METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION

Data collection is the process of gathering and measuring information on

variables of interest, in an established systematic fashion that enables one to
answer stated research questions, test hypotheses, and evaluate outcomes.

TYPES OF DATA

1. PRIMARY DATA

data which are collected a fresh and for the first time and thus happen to be
character and PRIMARY DATA. original in known as

2. SECONDARY DATA

data which have been collected by someone else and which have already
been passed through the statistical process.

METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION:

PRIMARY DATA

1. Observation

2. Interview

3. Questionnaire

4. Case Study
5. Survey

METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION: PRIMARY DATA OBSERVATION

Observation method is

a method under which data from the field is collected with the help of
observation by the observer or by personally going to the field.

ADVANTAGES

Subjective bias eliminated

Current information

Independent to

respondent's variable

DISADVANTAGES

Time consuming

Limited information

Unforeseen factors
TYPES OF OBSERVATION

STRUCTURED and UNSTRUCTURED

1. Structured Observation

when observation is done by characterizing style of recording the observed

information, standardized conditions of observation , definition of the units to
be observed , selection of pertinent data of observation.

Example: An auditor performing inventory analysis in store

2. Unstructured Observation

when observation is done without any thought before observation.

Example: Observing children playing with new toys.

TYPES OF OBSERVATION

PARTICIPANT and NON PARTICIPANT

1. Participant

when the Observer is member of the group which

he is observing.
Advantages: 1. Observation of natural behavior

2. Closeness with the group

3. Better understanding

2. Non-participant

when observer is observing people without giving any information to them.

Advantages: 1. Objectivity and neutrality 2. More willingness of the

respondent

TYPES OF OBSERVATION CONTROLLED and UNCONTROLLED

1. Controlled

when the observation takes place in natural condition. It is done to get

spontaneous picture of life and persons.

2. Uncontrolled

when observation takes place according to definite pre arranged plans, with
experimental procedure then it is controlled observation generally done in
laboratory under controlled condition.

METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION: PRIMARY DATA INTERVIEW METHOD

INTERVIEW METHOD

This method of collecting data involves presentation or oral verbal stimuli

and reply in terms of oral-verbal responses.

Method communication is where an oral interviewer verbal asos questions

(which are aimed to get information required for study) to respondent.

TYPES OF INTERVIEW

• Personal interviews : The interviewer asks questions generally in a face to

face contact to the other person or persons.

• Structured interviews : in this case, a set of pre- decided questions are

there.

• Unstructured interviews : in this case, we don't follow a system of pre-

determined

questions.

• Focused interviews : attention is focused on the given experience of the

respondent and its possible effects.

• Clinical interviews : concerned with broad underlying feelings or

motivations or with the course of individual's life experience, rather than
with the effects of the specific experience, as in the case of focused
interview

TYPES OF INTERVIEW
• Group interviews : a group of 6 to 8 individuals is interviewed.

• Qualitative and quantitative interviews : divided on the basis of subject

matter i.e.

whether qualitative or quantitative.

• Individual interviews : interviewer meets a single person and interviews

him.

• Selection interviews : done for the selection of people for certain jobs.

• Depth interviews : it deliberately aims to

elicit unconscious as well as other types of material relating especially to

personality dynamics and motivations.

• Telephonic interviews : contacting samples

on telephone.

METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION: PRIMARY DATA QUESTIONNAIRE METHOD

QUESTIONNAIRE METHOD

This method of data collection is quite popular, particularly in case of big

enquiries.
The questionnaire is mailed to respondents who are expected to read and
understand the questions and write down the reply in the space meant for
the purpose in the questionnaire itself. The respondents have to answer the
questions on their own.

METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION: PRIMARY DATA QUESTIONNAIRE METHOD

ADVANTAGES

Low cost even if the geographical area is too large

Answers are in respondents word so free from bias.

Adequate time to think for answers.

Non approachable respondents may be conveniently contacted.

