RESEARCH IN SOCIAL CARE: GUIDELINES FOR RESEARCHERS

7   COLLECT AND COLLATE THE DATA

In social care research, collecting and collating the data can take many different forms.  In addition different disciplines in the social sciences may take rather different approaches to answering the same question. 

Advice on collecting and collating data

You can get advice about what might be involved from one of the many books on social research or from the sources listed in section 3.  Useful books include:

Becker, S. and Bryman, A. (2004) Understanding Research for Social Policy and Practice, Edward Elgar
Bryman, A. (2004) Social Research Methods, Oxford University Press.
Burton, D (2000) Research Training for Social Scientists, Sage
May, T. (1997) Social Research: Issues, Methods and Process, Open University
Ruane, J. (2005) Essentials of Research Methods. Oxford. Blackwell.

Issues to consider

• Beware of biases – yours and/or bias in other researchers
• Seek advice – consider having an Advisory Group for the project
• Set up clear procedures for managing the data
• Set up and keep to a timetable for the study
• Check back to your research questions to be sure that your data analysis will produce some answers to those questions
• Be scrupulous in your approach to the data, even if it is not coming up with the answers you wanted or expected

Responsibilities of researchers

Researchers bear day-to-day responsibility for the research in terms of:

• Ensuring that the research follows the proposal, or that there are good reasons for any changes
• Ensuring that the dignity, rights and well being of the participant is respected: if the subject is a sensitive one you may want to be able to give them information about sources of support
• Protecting the integrity and confidentiality of all records and data generated by the research
• Ensuring the health and safety of anyone involved in the research, including the researchers: anyone going out to do an interview should carry a mobile phone and tell someone where they will be going
• Ensuring financial probity and good financial management
• Reporting any failures in these respects, or any adverse event, to the appropriate person
• Keeping the funder and sponsor of the study informed about progress
• Keeping all participants and service users informed about progress
• Completing the study and disseminating the findings

Data protection and confidentiality

Data collected in the course of research must be retained for an appropriate period to allow further analysis by the original or other research teams. 

• The Data Protection Act 1998 stipulates that the appropriate use and protection of data provided by participants is paramount in research.  A guide to the Act for researchers has been produced by the University of York
• When collecting and storing data on research participants the following should be considered:
• The identities of individuals should be disguised by use of codes
• The list which links individuals to codes should be kept securely and apart from the data
• Any identifying details should be anonymised in any publically available document
• Access to data which may be identifiable should be limited to the research team
• Be aware of the role of the Caldicott Guardians in protecting information about service users and NHS patients

Further information about social care information governance has been prepared by the Department of Health and by the Commission for Social Care Inspection