4.2: Requirements and Data Gathering Techniques
This section describes the data types obtained from each data-gathering technique. These are summarized in a table that relates the technique to the type of data collected from the technique.
Data gathering is the interaction between the software engineer (a business analyst) and the customers (including users). There are many techniques for gathering data, including interviews, meetings, observations, questionnaires, and reviewing software, internal documents, and external documents. Data gathering is an activity where ethical and professional conduct issues typically arise, particularly regarding privacy, security, responsibility, accountability, and communication.