Large samples can be used so results are more reliable.

DISADVANTAGES

Low rate of return of duly filled questionnaire.

Slowest method of data collection.

Difficult to know if the expected respondent have filled the form or it is filled
by someone else.

METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION: PRIMARY DATA CASE STUDY METHOD

CASE

STUDY

essentially

METHOD

an

is

intensive

investigation of the particular unit under consideration.

DISADVANTAGES

They are subject to selection bias

They generally do not allow calculation of incidence (absolute risk).

ADVANTAGES

They are less costly and less time-consuming; they are advantageous when
exposure data is expensive or hard to obtain.
They are advantageous when studying dynamic populations in which follow-
up is difficult.

METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION: PRIMARY DATA

SURVEY METHOD

SURVEY METHOD is one of the

common methods of diagnosing and solving of social problems is that of

undertaking surveys.

DISADVANTAGES

Respondents may not feel encouraged to provide accurate, honest answers

Surveys with closed-ended questions may have a lower validity rate than
other question types.

Data errors due to question non-responses may exist.

OO

0C

ADVANTAGES

Relatively easy to administer

Can be developed in less time (compared to other data collection methods)

Cost-effective, but cost depends on survey mode

SECONDAY DATA:

SOURCES OF DATA

• Publications of Central, state, local

government

• Technical and trade journals

• Books, Magazines, Newspaper

• Reports & publications of industry ,bank, stock exchange

. Reports by research scholars, Universities,

economist

• Public Records

FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED BEFORE USING SECONDARY DATA

• Reliability of data - Who, when, which

methods, at what time etc. • Suitability of data - Object „scope, and nature
of original inquiry should be studied, as if the study was with different
objective then that data is not suitable for current study

• Adequacy of data- Level of accuracy,

• Area differences then data is not adequate for stud

SELECTION OF PROPER METHOD FOR

COLLECTION OF DATA

• Nature ,Scope and object of inquiry

• Availability of Funds

• Time Factor

• Precision Required

DESIGNING A SURVEY

Surveys can take different forms. They can be used to ask only one question
or they can ask a series of questions. We can use surveys to test out
people's opinions or to test a hypothesis.

When designing a survey, the following steps are useful:

1. Determine the goal of your survey: What question do you want to answer?

2. Identify the sample population: Whom will you

interview?

3. Choose an interviewing method: face-to-face interview, phone interview,

self-administered paper survey. or internet survey.

DESIGNING A SURVEY

4. Decide what questions you will ask in what order, and how to phrase
them. (This is important if there is more than one piece of information you
are looking for.)

5. Conduct the interview and collect the information.

6. Analyze the results by making graphs and drawing conclusions.

DESIGNING A SURVEY

Example:

1. Martha wants to construct a survey that shows which sports students at

her school like to play the most.

Step 1: List the goal of the survey

Step 2: What population should she interview? Step 3: How should she
administer the survey? Step 4: Create a data collection sheet that she can
use to record her results

DESIGNING A SURVEY

Step 1: GOAL

The goal of the survey is to find the answer to the question: "Which sports do
students at Martha's school like to play the most?"

Step 2: POPULATION

A sample of the population would include a random sample of the student

population in Martha's school. A good strategy would be to randomly select
students (using dice or a random number generator) as they walk into an all-
school assembly.

DESIGNING A SURVEY

Step 3: METHODS

Face-to-face interviews are a good choice in this case since the survey
consists of two short questions which can be quickly answered and recorded.

Step 4: DATA

Grade Level
9th grade

10th grade

11th grade

12th grade

THE BASIS OF CONDUCTING AN EXPERIMENT

1. With an experiment, the researcher is trying to

learn something new about the world, an

explanation of 'why' something happens.

2. The experiment must maintain internal and external validity, or the results
will be useless.

3. When designing an experiment, a researcher must follow all of the steps

of the scientific method, from making sure that the hypothesis is valid and
testable, to using controls and statistical tes