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Practical Considerations in Designing Data Collection Forms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Patricia A. Wasek*
Affiliation:
The Clinical Trials Data Management Center, Division of Biostatistics, Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
*
Clinical Trials Data Management Center, Division of Biostatistics, Department of Preventive Medicine, S259 Westlawn, Iowa City, IA 52242

Extract

The data collection form (also referred to as a questionnaire, case report form or interview guide) is the focal point of any research project. It contains the data used to test the research hypotheses. If errors are made in translating the questions of interest into items on the form, or in coding those items, the answers sought might not be available. Designing an excellent data collection form may be more art than science. However, there are certain principles that, if followed, will generally result in an easy-to-use, efficient and reliable instrument for gathering and coding data.

Type
Statistics for Hospital Epidemiology
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1990

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