Methods of Data Collection: A
Fundamental Tool of Research
1. ABSTRACT
For conducting research, it is a must to collect data. Data is basically
the information that is required for investigating a research problem
after proper designing. The importance of data collection lies in the fact
that without gathering the particular information the research could not
be carried out. The data may be primary or secondary. Usually, the
methods of primary data collection in behavioural sciences include
observation methods, interviews, questionnaires, and through
database. The sources of secondary data include the previously
published books, magazines, journals, etc. and unpublished
autobiographies and biographies, etc. Thus, data collection is
mandatory to accomplish the research process and therefore, it is the
fundamental tool of research. This paper reviews, in detail, the various
methods and different ways of gathering the information for
undertaking research.
Keywords: Research Problem, Behavioural Sciences, Research Process,
Questionnaire, Interview, Database, Observation, Research Design/ Plan
Introduction
The responsibility of data collection starts after defining the research
problem and outlining the research design/ plan. There are two major
strategies for collecting information about circumstances, particular
problems or for any other phenomena. Occasionally, the facts required are
previously accessible and need only be extracted. The researcher would
have to decide which type of data they would be using for their study and
accordingly they will have to select one or the other method of data
collection.1 By definition, data collection is defined as the process of
gathering, evaluating and analysing precise understandings for research
using typical authenticated methods. Assessment of the hypothesis by a
researcher can be done on the basis of collected data. In almost all cases,
data collection is the most significant step for research, regardless of the
field of research. The method of data collection varies as per the
different fields of study, depending on the essential information. The
most vital objective of data collection is to safeguard that information-
rich and unswerving data that is collected for statistical analysis and
further helps in making data-driven decisions for research.
2 Definition of Data
Data is a plural form of datum meaning “a piece of information”.
Information may be collected during a study, or as a result of an
experiment, or during an observation, or through census or survey. The
information may also be gathered by investigators on their own.
Data may be of two types:
(i) Primary Data: Primary data include the data that are collected for
the first time, and are original and fresh.
(ii) Secondary Data: Secondary data include the data which have
previously been collected by someone else and have already
Undergone the statistical proces
Methods of Collection of Primary Data
Primary data is collected while undertaking experiments in
experimental research, but, primary data in the case of descriptive
type research and surveys (including sample surveys or census
surveys), are obtained either by means of observation or via direct
communication with respondents in one form or another.
Types of Primary Data Collection:
• Observation method
• Interview method
• Through questionnaire
• Through schedule
• Other methods include warranty cards, pantry audits, distributary
audits, consumer panels, using mechanical devices, through
projective technique, depth interviews and content analysis
Observation Method
This is the most frequently used practice, particularly in studies
relating to behavioural sciences.
Every one of us, more or less observe things around us, but this is not
considered scientific observation. Observation is said to be a scientific
tool and a means of data collection for the researcher, when it serves a
formulated research purpose, is systematically planned and recorded
and is subjected to checks and controls on validity and reliability. Under
the observation method, the information is sorted by investigators’
direct observation without asking from the respondent. This method is
particularly suitable in studies that deal with subjects who aren’t
capable of giving verbal reports of their feelings for any reason.
Observation
Data collection by means of observation does not require personal
contact. A good example of observational data gathering is counting
the number of automobiles crossing an intersection every hour.
Types of Observation Methods
1. Structured Observation:
It involves a careful definition of the units to be observed, along
with the style of recording the obtained information, selection of
pertinent data of observation, and the standardised conditions of
observation.
2. Unstructured Observation:
This is performed without considering any structured
characteristics in advance.
3. Controlled Observation:
It involves observation as per the pre-arranged strategies
including experimental processes.
4. Uncontrolled Observation:
In this, the process of observation takes place in natural
settings.
5. Participant Observation:
It is the process in which the observer shares the experiences,
being a member of the group.
6. Non-participant Observation:
It is the process in which the observer is a detached
participant.
