Data Collecting Methods: Getting Down To Basics

Module 7

Summary
Over the last two weeks, we have taken a close look at four methods for collecting information about your school or community: The first involves looking at existing data, the other three—administering surveys and conducting focus groups and key informant interviews—involve collecting new data. We described the strengths and drawbacks of each method and important things to consider when using each.

We recognize that we’ve only been able to scratch the surface and, hopefully, whet your appetite. Numerous organizations and materials can help you and your planning team dig deeper into this important topic. Some of them are listed in the Resources section.

On this final day of the event, please do the following:

Visit the Message Board to review the questions and comments posted by participants throughout the event.

Share one or two key things you learned from participating in the event and hope to apply to future work.

Evaluation
We have developed a brief course evaluation to gather information about your experience throughout this online event. Your careful reflections will help us improve future events. Please do not fill out this evaluation until you have completed the course.

If, for any reason, you do not feel comfortable completing the evaluation, please go to the evaluation page, enter your e-mail address, and click the “submit” button. This will let us know that you completed the event and provide us with the information we need to send you a certificate of completion.

Click here to complete the online evaluation.

Thank you for participating in this course!

Reference
Education Development Center (2000). A training manual for middle school drug prevention and school safety coordinators. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education.