Collecting and collating your data

Guidance on 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, and Stanistreet, D (2018) 'Quantitative methods for health research: a practical interactive guide to epidemiology and statistics' (2nd edition) Oxford: Wiley Practical introduction to quantitative research, data collection and data analysis
Cresswell, J W, and Clark, V L P (2006) Collecting data in mixed methods research In J W Cresswell and V L P Clark (Editors), 'Designing and conducting mixed methods research' (pages 110 to 127) London: Sage Chapter on collecting data in mixed methods research projects
Denzin, N K, and Lincoln, Y S (2017) 'The SAGE handbook of qualitative research' (5th edition) 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 10 years from the end of a research project. Local policies may vary.

Guidance from UK Data Services on research data management 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.

Below are some useful resources.