ABSTRACT
After determining what information is needed and identifying germane sources of that information, the educational practitioner turns to the “How” of information collection. This process centers around strategies for gathering information and the selection of tools or instruments to gather data efficiently and successfully. Due to the particular strengths and weaknesses of varying strategies, one must consider the parameters of the individual situation. What are the constraints of cost, time, potential for bias, and ease of collection? What is the perceived exactitude of the information to be gathered? Which strategies offer the best value, given these constraints, for the current investigation? Which strategies will help achieve the desired outcomes?
