Annex B to Appendix D
D-B-4 JP 5-0
b. Codifying responsibility is important for the following reasons:
Figure D-B-1. Data Collection Methods
Data Collection Methods
Military Survey
Survey
Focus Group
Structured
Interview
Structured
Observation/
Debrief
Military Situation
Report
Automatic
Media
Collection
Manual Media
Collection
A selective and planned
questioning by military forces.
A selective and planned
questioning of subjects by
nonmilitary parties (e.g.,
charities, nongovernmental
organizations, or specialists).
A group of people are asked
about their perceptions,
opinions, beliefs towards a
subject of interest. Questions
are asked in an interactive
group setting where
participants are free to talk
with other participants.
A planned, targeted discussion
with a subject where the
objectives of the discussion
are pre-determined and noted
in the data collection matrix.
A set of specific observations
collected during routine work,
followed by formal question, or
asked to report observations
at a specific time.
A formatted report intended to
convey a pre-defined set of
information in relation to a
specific event or activity, or a
routine (time dependant)
report.
An automated collection and
analysis of open source media
(e.g., Rich Site Summary
feeds, online market data,
social media, country watch
reports) or closed-source
media.
Manual observation (e.g.,
reading documents, logging
events, photocopying of open-
source media or closed-
source media.
Response of subjects may be
biased by negative
perception of military.
Military forces may not have
specific skills in surveying.
Difficult to task nonmilitary
organizations and extra
financial cost may be
involved.
Nonmilitary organizations
may have reduced ability to
access difficult environments.
Requires strong, trained
facilitator.
Difficult to make conclusions
that represent a population
view.
Limited ability to repeat data
collection over time.
Interviews are very time
consuming.
May require trained
interviewer or transcriber.
Structured observations can
be time consuming.
Human bias of difference in
perceptions.
Limited opportunities for
reporting nonstandard data,
or for changing report formats
for mission specific data.
More analyst time is required
to sort through data.
Automatic methods may
either collect too much or too
little, or miss vital data.
Manual data collection is time
consuming.
Ease of tasking military forces.
Superior mobility.
Ability to access difficult
environments.
Good for gathering raw
qualitative data.
Survey by independent bodies
can be more impartial.
Reduced burden on military.
May use survey specialists.
Enables collection of in depth
attitudes, belief, and anecdotal
data.
Group dynamics facilitate idea
generation.
Participants not required to read
or write, relies on oral
communication.
Often captures richer
information than a survey.
Many methods may be used:
face to face, electronic mail,
telephone, video conference,
etc.
Provides opportunity to probe
and explore ideas in depth.
Good approach to discover
behaviours.
A standardised set of
information which helps in
consistency of reporting.
A normal part of military
business rather than an extra
burden.
Resources and time are saved
in the efforts required for the
data collection.
The data collection can be
more thorough, with a certain
amount of analysis being done
simultaneously.
Data Collection
Method
Description Advantages Disadvantages