Thefol.._ 1. t1ad tt M 2. To 3. s. 6. 1. 3. Determining the data to be collected After the objectives and the study population have been defined the nurse together,..,,;u1 the colil J11unity members need to figure out a scheme to rationalize the relevant data to be obtained. This is achieved hy developing a data collection plan. The data collection plan uses the objectives to guide the data collectors to decide on specific infom1ation or data to be collected, tbe methods of data collection, the instrun1cnts or tools for data collection and the possible sources of these data. Data can be categorized as primary or secondary based on the source. Data that are directly obta. ined by the nurse specilica lly to answer the community diagnosis objectives are ca Jled primary data. Secondary data are existing data that were obtained by other people whicb the nurse can use to answer the community diagnosis objectives. There are advantages and disadvantages of using primary or !;econda. ry data. In the end, the nurse decides based on the desired qmilities of data such as timelines~ of data, completeness, accuracy, precision, relevance and adequacy. (Mendoza el al, 2000) 4· Collecting the Data Different methods maybe utili2. ed togeneratehea J th data. The nurse decides on the specific methods depending on the type of data to be generated. For example, through an ocular survey the nurse is able to detem1ine the physical and topograph ical characteristics <>f the community. She may interview people about Uleir health be Jie Js or she can review existing health records in the Rural Hea JU, Unit. [n general, we use the follo\. ving methods to collect data: a. Observation Observation is extracting information from subjects by observing their behavior and their environme nt. Observa tion methods provide 15. a an opportunity to check the validity or truth of many verbal statements 