dataindsamlingsværktøjerneProM

Dataindsamling, or data collection, is the process of gathering information from individuals, organizations, or systems to answer research questions, monitor activities, or support decision making. Dataindsamling can yield primary data, collected directly for a specific purpose, or secondary data, obtained from existing sources such as administrative records, publications, or datasets.

Methods vary by discipline and goal. Quantitative data may be collected through surveys, polls, experiments, or sensor readings, emphasizing measurement and statistical analysis. Qualitative data may come from interviews, focus groups, observations, or document analysis, emphasizing context and interpretation. Sampling strategies, such as random sampling or stratified sampling, influence representativeness. Data collection instruments should be designed for validity and reliability, and pilot testing can help identify issues.

Ethical and legal considerations are central. Informed consent, privacy protection, and compliance with data protection laws (such as the GDPR) are often required. Anonymization or pseudonymization may be used to reduce risk. Data governance, including data ownership, access controls, and data retention policies, governs how data are stored and shared. Researchers should consider bias, measurement error, and data quality during planning and collection.

Data collection is typically followed by data processing and analysis. The quality and relevance of collected data determine the reliability of ensuing conclusions. Proper documentation, metadata, and transparent methods support reuse and verification, while acknowledging limitations such as nonresponse, missing data, and sampling bias.