ASSIGNMENT

ON

Methods of Data Collection

SUBMITTED TO: DR. D. D. SHARMA
Session 2022-24

NAME: RITIKA SANKHYAN

REGISTRATION NO: PGD20227495
DATA: Facts and figures that are not currently being used in a
decision process and usually take the form of historical records that
are recorded and filed without immediate intend to retrieve for
decision taking.
DATA COLLECTION: Data collection is the technique of obtaining
useful information. Data is collected to establish a factual basis for
making decisions.
METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION:
 PRIMARY DATA
 SECONDARY DATA

A. PRIMARY DATA: The data gathered by researcher first-hand is

primary data. The researcher collects such data on purpose,
because no previous records of the data exist to be accessed by
public. Primary data can be collected using a range of methods
like surveys, interviews, focus groups, etc. Such data is
considered to be highly reliable.
B. SECONDARY DATA: The data that have been collected and
compiled by someone, and are accessible to the public, are
known as secondary data. It is the data used by the investigator
from previous studies and other sources. The primary data
collected for one research study, becomes secondary data
when it is further used for another research. Generally,
secondary data includes government reports, census data,
departmental records, etc. Using such data is less expensive and
faster in comparison to primary data.
DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES: The data can be collected using
various techniques. The decision about which tool to use for data
collection is guided by the research question. Some methods of data
collection are:
 OBSERVATION METHOD
 INTERVIEW METHOD
 QUESTIONAIRE METHOD
 CASE STUDY
 SCHEDULE METHOD
 PROJECTIVE TECHNIQUES
OBSERVATION METHOD: Observation is defined as “the
systematic description of events, behaviours, and artefacts in the
social setting chosen for study” (Marshall &Rossman, 1989).
Through the mode of observation, the researcher gets to describe
situations as they exist, by making use of five senses, thus
presenting a sketch of a situation under study (Erlandson, Harris,
Skipper, & Allen, 1993). The researcher observe the behaviour of
participants and records the results of these observations.
Observation method is roped in by the researcher to develop an
overall understanding of the phenomena being investigated, in the
most objective and accurate way possible (De Walt and De Walt,
2002). For example, in an interview method, the participants may
become conscious of their responses being monitored. They may
give responses that may deviate from what they may do in real life,
as they want to portray themselves in a favourable light. On the
contrary, observation technique allows for noting people’s
behaviour when they are not aware of it (Cargan,2007).
TYPES OF OBSERVATION METHOD:
 STRUCTURED AND UNSTRUCTURED METHOD:
 For structured observation, the researcher specifies in detail
what is to be observed and how the measurements are to be
recorded.
 For unstructured observation, the observer monitors all aspects
of phenomenon that seem relevant to the problem at hand.
  DIRECT AND INDIRECT METHOD:
 Direct observation is observing behaviour as it occurs.
 Indirect observation is observing the effects and results of the
behaviour rather than the behaviour itself.
 DISGUISED AND UNDISGUISED OBSERVATION:
 In disguised observation subject is unaware that he or she is
being observed.
 In undisguised observation respondent is aware of being
observed.
 CONTROLLED AND UNCONTROLLED OBSERVATION:
 Controlled observation is carried out either in the laboratory or
in the field. It is primarily used for testing casual hypothesis.
 Uncontrolled observation does not involve over extrinsic and
intrinsic variables. It is primarily used for descriptive research.

ADVANTAGES OF OBSERVATION METHOD:

