collected via the web. |
| 5 | Observation | Research method that involves observing and collecting data as they occur without attempting to manipulate any of the independent variables. |
| 5.1 | Observation.Field | Research method that involves observing and collecting data as they occur without attempting to manipulate any of the independent variables. Observation conducted in a natural environment. |
| 5.1.1 | Observation.Field.Participant | Research method that involves observing and collecting data as they occur without attempting to manipulate any of the independent variables. Observation conducted in a natural environment. The researcher interacts with the subjects and often plays a role in the situation under observation. |
| 5.1.2 | Observation.Field.Nonparticipant | Research method that involves observing and collecting data as they occur without attempting to manipulate any of the independent variables. Observation conducted in a natural environment. There is no interaction between the researcher and his/her subjects. |
| 5.2 | Observation.Laboratory | Research method that involves observing and collecting data as they occur without attempting to manipulate any of the independent variables. Observation is conducted in a controlled, artificially created setting. |
| 5.2.1 | Observation.Laboratory.Participant | Research method that involves observing and collecting data as they occur without attempting to manipulate any of the independent variables. Observation is conducted in a controlled, artificially created setting. The researcher interacts with the subjects and often plays a role in the situation under observation. |
| 5.2.2 | Observation.Laboratory.Nonparticipant | Research method that involves observing and collecting data as they occur without attempting to manipulate any of the independent variables. Observation is conducted in a controlled, artificially created setting. There is no interaction between the researcher and his/her subjects. |
| 5.3 | Observation.ComputerBased | Research method that involves observing and collecting data as they occur without attempting to manipulate any of the independent variables. Type of observation in which data regarding computer usage are being collected by software that can be built into the programme itself or can be a separate programme. |
| 6 | Experiment | Research method involving the manipulation of some or all of the independent variables included in the hypothesis. |
| 6.1 | Experiment.Laboratory | Research method involving the manipulation of some or all of the independent variables included in the hypothesis. The experiment is conducted in a controlled, artificially created physical setting. |
| 6.2 | Experiment.FieldIntervention | Research method involving the manipulation of some or all of the independent variables included in the hypothesis. The experiment is conducted in natural, uncontrolled setting. |
| 6.3 | Experiment.WebBased | Research method involving the manipulation of some or all of the independent variables included in the hypothesis. The experiment is conducted in a virtual setting. |
| 7 | Recording | Registering by mechanical or electronic means, in a form that allows the information to be retrieved and/or reproduced. |
| 8 | ContentCoding | As a mode of secondary data collection, content coding applies coding techniques to transform qualitative data into quantitative data using pre-defined category schemes. |
| 9 | Transcription | Capturing information in writing from a different source or from a different medium, alphabet or form of notation, like scientific formulae or musical notes. |
| 10 | CompilationSynthesis | Collecting and assembling data from multiple, often heterogeneous sources that have one or more reference points in common, and at least one of the sources was originally produced for other purposes. |
| 11 | Summary | Presentation of information in a condensed form, by reducing it to its main points. |
| 12 | Aggregation | Statistics that relate to broad classes, groups or categories. The data are averaged, totalled or otherwise derived from individual-level data, and it is no longer possible to distinguish the characteristics of individuals from within those classes, groups or categories. |
| 13 | Simulation | Modelling or imitative representation or real-world processes, events or systems, often using computer programmes. |
| 14 | MeasurementsAndTests | Assessing specific properties (or characteristics) of beings, things, phenomena (and/or processes) by applying pre-established standards and/or specialized instruments or techniques |
| 14.1 | MeasurementsAndTests.Educational | Assessment of knowledge, skills, aptitude or educational achievement by means of specialized measures or tests. |
| 14.2 | MeasurementsAndTests.Physical | Assessment of physical properties of living beings, objects, material or natural phenomena. This includes medical and geographic data. |
| 14.3 | MeasurementsAndTests.Psychological | Assessment of personality traits or psychological/behavioural responses by means of specialised measures or tests. |
| 15 | Other | Other modes of data collection |
The vocabulary is also available as a XKOS package at https://github.com/linked-statistics/DDI-controlled-vocabularies/blob/master/ModeOfCollection/ModeOfCollection_1.1.rdf.