Reporting on the modes of data collection

The choice of the method of data collection for a particular study depends on several factors, including, but not limited to, the type of study, sensitivity of the topic of interest, and costs of the measurements.2 Valid measurement of exposures, outcomes, and potential confounders is essential in medical research to prevent biased results.3 Since different methods of data collection yield various amounts of measurement error, detailed reporting on the methods used is of great importance to assess the quality of the study by both readers and reviewers or editors.