Scribd
Upload
6 views

Lecture Five - Data Collection & Data Models

The document discusses different methods for collecting primary and secondary data for research purposes. It describes methods like observation, interviews, questionnaires, focus groups and content analysis for collecting primary data, as well as published and unpublished sources for secondary data. Factors to consider in selecting appropriate data collection methods include the nature and scope of the research, available funds and time, and required precision of data.

Uploaded by

patrickchiyangi6
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
6 views

Lecture Five - Data Collection & Data Models

The document discusses different methods for collecting primary and secondary data for research purposes. It describes methods like observation, interviews, questionnaires, focus groups and content analysis for collecting primary data, as well as published and unpublished sources for secondary data. Factors to consider in selecting appropriate data collection methods include the nature and scope of the research, available funds and time, and required precision of data.

Uploaded by

patrickchiyangi6
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 12

DATA COLLECTION METHODS

• The task of data collection begins after a research problem


has been defined and research design plan chalked out.
There are basically two types of data, namely primary and
secondary.
• The primary data are those which are collected afresh and
for the first time, and thus happen to be original in
character.
• The secondary data, on the other hand, are those which
have already been collected by someone else and which
have already been passed through the statistical process.

• The methods of collecting primary and secondary data differ


since primary data are to be originally collected, while in
case of secondary data the nature of data collection work is
merely that of compilation.
PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION
PRIMARY DATA
• We collect primary data during an experimental research or in survey
in case we do research of the descriptive type where we can obtain
primary data either through observation, or through direct
communication with respondents in one form or another.
• Experimental: refers to an investigation in which a factor or variable
under test is isolated and its effect(s) measured. In an experiment the
investigator measures the effects of an experiment which he conducts
intentionally.

• Survey refers to the method of securing information concerning a


phenomena under study from all or a selected number of respondents
in a given area.
• Particularly in surveys and descriptive researches, the following are the
methods of collecting primary data:
Observation method, Interview method, Through questionnaires.
Other methods include focus group discussions, In-depth interviews,
and content analysis.
SECONDARY DATA
• This refers to data that are already available i.e., they refer to the data
which have already been collected and analyzed by someone else.
• When the researcher utilizes secondary data, then he has to look into
various sources from where he can obtain them.
• Secondary data may either be published data or unpublished data.
Usually published data are available in:

Various publications of the central/ local governments;


Various publications of foreign
Journals; books, magazines and newspapers; reports and
publications , etc.
Reports prepared by research scholars, universities, economists,
etc.
Public records and statistics, historical documents,
• The sources of unpublished data can be found in:
Diaries, letters, unpublished biographies and autobiographies.
Factors to consider when Choosing the Secondary Data
Reliability of data: Who collected the data? What were the sources of
data? What methods were used in collecting? When was the data
collected? Was there any bias of the compiler? What level of accuracy
was desired? Was it achieved ?

 Suitability of data: The data that are suitable for one enquiry may not
necessarily be found suitable in another enquiry. Hence it is important
that the researcher considers the relevance of the data.

 Adequacy of data: If the level of accuracy achieved in data is found


inadequate for the purpose of the present enquiry, they will be
considered as inadequate and should not be used by the researcher.
The data will also be considered inadequate, if they are related to an
area which may be either narrower or wider than the area of the
present enquiry.
SELECTION OF APPROPRIATE METHODS
Nature, scope and object of enquiry:

This constitutes the most important factor affecting the choice of a


particular method.
The method selected should be such that it suits the type of
enquiry that is to be conducted by the researcher.
This factor is also important in deciding whether to use primary or
secondary data.

Availability of funds:
Availability of funds for the research project determines to a large
extent the method to be used for the collection of data.
When funds at the disposal of the researcher are very limited, he
will have to select a comparatively cheaper method which may not
be as efficient and effective as some other costly method.
Finance, in fact, is a big constraint in practice and the researcher
has to act within this limitation.
SELECTION OF APPROPRIATE METHODS
Time factor:
Availability of time has also to be taken into account in deciding a
particular method of data collection.
Some methods take relatively more time, whereas with others the
data can be, collected in a comparatively shorter duration.
The time at the disposal of the researcher, thus, affects the selection
of the method by which the data are to be collected.
Precision required:
Precision required is yet another important factor to be considered at the time
of selecting the method of collection of data.
Models & Data
•In economics, we study relationships between
different economic variables in order to understand
and influence phenomena.

•For example, in order for us to understand what


influences the growth of the economy we need to
study and understand how GDP relates with other
economic variables such as inflation, investment,
interest rates, exports, Government expenditure, etc.

•Or how household consumption relates to other


factors such as income, price of goods, taste
preferences, etc.
•In doing so, in economics we use models and data.
DEFINITIONS:
MODELS & DATA
• A model or theory makes a series of simplifying assumptions from
which it deduces how people will behave. It is a deliberate
simplification of reality.

• Data or facts interact with models in two ways: Firstly the data helps us
quantify the relationships to which our theoretical models draw
attention. Thus models will help us know which facts regarding the
phenomenon are more important.

• E.g Growth theory says GDP is influenced by inflation, investment,


interest rates, exports, Government expenditure, etc. i.e, The model
would be:GDP = f(Infl, Inv, Govt Exp, IR).
• Or, looking at a HouseHold Consumption model which tells us that
Consumption is influenced by Income, Tastes, size of family etc.,
C= f(Income, family size, tastes).

• Secondly, it helps us test the assumptions of our model. That way, we


will be able to ensure that theory and reality are agreeing in a particular
setting.
TYPES OF DATA
TIME SERIES DATA
• A sequence of measurements of a variable at different points in time. It shows
how a variable changes over time and such information maybe presented either
in tables or in graphs. A graph in this case is simply a diagrammatic
representation of a table.

CROSS SECTIONAL DATA


• Cross sectional data records at a point in time the way an economic variable
differs across different individuals or groups of individuals.

PANEL DATA
• The third type of data combines both time and space and its called panel data. It
analyses how variables for various units change over time.
ILLUSTRATIONS OF DIFFERENT DATA TYPES
TIME SERIES DATA SHOWING TOTAL REVENUE ZMK FROM A BUS BUSINESS (2015)

MONTH TOTAL REVENUE BUS FARES PETROL PRICE TAXI FARES

JANUARY 2,000 300 30 400

FEBRUARY 2,100 290 29 420

MARCH 2,400 260 26 480

APRIL 2,500 250 25 500

MAY 2,600 240 24 520

JUNE 2,800 220 22 560

JULY 2,800 220 22 560

AUGUST 2,850 215 21.5 570

SEPTEMBER 2,850 215 21.5 570

OCTOBER 2,900 210 21 580

NOVEMBER 2,700 230 23 540

DECEMBER 2,300 270 27 460


CROSS SECTIONAL DATA
CROSS SEDATA SHOWING TOTAL REVENUE ZMK FROM A BUS BUSINESS
(2015)

COMPANY TOTAL BUS PETROL TAXI FARE


REVENUE FARE PRICE

MAHLON & 2300 260 23 480


SONS
MWEETWA BS 2800 240 28 520
KANIKI & CO 2650 225 26.5 530
LADY R. 2700 215 27 550
KAKOMA
NELLY MAMBWE 2300 220 23 540

You might also like