7. Disguised Observation:
It refers to the process in which the observations are made
without people knowing that they are being observed.
Interview Method
For effective execution of the interview method, the interviewers have
to be sensibly nominated, skilled, and updated. They have to be
authentic, genuine, diligent, unbiased and ought to retain the practical
competency and essential applied understanding. In actual fact,
interviewing is a skill administered by definite scientific ethics. It
involves the presentation of oral-verbal stimuli and replies in terms of
oral-verbal responses.
• Personal Interview
• Telephone Interview
Interview
This generally takes place amongst two individuals, one is called the
interviewer and another is the interviewee or respondent. This is
typically preferred if it is convenient to talk directly to the respondents.
For example, if a researcher desired to conclude whether individuals
stayed happy with the way they were treated by sales staff hospitality.
(1) Personal Interview Method
This method entails a person as an interviewer asking questions
mostly in a face to face interaction with other people. At times, the
interviewee might also probe certain interrogations and interviewer’s
responses, but generally, the interviewer starts the interview and
assembles the facts. This method is quite appropriate for thorough
investigations.
1. Structured Interview:
The information collected by this method is usually processed in a
structured way, such interviews involve the use of a set of
predetermined questions and highly standardised techniques of
recording. In this method, the interviewer follows a rigid procedure.
2. Unstructured Interview:
It doesn’t follow a system of predetermined questions and
standardised techniques of recording information.
3. Focused Interview:
It is intended to put emphasis and consideration on the respondent’s
certain attained capabilities and their effects. In this method, the
interviewer has the freedom to decide the manner and sequence in
which the questions would be asked and has also the freedom to
explore reasons and motives. The main task of the interviewer in case of
a focussed interview is to confine the respondent to a discussion of
issues with which he seeks conversance. Such interviews are generally
used in the development of a hypothesis and constitute a major type of
unstructured interview.
(2) Telephone Interview Method
In this method, the information is collected by contacting respondents
on a telephone. It is not a very widely used method but plays an
important role in industrial surveys.
Collection of Data through Questionnaires
This type of data collection procedure is very popular in the case of
big surveys. This method is adopted by research workers, private
personalities, private and public organisations and even by
governments. In this method, a questionnaire is conducted to the
individuals concerned with an appeal to respond to the questions and
give back the questionnaire. A questionnaire consists of a number of
questions printed or typed in a definite order on a form or set of forms.
The questionnaire is mailed to respondents who are expected to go
through the questions, comprehend them, and provide their response to
the questions in the space allotted for that purpose in the
questionnaire itself. The participants are required to provide the
answers to the questions by themselves.
Questionnaire
A questionnaire is a predetermined set of questions given to a number
of respondents. This instrument is good for getting information from
many people. Questionnaires are also appropriate for getting
information from people that are spread over a wide area and that are
not easy to contact face-to-face. A questionnaire should have a short
explanation of what your research is about. As with all data collection
methods, questionnaires should always adhere to ethical and moral
codes of conduct. An example of a questionnaire in use is the national
population census for India, which takes place every ten years (the last
one was in 2011).
Features of a Good Questionnaire
• Questions should be smaller and to the point
• Questions should be in sequence
• Questions should proceed in a logical sequence moving from easy to
more difficult questions. Personal and intimate questions should be
left to the end
• Technical terms should not be used in questionnaires
• Questions may be dichotomous, multiple-choice or open-ended
• Questions that can affect the answer of the respondents should be
avoided
• Questions must include all aspects of the problem
•
Collection of Data through Schedule
There is a slight difference between the methods of data collection
through schedule and through questionnaire. Schedules are the
proforma that contain a set of questions. They are filled in by people
who are specifically selected for this purpose. They carry schedules to
the respondents, administer the questions from the proforma in a
sequence wise manner and note down their responses in the space
provided for the same in the proforma.
