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Data Collection Methods

There are two main types of data: primary data collected directly by the researcher, and secondary data previously collected. Primary data collection methods include observation, interviews, and questionnaires/schedules. Observation can eliminate bias but provides limited information. Interviews allow for more depth but are time-consuming and prone to bias. Questionnaires have lower costs but lower response rates. Secondary data comes from government and other organization's publications, but must be evaluated for reliability, suitability, and adequacy for the current research purpose.

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Lavanya Shetty
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420 views

Data Collection Methods

There are two main types of data: primary data collected directly by the researcher, and secondary data previously collected. Primary data collection methods include observation, interviews, and questionnaires/schedules. Observation can eliminate bias but provides limited information. Interviews allow for more depth but are time-consuming and prone to bias. Questionnaires have lower costs but lower response rates. Secondary data comes from government and other organization's publications, but must be evaluated for reliability, suitability, and adequacy for the current research purpose.

Uploaded by

Lavanya Shetty
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 PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Methods of Data Collection

Types of Data
1. Primary data – are those which are
collected for the first time and are
original in character
2. Secondary data – are those which
have already been collected by
someone else
Collection of Primary Data

1. Observation Method
2. Interview Method
3. Through Questionnaires/Schedules
I. Observation Method
 Information collected by way of
investigator’s own direct observation without
asking from the respondent
 Serves a formulated research purpose
 Systematically planned and recorded
 Subjected to checks and controls on validity
and reliability
Observation Method
Main advantages are:
 Subjective bias is eliminated
 The information relates to what is
currently happening
 This method is independent of
respondent’s willingness to respond
Observation Method…
Main Limitations are:
 The information provided by this
method is very limited
 Unforeseen factors may interfere with
the observation task
Types of Observation
1. Structured
2. Unstructured
Structured vs. Unstructured
Observation
Structured observation is characterized
by a careful definition of :

 the units to be observed,


 the style of recording the observed
information,
 standardized conditions of observation
and the selection of pertinent data of
observation
II. Interview Method

The Interview Method of collecting


data involves presentation of oral-
verbal stimuli and reply in terms of
oral – verbal responses
Personal Interview
PI Method requires the interviewer
asking questions in a face-to-face
contact with the person
Collecting information thru PI is
structured – the use of a set of
predetermined questions and highly
standardized techniques of recording
Personal Interview…
Thus, the interviewer in a structured interview
follows a rigid procedure, asking questions
in a form and order prescribed
In unstructured interviews – there is a
flexibility of approach to questioning
Unstructured interviews do not follow a
system of pre-determined questions and
standardized techniques of recording
information
Other Interview Techniques
Focused Interview – to focus attention
on the given experience of the
respondent and its effects
The Interviewer has the freedom to
decide the manner and sequence of
questions to elicit/explore reasons and
motives. The main task is to confine
the respondent to a discussion of
issues
Advantages
1. More information and in greater depth can
be obtained
2. Resistance may be overcome by a skilled
interviewer
3. Greater flexibility – an opportunity to
restructure questions
4. Observation method can also be applied to
recording verbal answers
5. Personal information can be obtained
6. Possibility of spontaneous responses and
thus more honest responses
Disadvantages

1.Interviewer bias
2.Respondent bias
3.Time consuming
4.Under the interview method the organization
required for selecting, training, and
supervising the field staff is complex with
formidable problems
5.Establishing rapport to facilitate free and
frank responses is very difficult
Data Collection Thru Questionnaires
Popular in major studies
Briefly – a Questionnaire is sent (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 in a definite order on a
form
The Questionnaire is mailed to respondents
who are expected to read and understand
the questions and write down the reply in
the space provided
Merits of Questionnaire Method
1. Low cost – even when the universe is
large and is widespread
2. Free from interviewer bias
3. Respondents have adequate time to
think thru their answers
4. Respondents who are not easily
approachable, can also be reached
conveniently
5. Large samples can be used
Demerits
1. Low rate of return
2. Respondents need to be educated
and cooperative
3. Inbuilt inflexibility
4. Possibility of ambiguous replies or
omission of items
5. This method is slow
Features of a Questionnaire
Questionnaire is the heart of a survey –
needs to be carefully constructed
Need to understand the features of the
Questionnaire – its general form,
question sequence and question
formulation and the wording of the
questions
1. General Form
 May be either structured or unstructured
 Structured Questionnaires – are those in
which there are definite, concrete,
predetermined questions
 The questions are presented with exactly
the same wording and in the same order to
all respondents
 The form of the questions may be either
closed (yes or no) or open (inviting free
responses
General Form…
 Structured Questionnaires may also have fixed
alternative questions in which responses are
limited to the stated alternatives
 Thus, a highly structured Questionnaire is one
in which all the questions and answers are
specified and comments in the respondents’
own words are held to the minimum
 Unstructured Questionnaire – when the above
characteristics are absent, it is known as a
unstructured Questionnaire
 The Interviewer is provided with a general
guideline on the type of information to be
obtained
2. Question Sequence
 Proper sequence is needed to elicit valid
responses
 Sequence must be clear – that is, the
relation of one question to the next
 To establish rapport and to gain
cooperation from the respondent – difficult
questions, personal questions etc should
preferably come at the appropriate time
rather than at the begining
3. Question Formulation & Wording
 Phrasing the questions must be clear
and unambiguous
 Questions should be impartial and
unbiased
 Should be easily understood
 Should be simple (one idea at a time)
 Should be concrete
 Form of questions may be multiple
choice or open-ended
Data Collection Thru Schedules
Very similar to the Questionnaire method
The main difference is that a schedule is filled by
the enumerator who is specially appointed for
the purpose
Enumerator goes to the respondents, asks them
the questions from the Performa in the order
listed, and records the responses in the space
provided
Enumerators must be trained in administering the
schedule
Collection of Secondary Data
Published data are available in:
1. Publications of State/Central govt.s
2. Publications of International Bodies
3. Technical and Trade Journals
4. Books, Magazines and Newspapers
5. Reports/Publications of various
organizations (banks, stock exchanges,
business houses, etc)
6. Reports – by scholars, Universities, etc
7. Public records, Historical Documents, etc
Secondary Data must possess the
following characteristics:
Reliability of data – may be tested by checking:
 Who collected the data?
 What were the sources of the data?
 Was the data collected properly?
Suitability of data – data that are suitable for one enquiry
may not be necessarily suitable in another enquiry
Therefore, the researcher must scrutinize the definition of
various terms and units of collection. Also, the objectives,
scope and nature of the original enquiry must be studied
Adequacy of data – the data will be considered inadequate,
if they are related to an area which may be either
narrower or wider than the area of the present enquiry

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