III Exercises on Data Collection

The exercises on data collection are divided into two categories:

Exercise A applies to the student’s own discipline and research subject

Exercise B which requires either or both a broader and a theoretical discussion

III 1 A) Choose a subject matter which you find interesting to research (e.g. the subject matter of your thesis). Find out if collected data for the subject matter already exists.

III 2 A) Choose a subject matter which you find interesting to research (e.g. the subject matter of your thesis). Which kinds of existing materials are available for the subject matter? Formulate an aim and define the subject matter in a way that research data can consist of:

a) existing materials

b) self-produced materials

III 3 A) Choose a subject matter which you find interesting to research (e.g. the subject matter of your thesis). Formulate an aim and define the subject matter in a way that research data is reasonable to collect with:

a) random sampling

b) purposive sampling

and also in a way that the research is reasonable to conduct as a population study.

III 4 A) Choose a subject matter which you find interesting to research (e.g. the subject matter of your thesis). Get to know the data collection methods introduced in the outer circle of the Data Collection circle. Formulate three different aims (related to the chosen subject matter) and define the subject matter in a way that the research could be made with three of the data collection methods introduced in the outer circle.

III 5 B) Discuss the kinds of limitations existing data may cause for doing research.

III 6 B) Discuss the positive and negative aspects, which may occur in research when using:

a) existing materials as data

b) self-produced materials as data.

III 7 B) Discuss, how the aims of the research may differ when the data consists of:

a) existing materials

b) self-produced materials.

III 8 B) Discuss, how the theoretical points of views and philosophical thinking differ when the data is collected with:

a) random sampling

b) purposive sampling.

III 9 B) Get to know the data collection methods introduced in the outer circle of the Data Collection circle. Discuss which data collection methods are due to shared theoretical starting points or points of reference in the philosophy of science:

a) similar

b) totally different.