Most of you have probably already sought information from primary and secondary sources, whether for academic purposes or simply because something sparked your interest. Nonetheless, by looking for primary and secondary sources, you may get different perspectives and improve your critical thinking and analytical skills as you assess all of the material you collect and fit the pieces together to create an inference.
The tasks in our laboratory exercise involving data collection methods such as retrieval, interview, and observation were not as challenging as I had anticipated. To provide context, my topic was agricultural mechanization—its purpose and relevance, as well as how it affects farm production and productivity and farmers’ profitability.
The retrieval method was the simplest because everything I needed to know about my topic was easily accessible through the internet. Indeed, it is a time-saving method since I had various duties and responsibilities to do as well as deadlines to meet. I had access to multiple sources from online databases and online libraries without leaving the house, enabling me to thoroughly understand my topic and obtain insights thanks to my UP Mail as well. Retrieval provided me with a plethora of options for any article on agriculture and agricultural mechanization that I was looking for.
However, one challenge I encountered was my unfamiliarity with some systems, such as the system of online databases/libraries. It took some time for me to become used to navigating around such, but despite this difficulty, I was still able to come around and collect information.
It will be easier for you to conduct an interview if you establish rapport with the interviewee, and I am grateful that I have done so with my primary source. I was able to obtain an in-depth explanation of my topic since the respondent was eager to supply the information I needed. Furthermore, the interview allowed me to influence the direction of my data collection. It not only increased the credibility of my work, but it also made the data unique and incomparable because I had the freedom to ask questions and to craft my report based on my discoveries.
Observation also aided me in connecting with my topic and its setting, i.e., the status of agricultural mechanization—through unobtrusive observation, I have come to see and comprehend the way agricultural mechanization has occurred in our city, immersing me in their reality. I asked a few experts in the field I know for their thoughts on mechanized labor in agriculture. On that note, this helped me to develop a connection with my intended audience because my observation allowed me to grasp what they needed, allowing me to have an idea on how I may serve them in my own way utilizing communication efficiently and meaningfully.
The exercise, while intimidating at first, acted as a tool—a tool in my training as a future development communicator, and a tool in shedding light on the issue/s of my intended audience.
As a development communicator in training, being familiar with various data gathering methods would be beneficial, especially when researching development-oriented content—I hope my experiences have given you a glimpse of how important it is to be familiar with and efficient in data gathering methods.
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