Collecting
Collecting is the initial information process of obtaining data. Collecting works by gathering all data through hardware and software from the environment and enters it into the information system. |
Hardware
The information process of collecting, utilises various hardware to collect data, these include but are not limited to:
- Keyboard for collecting text and numbers
- Mouse for pointing and navigation
- Digital camera for capturing images
- Microphone for collecting audio inputs
- Video recorder for capturing videos.
Software
- When users input data, they often require a software in the form of an interface. The interface guides the user into entering the required data. This works together with the hardware for the final necessary values to be collected.
- Device drivers are a type of software which allows the hardware to interact with the operating system. This allows the data to be entered and interpreted by the information system.
Non-computer based tool
Types of ways to collect data without the use of an technological system
- Paper - Tradition pen and paper to record messages.
- Handwritten Notes - Collect basic notes on the go.
- Surveys - Collect data from a plethora of people in a systematic way.
- Forms - Collect data from a plethora of people in a systematic way.
- Polls - Collect data from a plethora of people in a systematic way.
Social and ethical issues
Collecting data requires researchers to be free from bias. Where researches choose to collect their data is an important factor and maybe have misleading results if done incorrectly. One example is specifically collecting survey information about abortion from only members of a church and calling mislabelling it as the general opinion of a state or country. The results will be skewered largely in favour of being against the issue.