Data Collection

It is the process of by which researchers collects the information needed to solve the research
problem.

In the collection of data the researcher must decide:

● Which data to collect?

● How to collect the data?

● Who will collect the data?

● When to collect the data?

Methods of Data Collection

1. Primary Data: The primary data are those which are collected afresh and for the first
time, and thus happen to be original in character
2. Secondary data: 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.

Collection of Primary data

Primary data may be collected by

● Experiments

● Surveys (e.g. through questionnaires)

● observation method

● interview method

Collection of data through questionnaires

This method of data collection is quite popular, particularly in the case of big inquiries. It is
being adopted by private individuals, researchers, private and public organizations, and even by
governments. In this method, a questionnaire is sent (usually by post) to the persons concerned
with a request to answer the questions and return the questionnaire. A questionnaire consists of a
number of questions printed or typed in a definite order on a form or set of forms.

The questionnaire is mailed to respondents who are expected to read and understand the
questions and write down the reply in the space meant for the purpose in the questionnaire itself.
The respondents have to answer the questions on their own. The method of collecting data by
mailing the questionnaires to respondents is most extensively employed in various economic and
business surveys.

Before using this method, it is always advisable to conduct ‘pilot study’ (Pilot Survey) for
testing the questionnaires. In a big enquiry the significance of pilot survey is felt very much.
Pilot survey is in fact the replica and rehearsal of the main survey. Such a survey, being
conducted by experts, brings to the light the weaknesses (if any) of the questionnaires and also of
the survey techniques.

Steps for an effective questionnaire:

1. Prepare questions (Formulate & choose types of questions, order them, write instructions,
make copies)
2. Select your respondents
3. Tabulate data collected
4. Analyze and interpret the collected data

Classification of questionnaire

1. Open-ended questions: This gives the respondents the ability to respond in their own
words.
2. Close-ended or fixed alternative questions: This allows the respondents to choose one of
the given alternatives. Such as: Questions may be dichotomous (yes or no answers),
multiple choice (alternative answers listed)

Essentials of a good questionnaire:

 ● It should be short and simple

● Questions should proceed in logical sequence, moving from easy to more difficult

questions.

● Should provide enough space for answer

● There should always be provision for indications of uncertainty, e.g., “do not know,” “no

preference,” and so on.

● Brief directions with regard to filling up the questionnaire should be given in the

questionnaire itself.

Observation method:

Observation method is a method under which data from field is collected with the help of
observation of observer or personally going to field. While using this method, the researcher
should keep in mind things like: What should be observed? How should the observations be
recorded? Or how the accuracy of observation can be ensured?

Steps for and effective observation

1. Determine what needs to be observed
2. Select Participants
3. Conduct the observation
4. Compile the collected data
5. Analyze and interpret data collected

Interview method

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.

(a) Personal interviews: The personal interview method requires a person known as the
interviewer asking questions generally in face-to-face contact to the other person or
 persons. (At times the interviewee may also ask certain questions and the interviewer
responds to these) This sort of interview may be in the form of a direct personal
investigation or it may be indirect oral investigation.
In the case of direct personal investigation, the interviewer has to collect the
information personally from the sources concerned. He has to be on the spot and has to
meet people from whom data have to be collected. This method is particularly suitable
for intensive investigations. But in certain cases, it may not be possible or worthwhile to
contact directly the persons concerned or on account of the extensive scope of inquiry,
the direct personal investigation technique may not be used.
In such cases, an indirect oral examination can be conducted under which 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. This
method is generally adopted in those cases where the informants are not inclined to
respond if approached directly. Under this method of collecting data, the investigator
contacts third parties called witnesses capable of supplying the necessary information.
Most of the commissions and committees appointed by the government to carry on
investigations make use of this method.
In an enquiry regarding addiction to drugs, alcohol etc, people may be reluctant to supply
information about their own habits.
It would be necessary in that case to get the desired information from those dealing in
drugs, liquor or other people who knowing about them; e.g friends, neighbors

(b) Telephone interviews: This method of collecting information consists in contacting

respondents on telephone itself.

Collection of secondary data

Secondary data means 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. In this case he
is certainly not confronted with the problems that are usually associated with the collection of
original data. Secondary data may either be published data or unpublished data.
Usually published data are available in:

(a) various publications of the central, state are local governments;

(b) various publications of foreign governments or of international bodies and their subsidiary
organizations;

(c) technical and trade journals;

(d) books, magazines and newspapers;

(e) reports and publications of various associations connected with business and industry, banks,
stock exchanges, etc.;

(f) reports prepared by research scholars, universities, economists, etc. in different fields; and

(g) public records and statistics, historical documents, and other sources of published
information.

