Session 11: Data Collection

This video covers “Data Collection”, the eleventh session in the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship Research Design Course, directed by Dr. Michael Mojica and Dr. Michael Tunik. This session explores how to gather accurate, valid, and reliable data using well-designed instruments such as surveys, questionnaires, interviews, and data collection forms.

Topics covered include:
• Choosing appropriate data sources: surveys, interviews, electronic medical records, or clinical databases
• When to use and when not to use surveys
• Steps in designing and implementing surveys: planning, piloting, administration, and data analysis
• How to design clear, valid, and unbiased questions
• Understanding survey structure: order, length, formatting, and visual design
• Differences between open-ended and closed-ended questions
• Avoiding common pitfalls: double-barrel questions, hidden assumptions, mismatched responses, and unclear time frames
• Using branching logic, Likert scales, visual analog scales, and numeric scales effectively
• Strategies for obtaining accurate and complete responses, minimizing missing data
• Tips for conducting high-quality interviews, including standardized phrasing, tone, and probing techniques
• Importance of pilot testing and using validated instruments whenever possible

This session provides a practical guide to collecting meaningful data while maintaining reliability, precision, and validity—an essential foundation for any successful research study.

Presented by:
Michael Mojica, M.D. and Michael Tunik, M.D.
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship, NYU Grossman School of Medicine

Next session: Data Management.