Step 7: collecting and collating your data

Once you have received ethical approval you can start to collect and collate your data.

Your decision about the type of research method you’re using in your project will inform how you collect and collate your data.

Qualitative data collection

Qualitative data collection encompasses any data that is not numerical. It can be gathered using a variety of techniques typically including:

• interviews
• focus groups
• observations

Your data may include audio-visual materials or transcripts. If you need to identify themes and sub-themes then you’re collecting qualitative data.

You’ll also want to keep a researcher diary. Your researcher diary will include a step-by-step account of your research project and reflective notes of any decision that informs the direction of your research project or your data analysis.

Quantitative data collection

Quantitative data collection is anything you can measure or count. It can be gathered using a variety of techniques, typically including:

• surveys and questionnaires
• interviews and observations

If your data includes routine statistics, usage figures or can easily be reduced to categories and counts then you’re collecting quantitative data. For example, multiple choice, tick box and yes/no options in a questionnaire can all be analysed quantitatively.

If your data are collected by more than one person it’s important the everyone is recording or counting things in the same way.

Mixed methods data collection

This includes both qualitative and quantitative data either collected at the same time, or one after the other.

The following resources provide more details:

Bruce, N., Pope, D., & Stanistreet, D. (2018). Quantitative methods for health research: a practical interactive guide to epidemiology and statistics (2nd ed.). Oxford: Wiley.  Practical introduction to quantitative research, data collection and data analysis.

Cresswell, J. W., & Clark, V. L. P. (2006). Collecting data in mixed methods research. In J. W. Cresswell & V. L. P. Clark (Eds.), Designing and conducting mixed methods research (pp. 110-127). London: Sage. Chapter on collecting data in mixed methods research projects.

Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2017). The SAGE handbook of qualitative research (5th ed.). London: Sage. Handbook for all your queries about qualitative research.

Storing your data

Your data, including signed consent forms, should be securely stored.

Your electronic files should be stored on a password protected computer, while paper files should be stored in a locked cabinet.

The Medical Research Council advise that basic research data should be stored for a minimum of ten years from the end of a research project, Local policies may vary.

Research data management from UK Data Services will help inform your decisions on storing your research data.

Data protection

If you collect personal data within the European Union then your activity may be covered by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

This means you’ll need a legal basis for processing personal data. The most common legal basis for processing personal research data are consent, public interest (public task) or legitimate interest.

If you’ve anonymised the data you’ve collected from an individual so that they’re no longer identifiable, your data is not classed as personal data.

Here are some useful resources:

• Medical Research Council. (2019). Identifiability, anonymisation and pseudonymisation .
• UK Data Services. (2020). Research data management

Suggested reading

Cresswell, J. W., & Clark, V. L. P. (2017). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). London: Sage. Takes you through the research process, presenting examples from published mixed methods studies.

Eldredge, J. D. (2004). Inventory of research methods for librarianship and informatics. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 92(1), 83-90. A comprehensive inventory of research methods including a definition, description and references to examples.

Gorman, G. E., & Clayton, P. (2004). Qualitative research for the information professional: a practical handbook (2nd ed.). London: Facet Publishing. A comprehensive introduction to all aspects of qualitative research.

Lawal, I. O. (2009). Library and information science research in the 21st century: a guide for practicing librarians and students. Oxford: Chandos Publishing. A guide suggesting areas of potential research in library and information science.

Pickard, A. J. (2013). Qualitative approaches. In M. J. Grant, B. Sen, & H. Spring (Eds.), Research, evaluation and audit: key steps in demonstrating your value (pp. 97-120). London: Facet Publishing.

Urquhart, C. (2013). Quantitative approaches. In M. J. Grant, B. Sen, & H. Spring (Eds.), Research, evaluation and audit: key steps in demonstrating your value (pp. 121-144). London: Facet Publishing.  Pickard and Urquhart’s chapters provide overviews of quantitative research methods and data collection techniques, including case studies as well as examples to illustrate how you might  use them in practice.