DATA GATHERING, LITERATURE REVIEW , ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY and INSTRUMENTATION (BUSCA, Reymark A. BSN III C)

 BUSCA, Reymark A. BSN III C

            DATA GATHERING, LITERATURE REVIEW, ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY and                                                                               INSTRUMENTATION

     Conducting a research is very critical. It undergoes a systematic and a scientific process. All steps should be placed and be done thoroughly.

    One important part of the research is the gathering of data. It is very important that datas gathered should came from a credible or reliable source. This part is a very important part since it belongs to analytical phase, in which data collection and surveying  activities have yielded to have a sufficient and relevant data. This is the time where datas are systematically organize so it can be interpreted and analyzed. As it is written by Brink et al. (2006) the data collected in the empirical phase are not reported in “raw” form. They must be summarised and subjected to various types of analysis and interpretation.

  Data collection is the process of gathering and measuring information on variables of interest, in an established systematic fashion that enables one to answer stated research questions, test hypotheses, and evaluate outcomes. The data collection component of research is common to all fields of study including physical and social sciences, humanities, business, etc. While methods vary by discipline, the emphasis on ensuring accurate and honest collection remains the same. While the degree of impact from faulty data collection may vary by discipline and the nature of investigation, there is the potential to cause disproportionate harm when these research results are used to support public policy recommendations. The primary rationale for preserving data integrity is to support the detection of errors in the data collection process, whether they are made intentionally (deliberate falsifications) or not (systematic or random errors).

    

Before finalizing the final the topic for the research, ensure that datas are available. A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources on a specific topic. It provides an overview of current knowledge, allowing you to identify relevant theories, methods, and gaps in the existing research. 

Writing a literature review involves finding relevant publications (such as books and journal articles), critically analyzing them, and explaining what you found. There are five key steps:

1. Search for relevant literature
2. Evaluate sources
3. Identify themes, debates and gaps
4. Outline the structure
5. Write your literature review

  A good literature review doesn’t just summarize sources – it analyzes, synthesizes and critically evaluates to give a clear picture of the state of knowledge on the subject.

 

      After searching a lot of previous studies related to the topic, an annotated bibliography is essential to give credits to the sources of your topic as well as differentiating  the results from the gathered literatures and studies related to the topic you have chosen. An annotated bibliography is an alphabetical list of information sources (e.g. journal articles or book chapters), formatted like a bibliography or a reference list, accompanied by a commentary on each source (which is called an annotation).

     The specific elements that you need to incorporate, as well as the structures required, vary between units. This includes the number and type of sources, the referencing styles, as well as what you need to discuss in the annotation. It is very important that you carefully check the specific requirements of your task so that you understand exactly what is required.

     In general, the purpose is to:

• learn about a particular topic through critically reviewing the literature
• provide an overview of the main issues, arguments and research within a particular area
• encourage deeper engagement with individual sources in order to develop your analytical skills

    An annotated bibliography is sometimes given as an assessment task at the beginning of a research project to encourage you to survey and reflect on what has already been discovered about your topic. However, it might also be given as a stand-alone assignment to develop your research and critical thinking skills.

  
  Instrumentation refers to the tools or means by which investigators attempt to measure variables or items of interest in the data-collection process. It is related not only to instrument design, selection, construction, and assessment, but also the to conditions under which the designated instruments are administered—the instrument is the device used by investigators for collecting data. In addition, during the process of data collection, investigators might fail to recognize that changes in the calibration of the measuring instrument(s) can lead to biased results. Therefore, instrumentation is also a specific term with respect to a threat to internal validity in research. This entry discusses instrumentation in relation to the data-collection process, internal validity, and research designs.

A good research instrument is one that has been validated and has proven reliability. It should be one that can collect data in a way that’s appropriate to the research question being asked. The research instrument must be able to assist in answering the research aims, objectives and research questions, as well as prove or disprove the hypothesis of the study. It should not have any bias in the way that data is collect and it should be clear as to how the research instrument should be used appropriately.

REFERENCES:

https://ori.hhs.gov/education/products/n_illinois_u/datamanagement/dctopic.html

https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/literature-review/

https://www.monash.edu/rlo/research-writing-assignments