Data Collection

HASAN VAI
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 Research Data Collection Techniques:
Data Collection Method
Primary Data
Secondary Data
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Questionnaire
Interview
Observation
What is an Interview?
The interview method of collecting data involves presentation of oral-verbal
stimuli and reply in terms of oral-verbal responses. This method can be used
through personal interviews and, if possible, through telephone interviews.
Kvale (1996) regarded interviews as an interchange of views between two
or more people on a topic of mutual interest, sees the centrality of human
interaction for knowledge production, and emphasizes the social
situatedness of research data.
Why Should We Use Interview As A Data Collection Method?

According to McNamara, 1999
Interviews are particularly useful for getting the story behind a participants
experiences.
The interviewer can pursue in-depth information around the topic.
Interviews may be useful as follow-up to certain respondents.
Gray (2004) has given the following reasons
There is a need to attain highly personalized data.
There are opportunities required for probing.
A good return rate is important (speed).
When respondents are not fluent in the native language of the country, or
where they have difficulties with written language.
Immediacy
By observing these two, we can say that,

Data from interview are usable
Depth of response can be assured
In an exploratory study, the interview technique provides basis for the
formulation of questionnaire
Clarification is possible
No items are overlooked
Higher proportion of responses is obtained
Greater amount of flexibility is allowed
MAHMUD
Types Of Interview
Ty p e s
of
in te rv i
ew
P e rs o n a l
In te rv ie w
Te le p h o n e
in te rv ie w
Fo cu s g ro u p
in te rv ie w
D e p th
in te rv ie w
P ro je c tiv e
te c h n iq u e s
Personal Interview
Personal interview method requires a person known as the interviewer
asking questions generally in a face-to-face contact to the other person or
persons.
A face to face two way communication between the interviewer and the
respondents
This sort of interview may be in the form of direct personal investigation or

it may be indirect oral investigation.
This can be done in many forms e.g. door to door or as a planned formal
executive meeting.
Methods of conducting an Personal Interview

Structured interviews involve the use of a set of predetermined questions
and of highly standardized techniques of recording.
Unstructured interviews are characterized by a flexibility of approach to
questioning. It do not follow a system of pre-determined questions and
standardized techniques of recording information.
Focused interview is meant to focus attention on the given experience of
the respondent and its effects.
Clinical interview is concerned with broad underlying feelings or
motivations or with the course of individuals life experience.
Non-directive interview is simply to encourage the respondent to talk about
the given topic with a bare minimum of direct questioning.
FORHAD
Merits of Personal Interview
1. More information and that too in greater depth can be obtained.
2. Interviewer by his own skill can overcome the resistance, if any, of the
respondents; the interview method can be made to yield an almost perfect
sample of the general population.
3. There is greater flexibility under this method as the opportunity to
restructure questions is always there, specially in case of unstructured
interviews.
4. Personal information can as well be obtained easily under this method.
5. Samples can be controlled more effectively as there arises no difficulty of

the missing returns;
6. non-response generally remains very low.
7. The interviewer can collect supplementary information about the
respondents personal characteristics and environment which is often of
great value in interpreting results.
Demerits of Personal Interview
(i)
It is a very expensive method, specially when large and widely spread
geographical sample is taken.
(ii) There remains the possibility of the bias of interviewer as well as that of
the respondent; there also remains the headache of supervision and
control of interviewers.
(iii) Certain types of respondents such as important officials or executives or
people in high income groups may not be easily approachable under this
method and to that extent the data may prove inadequate.
(iv) This method is relatively more-time-consuming, specially when the
sample is large and recalls upon the respondents are necessary.
(v) Under the interview method the organisation required for selecting,
training and supervising the field-staff is more complex with formidable
problems.
(vi) Interviewing at times may also introduce systematic errors.
ERSHAD
Telephone interviews
This method of collecting information consists in contacting respondents on
telephone itself.
Telephone interviewing demonstrates the same structural characteristics as
standard interviewing techniques, except that it is conducted by telephone
Uncommon method may be used in developed regions.
Merits of Telephone Interview

1. It is more flexible in comparison to mailing method.
2. It is faster than other methods i.e., a quick way of obtaining information.
3. It is cheaper than personal interviewing method; here the cost per response is
relatively low.
4. Recall is easy; callbacks are simple and economical.
5. There is a higher rate of response than what we have in mailing method; the
non-response is generally very low.
6. Replies can be recorded without causing embarrassment to respondents.
7. Interviewer can explain requirements more easily.
8. At times, access can be gained to respondents who otherwise cannot be
contacted for one reason or the other.
9. No field staff is required.
10. Representative and wider distribution of sample is possible.
Demerits of Telephone Interview

1. Little time is given to respondents for considered answers; interview period is
not likely to exceed five minutes in most cases.
2. Surveys are restricted to respondents who have telephone facilities.
3. Extensive geographical coverage may get restricted by cost considerations.
4. It is not suitable for intensive surveys where comprehensive answers are
required to various questions.
5. Possibility of the bias of the interviewer is relatively more.
6. Questions have to be short and to the point; probes are difficult to handle.
KAJOL
Conclusion
Interviewing is an art governed by certain scientific principles.
For successful implementation of the interview method, interviewers should
be carefully selected, trained and briefed.
Occasional field checks should be made to ensure that interviewers are
neither cheating, nor deviating from instructions given to them for
performing their job efficiently.
Some provision should also be made in advance so that appropriate action

may be taken if some of the selected respondents refuse to cooperate or are
not available when an interviewer calls upon them.
The interviewer must ask questions properly and intelligently and must
record the responses accurately and completely.
The interviewer must answer legitimate question(s), if any, asked by the
respondent and must clear any doubt that the latter has.
The interviewers approach must be friendly, courteous, conversational and
unbiased.
The interviewer should not show surprise or disapproval of a respondents
answer but he must keep the direction of interview in his own hand,
discouraging irrelevant conversation and must make all possible effort to
keep the respondent on the track.

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HASAN VAI

Data Collection: Data collection is the process of gathering and measuring

Types of Research Data Collection Techniques:

Data Collection Method

Why Should We Use Interview As A Data Collection Method?

By observing these two, we can say that,

This sort of interview may be in the form of direct personal investigation or

Methods of conducting an Personal Interview

5. Samples can be controlled more effectively as there arises no difficulty of

Merits of Telephone Interview

Demerits of Telephone Interview

Some provision should also be made in advance so that appropriate action

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