Data Collection Methods in Qualitative and Quantitative Research
Data collection forms an integral part of any research activity, being the foundation upon which conclusions and recommendations are made. Research without a proper data collection procedure would make no sense. It will further lead to yielding results that are not only unreliable but also inconsistent and, more often than not, misleading. Whether the researchers are conducting qualitative studies in order to understand people or quantitative studies in order to prove or disprove hypotheses, the importance of data-gathering methods should never be downplayed.