Data Science and Engineering —
Training activity: 4

Details

Collect data from new and existing data sources

Type

Entrustable training activity (ETA)

Evidence requirements

Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee repeatedly, consistently, and effectively over time, in a range of situations. This may include occasions where the trainee has not successfully achieved the outcome of the activity themselves. For example, because it was not appropriate to undertake the task in the circumstances or the trainees recognised their own limitations and sought help or advice to ensure the activity reached an appropriate conclusion. ​

Reflection at multiple timepoints on the trainee learning journey for this activity.

Considerations

• Database interrogation
• Questionnaires
• User generated documents

Reflective practice guidance

The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.

Before action

• Consider what is expected of you in relation to collecting data from new and existing sources. Discuss with your training officer to gain clarity on the specific expectations for this instance of data collection.
• Think about what you already know about collecting data, whether from existing databases or new sources. Have you collected data before, and if so, what were those experiences like? Consider possible challenges you might face during this specific data collection activity, such as accessing data, ensuring accuracy, or handling different data formats, and think about how you might handle them. Recognise the scope of your own practice for this activity; know when you will need to seek advice or help and from whom, particularly regarding data sources or methodologies you are less familiar with.
• Consider the specific skills you want to develop related to data collection methodologies, drawing upon previous experiences. Identify the specific insights you hope to gain from engaging with this activity, such as understanding the practicalities of accessing different data sources, implementing QA/QC measures, or identifying real-world limitations.
• Consult actions identified following any previous experiences of data collection, or similar activities, to inform your preparation. Identify important information you need to consider before embarking on this activity, such as data governance requirements, ethical considerations, or specific protocols for data collection. What tools or software might be required for collecting or initially handling the data? Acknowledge your feelings about collecting data from new and existing sources. Are you confident in your ability to manage the process and address potential quality issues?

In action

• Make a note of anything that is feeling surprising or different from what you are anticipating while you are collecting data from new or existing sources. This could relate to accessing the data, the format or completeness of the data, encountering unexpected data types, or initial observations from the data itself. Consider how this data collection experience is comparing with previous experiences of similar data collection activities. Is this unexpected issue common or completely new?
• Identify how the unexpected occurrence is impacting upon your actions during the data collection. For example, are you responding to the situation appropriately, such as adjusting your data collection strategy (e.g., seeking an alternative data source, re-evaluating the scope of data to collect, or modifying your data extraction methods)? Are you ensuring data integrity and ethical handling despite the challenge? Are you recognising when to pause the collection and seek immediate clarification from a supervisor or data owner? Is it affecting your ability to undertake the data collection activity independently in that moment, perhaps requiring unexpected support for technical issues or data interpretation?
• Consider how you are feeling in that moment. Are you finding it difficult to adapt your process due to unexpected data formats or system limitations? Is it affecting your confidence in successfully collecting the required data? Are you feeling positive you can still reach a successful conclusion regarding data collection despite the unexpected issue? Identify how you are working within your scope of practice while dealing with the unexpected issue in data collection. Are you recognising when you need to pause or seek immediate clarification regarding the data or process? Identify what you are learning as a result of the unexpected development and your reaction to it during the activity. For example, what are you learning about the specific data source, potential data quality issues, or the practicalities of the collection methodology in real-time?

On action

• Begin by summarising the key points of the experience of collecting data from new and existing sources. What were the main steps you took? Consider specific events, actions, or interactions which felt important during the data collection process, including your own feelings during the experience. Include any ‘reflect-in-action’ moments, where you recognised something unexpected occurring and how you adapted to the situation as it unfolded.
• Identify what learning you can take from this experience. What strengths did you demonstrate while collecting data? What skills and/or knowledge gaps were evident, particularly concerning applying data collection methodologies and considering quality assurance, quality control, and limitations? Compare this experience against previous engagement with similar data collection activities. Were any previously identified actions for development achieved? Has your practice in collecting data improved? Identify any challenges you experienced during the data collection and how you reacted to these. Did this affect your ability to deal with the situation or undertake the activity independently? Were you able to overcome the challenges? Identify anything significant about the activity. Did you need to seek advice or clarification, for example, regarding accessing data sources or applying QA/QC measures? Or did you need to recognise when something was beyond your scope of practice and escalate appropriately? How do you feel about your ability to collect data effectively now?
• Identify the actions or ‘next steps’ you will now take to support the assimilation of what you have learnt from this data collection activity, including from any feedback you have received. What will you do differently next time you collect data from new or existing sources? Has anything changed in terms of what you would do if you were faced with a similar situation again, particularly regarding unexpected issues or quality considerations? Do you need to practise any aspect of the activity further, such as accessing specific data sources, implementing QA/QC plans, or addressing data limitations?

Beyond action

• What actions did you identify you would need to take to improve your practice, for example, regarding accessing specific data sources, understanding different data formats, applying quality assurance steps, or recognising limitations? Have you completed these actions? Are you ready to demonstrate this new learning into practice? Looking back at your previous data collection activities, how does your current understanding of applying data collection methodologies, considering quality assurance, quality control, and limitations, compare? Have you collected data from other new or existing sources since these previous experiences? How does your approach compare to your initial experiences? Engage in professional storytelling with peers, near peers or colleagues about your experiences collecting data. Consider if your view of the situation has changed because of analysing this with others. Mutual exchange of experiences can lead to transformation.
• Consider how the learning from your previous data collection experiences is now supporting your current practice. For example, how has it supported you in preparing for assessments for the module, such as where you might need to discuss or apply aspects of data handling or analysis? Consider how your practice in collecting data has developed and evolved over time. How have you applied the knowledge and skills gained from previous instances of this activity in your current data collection tasks? How have these experiences helped you recognise when something is beyond your scope of practice during data collection, such as encountering highly complex or sensitive data issues requiring escalation? Recognise the importance of not seeing individual data collection tasks as isolated incidences but rather as contributing to your overall training experience. How have these experiences helped you develop transferable skills, such as attention to detail, problem-solving when encountering data issues, or understanding data handling processes, for other training activities or aspects of your role? Identify the transferable skills you are developing through undertaking this training activity repeatedly, such as understanding different data sources, applying QA/QC steps, and appreciating data limitations, that will be valuable in future data science or engineering roles. Identify clear actions for continued development of the skills introduced through collecting data from new and existing sources. For example, do you need to explore specific types of data sources, learn more about automated data collection processes, or deepen your understanding of data governance in practice? How will your increasing ability to effectively collect data from various sources, while considering quality and limitations, contribute to your future ability to curate datasets that can generate novel information?

Relevant learning outcomes

#	Outcome
# 2	Outcome Apply data collection methodologies using both pre-existing and new data sources, considering quality assurance, quality control and limitations relating to data collection.