You are preparing a case study on the Dallas Cowboys. You use many methods of data collection in creating the case study. Here is an excerpt:

Question

The Dallas Cowboys were formed in 1960 and have had seven head coaches since then. I surveyed 100 people and one of the questions was, Who is your favorite coach of the Dallas Cowboys? Seventy people said Tom Landry, fifteen said Jimmy Johnson, five said Bill Parcells, and ten answered Other. One of those who answered Other was my brother. I asked him which coach was his favorite and he said, "Barry Switzer because he was the last one to win a championship." I knew he was kidding because he had a smirk on his face.

The excerpt relays information gathered from questionnaires, interviews, observations, and historical data. Identify the information from the case study that was collected by each of the four methods.

Answer 1

In the excerpt provided, information is collected through various methods of data collection, which can be identified as follows:

1. Questionnaires: The survey of 100 people regarding their favorite Dallas Cowboys coach clearly falls under data collected through questionnaires. The responses provided quantitative data about the popularity of each coach (70 for Tom Landry, 15 for Jimmy Johnson, 5 for Bill Parcells, and 10 for Other).

2. Interviews: The interaction with the author’s brother can be categorized as an informal interview. The author specifically asked his brother who his favorite coach was and received a qualitative insight into his opinion, along with a humorous comment that added a personal touch to the data.

3. Observations: The observation that the brother had a smirk on his face while expressing his preference indicates a form of non-verbal communication. This visual cue allows the author to interpret the brother's response as playful rather than serious, adding nuance to the understanding of the responses.

4. Historical Data: The information that the Dallas Cowboys were formed in 1960 and have had seven head coaches since then represents historical data. This background provides context to the case study, grounding the survey into the broader history and evolution of the team.

These methods together contribute to a well-rounded understanding of opinions about the coaches of the Dallas Cowboys, blending quantitative and qualitative aspects.