Are 'data collection methods' and 'data collection tools' the same for primary data collection?
Most references show that Surveys and Questionnaires, Interviews, Observations, Focus Groups, etc. are discussed as both methods and tools for data collection. Sometimes they are explained as tools and sometimes they are explained as methods.
Yes, these mean the same thing, although "methods" is probably the preferred term.
"data collection methods" refer to the overarching strategies or frameworks for gathering data, such as surveys or interviews, while "data collection tools" are the specific instruments used within these methods, like questionnaires or interview guides. So, the method denotes the broader approach and the tool refers to the practical instrument used to collect data.
Methods are techniques or procedures that are used by researchers and scientists for collection, analysis and interpretation of data in a study. They include techniques that are used in sampling the elements of study from the population (e.g. simple random, systematic, stratified, quota sampling), timeframe of study (e.g. longitudinal, cross-sectional), decisions on types of data to gather (qualitative, quantitative or mixed), decisions on instruments to use to gather data (questionnaire, interview, focus group discussion, experiment, observation), dealing with constraints of the study (limitations and delimitations), strategies for data analysis (descriptive/inferential statistics, thematic analysis), and ethical considerations. Methods are quite broad and their application is heavily dependent on the nature of study that is being undertaken. Tools commonly refer to the instruments that are employed to collect data from participants (e.g. interview schedule, questionnaire, focus group discussion schedule, observation sheet, checklist). Tools complement methods, for example, if the method of data collection is an interview, then the tool is an interview schedule.