Collecting data has a specific purpose. The type of data collected, and the tool used for collection is determined by the issue, problem, or challenge to be addressed. Data can be collected through specific measurements, surveys, focus groups, or large data sets supplied by external sources. The type of data collected is determined by the question to be answered.
To protect the credibility and reliability of data, information should be gathered using accepted data collection techniques. The following steps provide an outline for the process of collecting and using data.
STEP 1: Identify issues and/or opportunities for collecting data to meet a need to be addressed. What is the focus of the research? There could be multiple questions or issues that surface. Carefully determine the primary question that data will help answer.
STEP 2: Select an issue or opportunity to address and set goals based on the issue. It is important to have one goal that the team or organization wants to achieve. What data is needed to help us know what our current state is so that we can set a challenging goal to support continuous improvement for the organization?
STEP 3: Plan an approach and methods. The approach or method is determined by the data needed to measure achievement toward the goal. Those who will be involved in the data collection and the tool needed are determined by the research question to be answered.
STEP 4: Collect data. Parameters and protocols for collecting data are set in advance of collection and followed carefully.
Now we must review the data, analyze the data, delineating what is learned from the data. Analyzing the data can be complex, depending on the size of the data set and the methods used for collection. Before beginning the data collection, determine the analysis will be internal or external.