Strengths and Weaknesses

of
Data Collection Method

Observation
Strengths

Weaknesses

Can
be
used
with Cannot
observe
participants with weak verbal populations
skills

large

Allow one to directly see Possibility of observer being

what people do without biased
having to rely on what they (e.g. selective perception)
say they do.

Questionnaires
Strength

Weaknesses

Quickly and easily quantified

by either a researcher or
through the use of a
software package.

Some form of information

might be adequate to
understand.
(e.g. changes of emotion
and behaviour feelings)

Large amount of information

can be collected from a large
number of people in a short
period of time.

Might be invalid:
There is no way to tell how
truthful a respondent is
being.

Interviews
Strengths

Weaknesses

Can
provide
in-depth In-person
information by probing
expensive

interviews

are

Time-consuming to analyse
data with open-ended items

Anecdotal Records
Strengths

Weaknesses

No special training needed Depends on the memory of

for the observer
the person observing
Easy to do

May
overlook
important behaviours

some

Checklist
Strengths

Weaknesses

Easy to use

Takes a lot of time to be

prepared

Can be completed quickly

May miss some important

details that are not included

Photographs
Strengths

Weaknesses

Fun to do

Takes some technological

skill and expertise to use the
equipments

Authentic

May be interpreted wrongly

Portfolio
Strengths
See
respondent
individuals as their own
Provides
information
involved

Weaknesses
as Less reliable compared to
quantitative evaluations.

change
of Data is difficult to analyse
among those

Recording
Strengths
Cost-effective
Convenient: portable

Weaknesses
Staged
Technical difficulties

Slides
Strengths

Weaknesses

Organized in sequence

Needs some good facility

and equipment

Visually attractive

Plagiarism

Journals
Strengths

Weaknesses

Explore feelings

Might
be
(truthfulness)

Real experiences

Penmanship

invalid

Diaries
Strengths

Weaknesses

Cost-effective

Penmanship

Authenticity of information

The content is depend on

their own motivation

Logs
Strengths

Weaknesses

Can be done anywhere and Depends

on
personal
anytime
motivation to complete logs
Thoughts and feelings may Inconsistent: Loss of interest
help
participants
to
understand
their
own
learning processes.

Field notes
Strengths
Provide
record

good

Weaknesses
ongoing Time-consuming

Good field notes are very Rely on observers personal

detailed
memory and discipline to
write down