Published - Study Material Examples

Research Instrument Examples
Teachers College, Columbia University

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.
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 6. Conceptualize a topic, refine thesis
2. Formulate a thesis statement 7. Choose research method and
3. Choose the types of analyses research instrument
4. Research and write a literature 8. Operationalize concepts construct
review instruments
5. Formulate the research questions
9. Formulate the data collection 13. Process & analyze data
strategy 14. Interpret & make inferences about
10. Perform a pilot study data
11. Collect data 15. Write the research paper
12. Prepare the data for processing & 16. Publish data
analysis
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 to
use 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. Unstructured Interview: A less formal
set of questions; the interviewer
Structured Interview: A formal set of modifies the sequence and wording of
questions posed to each interviewee questions.
and recorded using a standardized
procedure. Non-Directive Interview: An unguided
interview, including open-ended
questions and use of spontaneous Focus Group Interview: A group of
engagement. selected participants are asked about
Focus Interview: An emphasis on the their opinion or perceptions concerning a
interviewees subjective and personal particular topic.
responses where the interviewer
engages to elicit more information.
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 standardised 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.
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
Types of Research Instruments: Surveys
conduct the study. They can be comprised of cross-sectional surveys and/or

longitudinal 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.
If you have questions or concerns about the rights of a research
subject, you should contact the Institutional
Review Board (IRB) (the human research ethics committee) at 212-
678-4105 or email [email protected] or you can write to the IRB at
Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 W. 120th Street, New
York, NY 10027, Box 151. The IRB is the committee that oversees
human research protection for Teachers College, Columbia
University.

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Research Instrument Examples

Teachers College, Columbia University

The Research Instrument is usually determined by

This document offers some examples of research

● Must gather data suitable for and relevant to

Structured Observations: Research conducted at a specific place, time, where

Participant Observation: A variation on natural observations where the researcher joins

conduct the study. They can be comprised of cross-sectional surveys and/or

Free-Answer: Also referred to as open- ended questions,

Guided Response Type: Recall-type

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