Practical : 1

Data its sources and compilation

Data is a collection of raw, unorganised facts and details like text, observations, figures, symbols and
descriptions of things etc. In other words, data does not carry any specific purpose and has no significance by
itself.
Information is processed, organised and structured data. It provides context for data and enables decision
making. Information depends on data.
Difference between Data and Information :

Need of Data :
Maps are important tools in studying geography. Besides, the distribution and growth of phenomena are also
explained through the data in tabular form. We know that an interrelationship exists between many
phenomena over the surface of the earth. These interactions are influenced by many variables which can be
explained best in quantitative terms. Statistical analysis of those variables has become a necessity today.
Sources of Data:
The data are collected through the following ways. These are:
1. Primary Sources 2. Secondary Sources.
1.Primary data:
The data which is Raw is known as primary data. This type of data is collected directly by performing
techniques such as questionnaires, interviews, and surveys. The data collected must be according to the
demand and requirements of the target audience on which analysis is performed otherwise it would be a
burden in the data processing.
(1) Observation method:
The observation method is a method of data collection in which the researcher keenly observes the behavior
and practices of the target audience using some data collecting tool and stores the observed data in the form
of text, audio, video, or any raw formats. In this method, the data is collected directly by posting a few
questions on the participants. For example, observing a group of customers and their behavior towards the
products. The data obtained will be sent for processing.
(2) Interview method:
The data collected during this process is through interviewing the target audience by a person called
interviewer and the person who answers the interview is known as the interviewee. The researcher gets direct
information from the respondent through dialogues and conversations. Some basic questions are asked and
noted down in the form of notes, audio, or video and this data is stored for processing.
the interviewer must take the following precautions while conducting an interview with people of the area:
(i) A precise list of items about which information is to be gathered from the persons interviewed be prepared.
(ii) The person(s) involved in conducting the interview should be clear about the objective of the survey.
(iii) The respondents should be taken into confidence before asking any sensitive question and he/she be
assured that the secrecy will be maintained.
(iv) A congenial atmosphere should be created so that the respondent may explain the facts without any
hesitation.
(v) The language of the questions should be simple and polite so that the respondents feel motivated and
readily agree to give the information asked for.
(vi) Avoid asking any such question that may hurt the self-respect or the religious feelings of the respondent.
(vii) At the end of the interview, ask the respondent what additional information he/she may provide, other
than what has already been provided by him/her. (viii) Pay your thanks and gratefulness for sparing his/her
valuable time for you
(3) Questionnaire : Questionnaire is a method of primary data collection that comprises of different sets of
Questions to get information from the respondents for the problem identified by the researcher.
It is an orderly arrangement of questions that helps in generating the required primary data which can then be
analyzed and interpreted to solve a research problem.
Types of Questions:
(i) Open ended Questions : Open ended questions contain no pre set options or scales. These Questions are
asked when the researchers does not want to limit the answer of a respondent.
(ii) Closed ended questions : when the questions are to be answered within a boundry of limited options,
indicators or scales they are called as “Closed Ended Questions”
(iii) Leading Questions : When the close ended questions are asked similar options or measures like good,
great, best, excellent etc they are called “Leading Questions”.
(iv) Likert Questions : These questions are based on the likert scale. Likert questions carry five or seven leven of
expression, which act as scales, describing the level of agreement or disagreement over a particular issue or
statement.
(v) dichotomous Questions: Questions asking respondents to answer by selecting one of thwo options such as
“A” or “B”, “Agree” or “Disagree” etc.
(vi) Rating Scale Questions : When the respondents is required to rate particular product, issue, Organization,
Or Features etc. Using scales.

Secondary Source of Data :

Secondary sources of data consist of published and unpublished records which include government
publications, documents and reports.
Tabulation and Classification of Data:
Classification is the process of creating the homogeneous classes into which the edited and coded data can be
grouped on the basis of their common characteristics. By classifying the data in different groups meaningful
result can be extracted.
Types of classification:
(1) classification According to Attributes: Classification is done on the basis of some common descriptive
characteristics or attributes. They are qualitative in nature.
(2) Classification according to class Intervals: Data can also be classified on the basis of numerical
characteristics. These characteristics are quantitative.
Process of Classification :
Once the number of groups and the class interval of each group are determined. the raw data are classified by
a method known as Four and Cross Method or tally marks.
Example :
Frequency Distribution :
The number of individuals is known as frequency and the column represents the frequency Reprint 2025-26
distribution. It illustrates how the different values of a variable are distributed in different classes. Frequencies
are classified as Simple and Cumulative frequencies.
Simple Frequencies
It is expressed by ‘f’ and represent the number of individuals falling in each group. The sum of all the
frequencies, assigned to all classes, represents the total number of individual observations in the given series.

Each simple frequency is associated with its group or class. The exclusive or inclusive methods are used for
forming the groups or classes.
Exclusive Method: the upper limit of one group is the same as the lower limit of the next group.

Inclusive Method: In this method, a value equal to the upper limit of a group is included in the same group.

Cumulative Frequencies : It is expressed by ‘Cf’ and can be obtained by adding successive simple frequencies
in each group with the previous sum.

Tabulation is a method presenting the data in the form of tables so that the results can be interpreted easily.
The purpose of tabulation is to present maximum possible information in minimum possible space.
Simple Table:
In this type of table, a single characteristic is used to present the data. It is the simplest type of table and is
often referred to as a First Order Table or a One-way Table. These are used to show the univariate frequency
distribution because they examine only one variable. Ex.-
 Data are collected, tabulated and presented in a tabular form either in : Absolute Data, percentages or
indices.
Absolute Data: When data are presented in their original form as integers, they are called absolute data or
raw data.

Percentage/Ratio : Some time data are tabulated in a ratio or percentage form that are computed from a
common parameter, such as literacy rate or growth rate of population, percentage of agricultural products or
industrial products, etc.

Index Number : An index number is a statistical measure designed to show changes in variable or a group of
related variables with respect to time, geographic location or other characteristics. It is obtained using the
following formula:
Frequency Polygon and Ogive Curve :

Frequency Polygon :A graph of frequency distribution is known as the frequency polygon. It helps in
comparing two or more than two frequency distribution.
Frequency Polygon :

Ogive Curve : The curve obtained by plotting cumulative frequencies is called an Ogive.It is constructed either
by the less than method or the more than method.
less than method :
In this method we start with the upper limit of the classes and go on adding the frequencies. When these
frequencies are plotted, we get a rising curve.
More than method : In this method we start with the lower limits of the classes and from the cumulative
frequency, we substract frequency of each class. When these frequencies are plotted, we get a declining curve.