Research Instrument
Examples
What is a Research
Instrument?
A Research Instrument is a tool used to collect,
measure, and analyze data related to your
research interests. These tools are most commonly
used in health sciences, social sciences, and
education to assess patients, clients, students,
teachers, staff, etc. A research instrument can
include interviews, tests, surveys, or checklists.
What is a Research
Instrument?
The Research Instrument is usually determined
by researcher and is tied to the study
methodology.
This document offers some examples of
research instruments and study methods.
Choosing a Research
Instrument
The following list is an example of the steps to
complete a research project. Choosing a
Research Instrument is done after
conceptualization and the units of analysis have
been
chosen, and before operationalizing concepts
construct instruments:
1. Select a topic
2. Formulate a thesis statement
3. Choose the types of analyses
4. Research and write a literature review
5. Formulate the research questions
6. Conceptualize a topic, refine thesis
7. Choose research method and research
instrument
8. Operationalize concepts construct
instruments
9. Formulate the data collection strategy
10. Perform a pilot study
11. Collect data
12. Prepare the data for processing &
analysis
13. Process & analyze data
14. Interpret & make inferences about data
15. Write the research paper
16. Publish data
Characteristics of a
Good Research
Instrument
Valid and reliable
● Based on a conceptual framework, or the researcher's
understanding of how the particular variables in the study
connect with each other
Must gather data suitable for and relevant to the research topic
● Able to test hypothesis and/or answer proposed research questions
under investigation
● Free of bias and appropriate for the context, culture, and diversity of
the study site
● Contains clear and definite instructions touse the instrument
Types of Research
Instruments:
Interviews
Interviews or the interaction where
verbal questions are posed by an
interviewer to elicit
verbal responses from an interviewee.
Structured Interview: A formal set of
questions posed to each interviewee and
recorded using a standardized procedure.
Unstructured Interview: A less formal set of
questions; the interviewer modifies the
sequence and wording of questions.
Non-Directive Interview:
An unguided interview, including open-ended
questions and use of spontaneous
engagement.
Focus Interview:
An emphasis on the interviewees subjective
and personal
responses where the interviewer engages to
elicit more information.
Focus Group Interview:
A group of selected participants are asked
about their opinion or perceptions concerning a
particular topic.
Types of Research
Instruments:
Observations
Observation (watching what people do) is
a type of correlational (non-experimental)
method where researchers observe
ongoing behavior.
Structured Observations:
Research conducted at a specific place,
time, where participants are observed in a
standardized procedure. Rather than writing
a detailed description of all behaviors
observed, researchers code observed
behaviors according to a previously agreed
upon scale.
Naturalistic Observation:
The study the spontaneous behavior of participants
in natural surroundings.
The researcher simply records what they see in
whatever way they see it.
Participant Observation: A variation on natural
observations where the researcher joins in and
becomes part of the group they are studying to get
a deeper insight into their lives.
Types of Research
Instruments: Surveys
Survey research encompasses any measurement
procedures that involve asking questions
of respondents. The types of surveys can vary on
the span of time used to conduct the
study. They can be comprised of cross-sectional
surveys and/or longitudinal surveys.
Types of Research
Instruments: Surveys
Types of questions asked in surveys include:
Free-Answer: Also referred to as open-ended
questions, these include unrestricted, essay, or
unguided questions.
Guided Response Type: Recall-type questions
asking the participant to recall a set of
categories. Multiple-choice or multiple response
questions.
