Good data collection requires eight questions to be addressed. The first four involve designing the collection.

Most of these issues were discussed in my last column. To summarize:
1. Why collect the data?
• Is there a clear objective for this collection?

2. What method(s) will be used for the analysis?
• This should be known even before one piece of data is collected.

3. What data will be collected?
• What specific process output(s) do you wish to capture?
• If data are needed from customers, patients, or staff, what is the process for choosing the individuals from whom to obtain the needed data?

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