Running head: GELACIO, MODULE 8: RESEARCH INSTRUMENT/ DATA GATHERING

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Module 8: Research Instrument/ Data Gathering Tool

Latrell Lyndon E. Gelacio

Saint Mary’s University

Running head: GELACIO, MODULE 8: RESEARCH INSTRUMENT/ DATA GATHERING
TOOL
November 10, 2020

Summary:

The outcome of the research is dependent on the data obtained, so the measuring

instrument(s) for gathering or collecting data must indicate the goal or intent of the research,

right at the very beginning. This chapter typically focuses on methods or tools for data

collection. So what is data first? It is to extract the unprocessed or raw facts, figures, and

numbers from the subjects of the study. Research instruments or devices such as concepts, tests,

questionnaires, interviews, and evaluation tests that are used to gather research results are called

research tools. Instrumentation, on the other hand, is the entire data collection process.

The quality of a good research instrument is also included in this module. According to

Calmorin et al. ( 2003), the three basic attributes of a good research instrument are validity,

which is the degree to which the measuring instrument measures what it intends to measure;

reliability, which Calmorin et al. ( 2003) define as the degree to which the instrument

consistently measures whatever it measures, or the degree to which scores are consistent for each

individual from a single administrator. And usability which means the degree to which the

research instrument can be satisfactorily used by teachers researchers, supervisors, and school

managers without undue expenditure of time, money, and effort. It also means practicality.

Most studies include data collection, which should be quantifiable in terms of form.

Measurement is the method of quantifying or allocating numeral scores according to rules to

objects or events, which can be performed at four levels: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio,

arranged from the least to the most significant or powerful in that order. The first of these means

name. The second requires that set objects be ranked in terms of more or less than; first, second,
Running head: GELACIO, MODULE 8: RESEARCH INSTRUMENT/ DATA GATHERING
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etc. on an operationally defined feature or property with categorization. While the third scale of

the interval not only tells the order of things, they also say that the interval or distance between

judgments is equal. Finally, the ratio is the highest measurement level, because it not only has

the characteristics of the first three but also has an empirically meaningful absolute or natural

zero.

The data collection tools are also provided by this module and are categorized according

to many methods. It can be based on who provides the information (research tools completed by

the researcher, tools completed by the subject or respondent, and tools completed by the

informant). Based on the instrument's source (existing instrument, researcher-developed tool).

Tests, questionnaires, and interviews are commonly used tools of data collection. It measures the

knowledge, ability, feeling, intelligence, or ability, of a person or group in the test. Examples of

tests are tests of accomplishment, personality tests, and evaluations of aptitude. Information can

be acquired from actually asking the participant in a written form (questionnaire) or a face-to-

face situation (interview) when using questionnaires. Specifying the variables to be measured,

choosing the question format, preparing the questionnaire items, pilot testing, evaluating and

revising the questionnaire/interview schedule, and administering/floating the questionnaires are

the steps to constructing a questionnaire. The concepts of questionnaire design include the

following: (a) be concise and descriptive, (b) avoid double-negative questions, (c) make sure that

by using multiple-choice questionnaires, all options are protected, (d) be explicit in your

question, (e) avoid two-part questions, (f) avoid ambiguous questions, (g) include a point of

reference wherever possible, (h) emphasize terms that a critical to the meaning of the question

especially the word "not", (i) ask only significant questions. This includes the last chapter of the

book, Module 8.
Running head: GELACIO, MODULE 8: RESEARCH INSTRUMENT/ DATA GATHERING
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Learning Insights:

This chapter provided me with insights into the characteristics of a good research

instrument and what tool is most relevant to a given variable. A researcher must evaluate and

determine its appropriateness, effectiveness, and relevance in choosing a data collection tool or

instrument. According to Polit & Beck (2008), whether the instrument is conceptually relevant is

the primary consideration: does the instrument capture your conceptual definition of the

variable? The next factor to consider is whether data of reasonably high quality can be generated

by the instrument. Apart from these questions, there are several things to consider, such as

resource availability, instrument familiarity, standards and comparability, population

appropriateness, etc. But a researcher must bear in mind that its validity, reliability, and usability

are always taken into account in choosing the most suitable research tool.

This chapter helped me to assess the types of data by measurement level: the nominal, the

ordinal, the interval, and the ratio. The commonly used tool for data collection such as tests,

questionnaires, interviews, and content analysis, from which I can also use my research work, is

also introduced in module 8.

References:

Dacles, D., Del Rosario, F. & Tayaban, J. (2013). Exploring Research: A guidebook to

conducting research and writing the research. (Preliminary try out edition). Saint

Mary’s University, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

Polit, D. & Beck, C. (2008). Nursing Research: Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing

Practice. (8th Ed.). Wolters Kluwer: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins