ABSTRACT
Data collection methods are used to collect the relevant information that is used to provide this description of the system or activity under analysis. The analyst(s) using the methods also have a high degree of control over the data collection process and are able to direct the data collection procedure as they see fit. Interviews offer a flexible approach to data collection and have consequently been applied for a plethora of different purposes. While many interviews concentrate on one-to-one elicitation of information, group discussions can provide an efficient means of canvassing consensus opinion from several people. An interview transcript or data collection sheet should then be created, containing the interview questions and spaces for demographic information and interviewee responses. Once all of the questionnaires have been returned or collected, the data analysis process should begin. This is a lengthy process, the exact time required being dependent upon a number of factors.
