Given its methodological and systematic nature, you as a student who is currently writing a thesis are certainly required to be able to follow these stages carefully and precisely.
Those of you who may currently be writing a thesis must be familiar with the term research instrument, right?
The term is one of the important stages in the preparation of a thesis. The instrument can be said to be the initial stage in collecting research data.
Research data is the main thing in writing a thesis because it is used as a source for you to do the analysis later. Well, this is where the important role of the instrument in your thesis is, namely as a tool or method of collecting the data itself.
Instruments also vary depending on the type of research you use. For those of you who still don’t understand how instrument selection is determined, you can learn it below. However, before that, let’s find out the definition first, okay!
Definition of Research Instruments from Experts
To better understand the meaning and function of instruments in research, you can see several definitions from experts below.
1. Suharsimi Arikunto
mentioning data collection instruments. Data collection instruments are seen as tools chosen and used by researchers in their data collection activities. According to him again, this section is important to use so that data collection activities become easier and more systematic.
2. Notoatmodjo
defines instruments as tools that will be used to collect data consisting of several forms such as questionnaires, forms, observations, and other forms related to data recording and so on.
3. Sugiono
defines instruments in research as tools used by researchers to measure social and natural phenomena as they exist in research variables.
4. Suryabrata
refers to instruments in research as tools used to record conditions (generally quantitatively) and activities of psychological attributes.
5. Sukmadinata
argues that the instrument in research is a test that has the characteristic of being able to measure informants through a number of questions in the research.
6. Ibn Hadjar
refers to instruments as measuring tools used to obtain quantitative information about the characteristics of variables objectively.
7. Sanjaya
defines an instrument as a tool used in data collection activities and research information. According to him, research activities are measurement activities so they must use valid and good measuring instruments.
Some of the experts above do have their views. Even though the definitions according to the experts are so diverse, you can find similarities. So, what about you? After seeing some of these definitions, you can take the general definition, right?
It is hoped that these various understandings and definitions will help you better understand their meaning and function.
Types of Research Instruments
One of its characteristics is that it is designed for only one specific research purpose. This is considering the uniqueness of the diverse research subjects so that the instruments used can also differ between one study and another research methodology .
So, for those of you who are currently working on a thesis, you must be able to design the instruments that you will use in your research later.
Instruments in research have various forms and types. The selection depends on the type of research you are compiling.
You can use your own design, but generally there are several instruments that are considered standard as research data collection tools.
You can learn it directly below.
1. Test
Tests can be in the form of a series of questions, exercises, worksheets and so on which have the aim of being a measuring tool for skills, intelligence, abilities and talents possessed by an individual or group who is the subject of the research.
The test can be in the form of standardized questions that require research subjects to answer them in order to obtain certain results.
Examples include personality tests, aptitude tests, academic potential tests, achievement tests, and so on .
2. Questionnaire
A questionnaire is a data collection tool using a number of written questions used to obtain information from certain individuals or groups.
The person you are reaching out to for information is known as the respondent.
Respondents are required to fill in or answer questions in a questionnaire which will later be used as a report about their personality or things they know.
There are several reasons why questionnaires are used in collecting research data, namely:
- questionnaires are used to measure factual variables
- questionnaires are used to obtain information relevant to research objectives
- Questionnaires allow researchers to obtain information with high validity and reliability.
3. Interview
Interviews are question and answer activities between two people to obtain information or ideas about a particular topic. Interviews are used by researchers to assess a person’s condition that is usually not answered if only through a questionnaire. Interviews allow for more in-depth information ( in-depth interview ).
In this type of data collection instrument, you must first prepare an interview guide or interview guide that will make it easier for you so that the interview does not get too broad and you get information that is relevant to the research.
4. Observation
In research terms, observation is defined as the activity of direct observation using all five senses. Observation can be done through tests, questionnaires, various images and even sound recordings.
In conducting observations, there are guidelines or guides which are usually called observation sheets which contain a list of types of observation activities .
5. Multilevel Scale
Also called rating is an objective measure that is made on a scale or level. This instrument makes it easier for researchers to provide a picture of the appearance that can then show the frequency of the emergence of certain traits.
This instrument is also useful for obtaining a quantitative description of certain aspects of an item in the form of an ordinal scale such as very good, good, moderate, not good and very not good.
6. Documentation of Research Instruments
Documentation refers to written items. This instrument allows researchers to obtain data through research on written objects, such as books, magazines, diaries, artifacts, videos and so on.
This instrument was developed in research with a content analysis approach. Therefore, it is usually used in research such as historical evidence, legal basis for a regulation, and so on.
7 . Forum Group Discussion (FGD)
FGD can also be called a focus group discussion. This instrument refers to a process in which researchers can collect data through several groups at the same time.
The advantage of using this method is the high level of credibility and originality in research activities. However, there are several challenges such as being too costly, time-consuming and labor-intensive.
8 . Experiment
Data collection instruments with experiments are often used in pure and applied science research. To understand about experiments, you can read what is experimental research .
With this instrument, researchers conducted several experiments in the laboratory and tested several reactions that occurred in the research objects.
Stages and Methods of Compiling Research Instruments
There are several stages that you should know. These stages make it easier for you to determine the instruments that you should choose in your research. Sourced from uny.ac.id, the stages include the following.
- Identification of the variables studied
- Break down variables into multiple dimensions
- Find indicators of each variable dimension
- Describe the instrument grid that will be used.
- Formulate question items
- Prepare instrument filling instructions
After knowing the stages of compiling instruments in the research above, some of you may ask: so how do you determine the instruments in the research?
There are several things that you must pay attention to in determining the instruments in research.
1. Understand the Problem, Variables and Research Objectives in Full
Objectives, problems and research variables are the main things in research. In determining the instrument in your research, you must first understand properly what the purpose of your research is , what problems you want to study and what variables must be studied . All three must have clear and specific indicators.
Through clear variable indicators, for example, it will be easier for you to determine what questions should be asked to research subjects.
By understanding these three things, it will be much easier for you to determine which research instruments to use.
2. Understand Data Sources or Respondents
Understanding data sources in terms of both quantity and diversity is important in determining instruments. Data sources can be used as a reference or basic material for you in determining content, language, and systematics.
The important thing to remember is that this instrument will eventually be given to respondents. Understanding the conditions, circumstances, and diversity of respondents allows you to obtain the most accurate responses possible.
3. Determine the Validity and Reliability of the Instrument
Before the research instrument is given to respondents, you must be able to determine the level of validity and authenticity of the instrument to be used.
The answers that will be obtained through the instrument cannot be accepted carelessly. Therefore, it is important for you to determine in advance how valid the information that will be obtained will be.
4. Selection of Instruments in Research
Make sure you choose an instrument that is easy and practical to use but can also produce the necessary data—capable of answering the problems that have been determined in the research.
Apart from these 4 things, there are several criteria for the appearance of good research instruments.
First, accuracy . Relating to the validity of the instrument used. To measure its accuracy you can ask things like.
Can the instrument used measure what it is intended to measure?
The second criterion, precision . Relating to reliability, namely the ability to provide conformity of results in repeated measurements.
A research instrument is said to have good precision if it can guarantee that its input will always provide the same output regardless of when, where, by and to whom the instrument is used (providing consistent results).