Abstract
Appropriate data gathering is the key to a successful study, and the methods employed will invariably influence the results obtained and conclusions eventually drawn. This chapter works through different methods of data gathering techniques, namely, surveys, questionnaires and scales, discussing the concepts behind the development of such tools as well as their relative merits and drawbacks.
Forming an easy-to-understand overview of these main methodologies in use today, the chapter guides the readers on the development of population-based research questions in order to develop their own research tools as well as help them employ established ones.
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Further Reading
Attitude measurement scales: Buros mental measurement yearbooks (Buros, 1978) [35]
Department of Health (2002) Research governance framework for health and social care. Stationery Office, London
Download AMOSâ„¢ (Student Version) for free: (http://amos-development.com/download/)
Office for National Statistics (http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/data/harmonisation/default.asp)
Structural equation modelling in AMOS: http://www2.chass.ncsu.edu/garson/pa765/structur.htm#AMOSmeasure
The Centre for Applied Social Surveys (CASS) (http://qb.soc.surrey.ac.uk/)
Validity and reliablity of scales can be assessed in the methods section of Rust J, Golombok S (1989) Modern psycho-metrics: the science of psychometric assessment. Routledge, London, pp 165–168
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Rahman, M.S., Usman, S., Warren, O., Athanasiou, T. (2010). Questionnaires, Surveys, Scales in Surgical Research: Concepts and Methodology. In: Athanasiou, T., Debas, H., Darzi, A. (eds) Key Topics in Surgical Research and Methodology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-71915-1_36
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