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Unit-2.3 Data Collection

Data Collection

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Dhruv Gulati
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30 views

Unit-2.3 Data Collection

Data Collection

Uploaded by

Dhruv Gulati
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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Data Collection

Data
• Data can be defined as the quantitative or qualitative values of a variable.

• Data is thought to be the lowest unit of information from which other


measurements and analysis can be done.

• Data can be numbers, images, words, figures, facts or ideas.

• Data in itself cannot be understood and to get information from the data
one must interpret it into meaningful information.

• Data sources are broadly classified into primary and secondary data.
Types of Data
• Quantitative Data is measured on a numerical
scale.
– Eg: People's heights, salaries, and number of cars
owned.
• Qualitative (categorical) data is data which is
classified into one of a group of categories. If the
category has a numerical value, it is arbitrary.
– Eg: Do you like statistics? Yes or No? Can use 0 for No
and 1 for yes.
Data Collection
• Data collection is a systematic approach to
gathering information from a variety of sources
to get a complete and accurate picture of an area
of interest.

• Data collection is the process of getting the data


from the real world to some form where you can
manipulate it to get information. This information
is then used to make decisions, the ultimate goal
of data collection.
Data Collection Techniques
Primary Data
• Primary data means original data that has been
collected specially for the purpose in mind. It
means someone collected the data from the
original source first hand. Data collected this way
is called primary data.

• Primary data has not been published yet and is


more reliable, authentic and objective. Primary
data has not been changed or altered by human
beings; therefore its validity is greater than
secondary data.
Importance of Primary Data
• Validity - Using primary data in research can improves the validity of
research. First-hand information obtained from a sample that is
representative of the target population will yield data that will be valid for
the entire target population.

• Authenticity - Primary sources are more authentic because the facts have
not been overdone. Primary sources can be less authentic if the source
hides information or alters facts due to some personal reasons. There are
methods that can be employed to ensure factual yielding of data from the
source.

• Reliability - Reliability improves with using primary data. In the similar


research mentioned above if the researcher uses experimental method
and questionnaires the results will be highly reliable. On the other hand, if
he relies on the data available in books and on internet he will collect
information that does not represent the real facts.
Advantages & Disadvantages of
Primary Research
Advantages Disadvantages
• Targeted Issues are addressed
• Data interpretation is better • High Cost
• Efficient Spending for • Time Consuming
Information • Inaccurate Feed-backs
• Decency of Data • More number of resources is
• Proprietary Issues required
• Addresses Specific Research
Issues
• Greater Control
Secondary Data
• Secondary data, is data collected by someone other
than the user.
• Secondary data analysis saves time that would
otherwise be spent collecting data and, particularly in
the case of quantitative data, provides larger and
higher-quality databasesthat would be unfeasible for
any individual researcher to collect on their own. In
addition, analysts of social and economic change
consider secondary data essential, since it is impossible
to conduct a new survey that can adequately capture
past change and/or developments.
Secondary Data…….
• It means that one purpose's Primary Data is
another purpose's Secondary Data. So that
secondary data is data that is being reused. Such
data are cheaper and more quickly obtainable
than the primary data.
• These secondary data may be obtained from
many sources, including literature, industry
surveys, compilations from computerized
databases and information systems, and
computerized or mathematical models of
environmental
• It is economical. It saves efforts and expenses.
• It is time saving.
• It helps to make primary data collection more
specific since with the help of secondary data, we
are able to make out what are the gaps and
deficiencies and what additional information
needs to be collected.
• It helps to improve the understanding of the
problem.
• It provides a basis for comparison for the data
that is collected by the researcher.
Advantages
• Ease of Access
• Low Cost to Acquire
• Clarification of Research Question
• May Answer Research Question
• Time saving
• Economical
• It helps to make primary data collection more specific
It helps to improve the understanding of the problem.
• It provides a basis for comparison for the data that is
collected by the researcher.
Disadvantages
• Not Specific to Researcher’s Needs
• Incomplete Information
• Accuracy of secondary data is not known.
• Data may be outdated.
Data Collection Process
Selection of Field Workers

Training of Field Workers

Supervision of Field Workers

Validation of Field Workers

Evaluation of Field Workers


Selection of filed Worker
• Develop a job specification for the project
• Decide what characteristics a field worker
should have (Healthy, Outgoing,
Communicative, Pleasant appearance,
Educated and Experienced)
• Recruit appropriate individual
Training of Field Worker
• Making the initial contact
• Asking the questions
• Probing (motivate the respondents to expalin
in detail)
• Recording the answer
• Terminating the interview
Supervision of field workers
• Quality Control and editing( to ensure filed procedures are properly
implemented)

• Sampling control (strictly following the sampling plan)


• Control on cheating (falsifies the entire questionnaire)
• Central office control (total progress report should be maintained)
Validation of fieldwork
• It means verifying the field workers are
submitting authentic interviews.
Evaluation of field workers
• Cost and time
• Response rate
• Quality of interviewing
• Quality of data

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