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CH 5

This document discusses various primary data collection methods including observation, interviews, and questionnaires. It provides details on participant vs. non-participant observation, controlled vs. uncontrolled observation, structured vs. unstructured observation. For interviews, it discusses personal interviews, telephone interviews, and the prerequisites and basic principles of interviewing. For questionnaires, it discusses interview questionnaires, mail questionnaires, internet questionnaires, and guidelines for question construction.

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17 views8 pages

CH 5

This document discusses various primary data collection methods including observation, interviews, and questionnaires. It provides details on participant vs. non-participant observation, controlled vs. uncontrolled observation, structured vs. unstructured observation. For interviews, it discusses personal interviews, telephone interviews, and the prerequisites and basic principles of interviewing. For questionnaires, it discusses interview questionnaires, mail questionnaires, internet questionnaires, and guidelines for question construction.

Uploaded by

fernfern dungo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 5

Methods of Data
Collection:Primary Data
Observation method of data collection

Under this method the researcher should personally and directly
observe the condition and incidence of his fields of study.

The researcher would not ask anything from respondents.

Direct observation is the most reliable method for gathering
information related to the life style, status, conduct, behavior,
language, custom and tradition and the like phenomenon

The researcher using this method should decide priory:



What should be observed?

How the observation should be recorded?

How the accuracy of observation can be ensured?

Participant Vs Non-participant observation

A.
Participant observation:
The researcher lives in the group or in the community as a member of it
and participates in their life. He experiences what the member of the
group experience.

B.
Non-participant observation:
The researcher does not participate in the group life but observe as an
external spectator. Under such approach the presence of the researcher

is unknown to the people

Control Vs Uncontrolled Observation

A.
Uncontrolled observation:
Is the observation, which takes place in natural setting. Here
no attempt is made to use precision instruments. The main aim of
this type of observation is to get a spontaneous picture of life or person.
B.
Controlled observation:

Observation takes place according to definite pre-arranged


plans, including experimental procedure. In this observation we use
mechanical (or precision) instruments as aids to accuracy and
standardization.
Structured Vs Unstructured

A)
Structured Observation:

It is structured and preplanned observation technique. This


observation is characterized by a careful definition of units, the
style of recording the observation information; standardize
conditions of observation and the selection of pertinent
observation.

B)
Unstructured observation:

The observation takes place without the characteristics mentioned


above, i.e., without standardized format and plan. There is no
specification of subject of observation, behavior to be observed
and no standard format for recording the observed information

Interview Method

In an interview, the researcher meets people and discusses his social
economic or some other problem with them to gathers facts.


An interview is different from Schedules (interview
questionnaires).

Interview can be either personal
Interview or interview through telephone.
Personal Interview

Such method requires interviewer-asking question in face-to-face
contact to respondent.

The interviewer has to be on the spot and has to meet people from whom
the data are collected.

This approach is suitable for intensive investigation.

The personal interview can be of two type -
structured and unstructured

This approach is used in exploratory research where as the
structured interview is used in descriptive research

Telephone Interview

This method of collecting information involves contacting
respondents on telephone.

Prerequisites of interview

Interviewer should be honest, sincere, hardworking, impartial and must
posses the technical competence

Interviewer has to create friendly atmosphere, trust and confidence

Interviewer must ask question properly and completely

The interviewer should not show surprise or disapproval of a
respondent’s answer

Basic principles of Interviewing



Ask only one question at a time

Repeat the question if necessary

Listen carefully to the subjects answer

Observe the subjects facial-expression, gesture and tone of the
voice

Allow the subject sufficient time to answer the question

Collection of data through Questionnaires



Questionnaire is a list of structured questions, which will be
presented, mailed or e-mailed to selected respondents to obtain
reliable response from them.

This method of data collection is used when the subject of study is
very wide and direct observation is not possible

Types of Questionnaires

Questionnaires can be of the following type:



Interview Questionnaires (Schedules)

Mail Questionnaires (Self administered questionnaires)

Questionnaires through Internet (Through electronics media

Mail Questionnaires

This method of data collection is very popular especially for large study.

The questionnaires are sent by post to the person concerned with a
request to answer the question and return them back.

Questionnaires are mailed to respondents who are expected to read
and understand the question and write down the answer.

Guide to question construction

A) Forms of questions

Open-ended questions

Closed ended questions

B) Make items clear



Make questionnaires item clear

Avoid double –barreled questions

Respondent must be competent to answer

Avoid Negative items
C) General questionnaire format

i. Format for responses



For closed-ended question

For open-end question
ii. Ordering questions in questionnaires
iii. Opening question
iv. Questionnaire format

Instruction
•
General instruction
•
Specific instruction
•
Introduction

V. Mail distribution and return:

accompanied by a letter of explanation and a return envelope.



Monitoring the return

Follow-up-mailing

Response rate

Schedule (Interview Questionnaires)



Schedules are being filled in by enumerators
(interviewers) who are specially appointed for the purpose

The questionnaires are either delivered by hand to be answered by
respondents or the trained interviewer will read the question to
respondent and record the answer given

General Rule for Interviewing



Appearance and Demeanor (behavior or conduct)

Familiarity with questionnaires

Record responses exactly

Probing for response

Interviewer should be trained

Interviewer should Practice both in class and field

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