The sources of unpublished data are many; they may be found in diaries, letters, unpublished
biographies, and autobiographies and also may be available with scholars and research workers,
trade associations, labor bureaus and other public/ private individuals and organizations.

By way of caution, the researcher, before using secondary data, must see that they possess
following characteristics:

1. Reliability of data:

The reliability can be tested by finding out such things about the said data: (a) Who
collected the data?

(b) What were the sources of data?

(c) Were they collected by using proper methods

(d) At what time were they collected?

(e) Was there any bias of the compiler?

(f) What level of accuracy was desired?

2. Suitability of data: The data that is suitable for one inquiry may not necessarily be found
suitable in another inquiry. Hence, if the available data are found to be unsuitable, they should
not be used by the researcher. In this context, the researcher must very carefully scrutinize the
definition of various terms and units of collection used at the time of collecting the data from the
primary source originally. Similarly, the object, scope, and nature of the original inquiry must
also be studied. If the researcher finds differences in these, the data will remain unsuitable for the
present enquiry and should not be used.

Example of Exploratory Research:

a. Consider a scenario where a juice bar owner feels that increasing the variety of juices will
enable increase in customers, however he is not sure and needs more information. The
owner intends to carry out exploratory research to find out and hence decides to do
exploratory research to find out if expanding their juices selection will enable him to get
more customers of if there is a better idea.
b. Your university dining hall is considering adding Chicken soup its meals to its daily
menu, something it has never offered before. However, the university is hesitant to do so
because of concerns that the items will not be sufficiently popular, leading to increased
food waste. Your university is eco-conscious and will not add the items if this will
increase food waste. As there is also a cost associated with developing the recipes, the
plan will only proceed if there is concrete proof that the Chicken soup meals will be
successful.

Exploratory research data collection

Collecting information on a previously unexplored topic can be challenging. Exploratory

research can help you narrow down your topic and formulate a clear hypothesis, as well as give
you the “lay of the land” on your topic.

Data collection using exploratory research is often divided into primary and secondary research
methods, with data analysis following the same model.

Primary research
In primary research, your data is collected directly from primary sources: your participants.
There is a variety of ways to collect primary data.

Some examples include:

Survey methodology: Surveys/polls are used to gather information from a predefined group of
respondents. It is one of the most important quantitative methods. Various types of surveys or
polls can be used to explore opinions, trends, etc. With the advancement in technology, surveys
can now be sent online and can be very easy to access. For instance, use of a survey app through
tablets, laptops or even mobile phones.

Sending a survey out to the student body asking them if they would eat chicken soup meals.

Focus groups: Focus group is yet another widely used method in exploratory research. In such a
method a group of people is chosen and are allowed to express their insights on the topic
that is being studied. Although, it is important to make sure that while choosing the individuals
in a focus group they should have a common background and have comparable experiences.

Compiling groups of 8–10 students and discussing what they think of Chicken soup options
for dining hall food.

Interviews: While you may get a lot of information from public sources, sometimes an in-person
interview can give in-depth information on the subject being studied. Such research is a
qualitative research method.

Interviewing students entering and exiting the dining hall, asking if they would eat Chicken
soup meals

Secondary research

In secondary research, your data is collected from preexisting primary research, such as
experiments or surveys.

Some other examples include:

Case studies: Case study research can help a researcher with finding more information through
carefully analyzing existing cases which have gone through a similar problem.

Health of an all-Chicken soup diet

Literature reviews: Literature research is one of the most inexpensive method used for
discovering a hypothesis. There is tremendous amount of information available in libraries,
online sources, or even commercial databases. Sources can include newspapers, magazines,
books from library, documents from government agencies, specific topic related articles,
literature, Annual reports, published statistics from research organizations and so on.

Pre Existing research about students’ eating habits and how they have changed over time

Online polls, surveys, blog posts, or interviews; social media:

In today’s world, this is one of the fastest way to gather information on any topic. A lot of data is
readily available on the internet and the researcher can download it whenever he needs it. An
important aspect to be noted for such a research is the genuineness and authenticity of the source
websites that the researcher is gathering the information from.

Have other schools done something similar?

For example: A researcher needs to find out what is the percentage of people that prefer a
specific brand phone. The researcher just enters the information he needs in a search engine and
gets multiple links with related information and statistics.