 Subjective bias is eliminated.
 Done in natural surroundings.
 Methods related to what is currently happening, while not
considering either the past behaviour or future intentions or
attitudes .
 Method is independent of respondent’s willingness to respond
and as such is relatively less demanding of active cooperation
on the part of respondents.
DISADVANTAGES OF OBSERVATION METHOD:
 It is an expensive method.
 An extensive training of observers is required.
 The information provided by this method is very limited.
 Sometimes unforeseen factors may interfere with the
observational task.
 It is a slow process.
  It has low reliability
INTERVIEW METHOD:
The interview method of collecting data involves presentation of
oral-verbal stimuli and reply in terms of oral-verbal responses.
TYPES OF INTERVIEW METHODS ARE:
 Personal interview method
 Telephonic interview method
PERSONAL INTERVIEW METHOD: This method requires a person
known as the interviewer asking questions generally in face to face
contact to the other persons.
TWO FORMS ARE:
Direct Personal Investigation: The interviewer has to collect the
information personally from the sources concerned .
Indirect Oral Investigation: The interviewer has to cross-examine
other persons who are supposed to have knowledge about the
problem under investigation and the information obtained is
recorded.
METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION THROUGH PERSONAL
INTERVIEW:
Structured interview: The method of collecting information through
personal interviews is usually carried out in a structured way.
Unstructured interview: These interview do not follow a system of
pre-determined questions and standardised techniques of recording
information.
Focussed interview: It is meant to focus attention on the given
experience of the respondent and its effects. Under it 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 motivates.
Clinical interview: It is concerned with broad underlying feelings or
motivations or with the course of individual’s life experience.
Non-directive interview: In non-directive interview the
interviewer’s function is simply to encourage the respondent to talk
about the given topic with a bare minimum of direct questioning.
TELEPHONIC INTERVIEW METHOD:
This method of collecting information consists in contacting
respondents on telephone itself. It is mainstay of commercial survey
research.
MERITS OF TELEPHONIC INTERVIEW:
 Highly flexible.
 Faster than other methods i.e., a quick way of obtaining
information.
 It is cheaper method and cost per response is relatively low.
 Recall is easy; call backs are simple and economical.
 There is a higher rate of response.
 Replies can be recorded without causing embarrassment to
respondents.
 No field staff is required.
 Representative and wider distribution of sample is possible.
DEMERITS OF TELEPHONIC INTERVIEW:
 Little time is given to respondents for considered answers;
interview period is not likely to exceed five minutes in most
cases.
 Surveys are restricted to respondents who do not have
telephone facilities.
 It is not suitable for intensive surveys.
 Questions have to be short and to the point.
 Cannot show sample product by phone.

QUESTIONAIRE METHOD AND SCHEDULE METHOD:

 S.NO QUESTIONAIRE SCHEDULE METHOD
METHOD
1. Questionnaire Schedule generally
generally sent filled by enumerators
through mail and no or research workers.
further assistance
from sender.
2. It is a cheaper It is costly and
method. requires field workers.
3. Non response is Non response is low.
high.
4. Identity of Identity of person is
respondent is known.
unknown.
5. Information is Very slow method.
collected well in
time.
6. No personal Direct personal
contact. contact.
7. Success depends on Success depends on
the quality of quality of
questionnaire. enumerators.
8. Time bound. Time consuming.
9. Low interaction. High interaction.
10. Highly structured. Loosely structured.

CASE STUDY:
A case study is an in-depth investigation about a person, group,
situation or occurrence. It involves collection of data from various
sources employing a mix of different methods, whichever
appropriate. Case studies are used in researches where a deep
probe and understanding of the issue is required. This method is
used widely in many social science studies, especially in conducting
research on issues relating to “education, sociology, and
community based problems such as poverty, unemployment, drug
addiction, illiteracy”, among others (Zainal, 2007).
Advantages of using case studies are (McLeod, 2008):
 They give detailed information.
 They provide cues for further research.
 They allow probing of situations which are difficult to
investigate.
Disadvantages of using case studies are (McLeod, 2008):
 The results cannot be generalised to a bigger population.
 There are chances of researcher's own inclinations to creep
in.
 The study cannot be replicated.
 The process is more time-consuming.

PROJECTIVE TECHNIQUES:
Projective techniques are methods of eliciting someone’s
internal ideas, values, attitudes, needs and opinions by
responding to stimuli using external objects. Projective
technique is based on the principle that the degree of
ambiguity of a stimulus, is directly proportional to the
respondent expressing his emotions, attitudes and beliefs
more accurately.
There are different types of projective measures used by
researchers. They are (Ahuja, 2015):
A. Pictorial techniques.
 Rorschach inkblot test: In this method, ten standard
cards, each having an inkblot representing different
diagnostic categories, are given to subjects. They are
then asked to describe what they see. The responses are
recorded for further analysis. The analysis reveals the
subject’s personality traits.
  Thematic apperception test: This method uses showing a
series of pictures relating to the topic of research, to the
respondents. They are asked to describe the pictures,
and responses are noted. The answers are analysed
afterwards to reflect the personality characteristics of
the respondents.
 Pictures arrangement test
B. Verbal techniques.
 Story or sentence completion: The subjects are given some
incomplete sentences or stories, and are asked to complete
them in their own way. The answers are interpreted later.
 Word association test: A list of words is given to the
respondents, one word at a time. They are asked to link
each word with the word that immediately came to their
mind. The responses are recorded and interpreted to reveal
the inner feelings of the subjects.
C. Play techniques:
 Doll play: These methods are used to study children’s
behaviour. Situations are created using dolls, and the child is
asked for his or her opinion regarding it.
D. Psycho-drama or socio-drama technique:
 Role playing: This technique involves the subject playing
certain roles, that is, they act out someone else’s behaviour
in a specific setting. For example, mock parliament sessions
in colleges, where different students assume the roles of
different leaders. These methods are also used in studying
inter-personal relationships.