Data collection

The researcher has used four different data collection methods: observations, questionnaires, interviews and critical incident technique. The logic behind data triangulation is not the simple combination of different kinds of data. The researcher’s intention in using this technique is to minimise the threats in the validation of the data (Berg, 2009). The aim for using triangulation is to verify the relevancy and accuracy of the data, to see if the collected data from different sources agree with each other, and to explore the discrepancies. There are three outcomes from the triangulation of the data. First is convergence, which explains the single proposition through various data. Second is inconsistency which does not confirm the single proposition when various data sources are used in the research, and the third is contradiction that indicates opposite views in the data (Easterby-Smith et al., 2008; Mathison, 1988).

3.5.3.1 Field observations

The researcher has carried out field observations to understand the phenomenon in organisations. The observation has been held in specific times (when the information transferring between the journalists and news broadcasters occurred, and when information sharing occurred between the rescue team members and the logistics members), in certain locations (at the news desk of CIHAN, at the disaster information system room of AKOM).

The rationale behind using observations in this research is to comprehend the transfer of information processing at the news desk, or how communication occurs in emergency cases, or what are the tools for seeking and sharing task- specific information in routine organisational activities. Observation reveals that the contextual effects are independent of a person’s bias, and yields new insights; however, it is also time consuming, has low reliability, may reflect observer bias, is hard to report, and may affect the people observed (Berg, 2009). Nonetheless, observation enabled the comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon.

3.5.3.2 Hand response cards

Hand response cards are one of the data collection techniques used in this research. The researcher took the basic rules into consideration while designing the questions: namely that the instructions to the questions were clear, that the language was unmistakable and that the questions were simple so as not to bore the respondents (Walliman, 2009).

The hand response card method is cheap and quick to administer, the researcher’s influences on the questions is eliminated (such as tone of voice, gestures while asking the questions in face-to-face interviews), and respondents have enough time to fill the forms (Walliman, 2009, Berg, 2009). Hand response cards are applied to collect information about the tasks and the task features. Conversely, they may have a no-response risk, and may not be suitable for sensitive issues (Berg, 2009; Bickman and Rog, 2009).

3.5.3.3 Interviews

Interviews are one of the data collection techniques that the researcher mainly used in the current research. The researcher has used structured and semi-structured interviews in the research. Interviews have the advantage of gathering rich information for the research; however, sometimes their complexity is underestimated (Easterby-Smith et al., 2008). Besides their

advantages, interviews are time consuming and if much time passes after the incidents, the reliability and the completeness of the data can be judged (Walliman, 2009).

In structured interviews, the researcher used standardised and predetermined questions (Saunders et al., 2009). Questions in the structured interviews were prepared before starting the fieldwork. The interview questions focus on the investigation of complex and time-pressured tasks, information sources and information tools in order to understand the information behaviour of rescue teams, journalists and managers in different contexts. The aim of the questions is to shed light on the distinguishing parts of the information behaviour of these three different types of organisational members, and to find out the effects of these factors.

The questions have been asked in the same tone to all respondents in order to avoid bias, since the interaction between the respondent and the interviewer could influence the objectivity of the answers (Easterby-Smith et al., 2008). Another interview technique that is used in this research is semi-structured interviews. The interviewer addresses additional questions to the interviewee according to his/her responses to the predetermined questions (Easterby- Smith et al., 2008). The researcher may find some missing points in the predetermined interview questions and may add some new questions during the interview according to the responses of the interviewee. Interviews have been held at the premises of the organisations.

The interviews have been recorded and transcribed for analysis. The interviews have been conducted face-to-face with the members of the relevant departments. In the analysis period, the recorded interviews were coded using the Vivo 8 program (Richards, 2010). Detailed information about the interviews is provided in Section 3.5.5.

3.5.3.4 Critical incident technique

The critical incident technique is a method to collect the direct observations of the individuals who participate in the action (Flanagan, 1954). It is a useful method for activity analysis. Incident in this method denotes the observable human activities that enable the observer to draw inferences and predictions about the situation and the phenomenon (Easterby-Smith et al., 2008). According to Flanagan (1954), this technique delves into the heart of the problem and avoids information overload.

This technique coincides with the researcher’s aim because this research relies on qualitative research techniques. This technique has been used in conjunction with the interviews. Conversely, this technique has several advantages for this research: it is a flexible method, it does not force the participants by directing them to respond to multiple choice questions, and the process of the technique is like story-telling. Also, it is not only used in conjunction with interviews, but is also a useful technique for questionnaires. Two disadvantages of the technique are: the respondents’ unwillingness to respond to the questions, and the higher likelihood of recalling recent activities rather than past activities.