Collecting data and designing experiments

Abstract

Planning is essential in any successful research project and deciding on what data to collect and how to collect it is not as simple as it may seem. There are many different methods available to collect data and the most suitable method will differ depending on the individual project. No matter which method is chosen sufficient time must be spent preparing and piloting the chosen method. This is to avoid situations where time and money have been spent and incorrect data, or data with no means of analysis have been collected. This article explains the use of some of the common methods of data collection (questionnaires, interviews, focus groups and experiments) giving examples of when their use might be appropriate within veterinary nursing research.