Other Methods of Data Collection
• Warranty Cards: They are also called feedback cards. They are
usually a postal size card with some questions along with a request
to the consumers to fill and return them
• Distributor or Store Audit: This can be performed by distributers
or manufacturers through their sales representatives commonly
and seasonal purchasing pattern
• Pantry Audit: It is applied to estimate consumption of basket
goods at the consumer level
• Consumer Panel: It is an extension of pantry audit. It is
approached on a regular basis
• Use of Mechanical Devices: Eye camera, pupilometric camera,
psychogalvanometer, motion picture camera
Methods of Collection of Secondary Data
Sources of Published Data
• Various publications of central, state, or local government
• Publication of foreign government and international societies
• Business industries, banks, stock exchanges, and reports
• Trade journals
• Books, magazines, and newspapers
• Reports prepared by research scholars, universities, economists
• Public record, statistical and historical document
Sources of Unpublished Data
• Autobiographies and biographies that are not published
• Diaries, manuscripts accepted for publication but still “in-press”
• Data from an unpublished study, letters, manuscripts in
preparation, memos, other communications such as e-mails, and
raw data
• Data available with scholars and research workers, trade firms,
labour agencies, and other public or private personnel, and sectors
Sources of Secondary Data Collection
Databases
Sometimes we can use information that is already stored in a
database, so that we don’t actually have to find the data. Databases
are simply organised lists of data - the list of learners at a school is a
kind of database. Databases can be computerised, books or paper
filing systems. A big advantage of these is that the data is already
organised and is easy to access. The aim of the research influences
the way data will be collected. Four methods of collecting data are.
Figure 1.Methods of Data Collection
Selection of the Method of Data Collection
The steps for choosing the technique of particular data collection in a
particular type of study:
• Step 1: Consider the time required
• Step 2: Calculate the number of interviews required
• Step 3: Time to carry out the interviews
• Step 4: Determine the available time for study
The method of collecting data must be suitable for the type of research
we are doing. Let’s look at examples to see why.
Worked Examples: Deciding on the Best Way to Collect Data
Which method would be appropriate for collecting data for each of the
cases below?
To study the knowledge and Anonymous questionnaires
perceptions of tuberculosis would be useful so that
(TB) among many learners at learners don’t have to worry
a school about answering incorrectly.
Interviews by a skilled
interviewer could be useful so
that the interviewer could find
out more about what the
learners know and believe
about TB.
Whether bank clients feel that A questionnaire that clients fill
they are treated in while visiting a bank would
professionally or not by the be a convenient way to collect
bank staff? this information.
The symptoms of hospital Observation (in the form of a
patients with cancer. medical examination) would
be the best method.
The average age of all This information could be
learners in Grade 10. most easily obtained from a
database, e.g. from the
school’s register of learners,
which should have all the
learners’ dates of birth.
The number of pens each Questionnaire OR Observation
learner in a class has?
Weight of all learners in a Questionnaire OR Database (if
class? this info is recorded, e.g. for
Physical Education)
Conclusion
The process of data collection is very essential in the field of
research. It is a basic tool of good research. If the data
collected is unbiased, it will be very useful. The medical,
social, political and economic scenarios can be very easily
seen through this process. Basically, there are two types of
data, primary and secondary. The most common methods of
primary data collection in behavioural sciences are the
observation methods, interviews, questionnaires, and
database. The sources of secondary data include the
previously published books, magazines, journals, etc., and
unpublished autobiographies and biographies, etc. The
method of data collection is chosen as per the aim of the
research and its suitability for that particular type of research
that is to be conducted.
Acknowledgement
The author is thankful to the Chairperson for providing us the
Library facilities in the Dept. of Tahaffuzi wa Samaji Tib of Ajmal
Khan Tibbiya College, AMU, Aligarh. The author also
acknowledges the Supervisor and Co-supervisors for their
generous support and guidance and is also grateful to the
Research Methodology teacher for the valuable inputs and
suggestions in the compilation of this article.
Source of Funding: None
Conflicts of Interest: None
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